Experts at the heart of EAIE’s content
The three Functional Committees are entrusted by the Board with crucial tasks: building the renewed conference programme, expanding our training portfolio and developing our publications library. Together, they ensure the high‑quality content that the EAIE is known for is relevant, impactful and supportive of professionals in international higher education.
Why volunteer?
Help drive the EAIE’s content
Actively contribute to the EAIE’s direction by shaping the association’s flagship content and activities throughout the year.
Grow professionally
Gain new insights, broaden your perspective beyond your own institution, and develop valuable skills that support your career growth.
Enjoy additional perks
Benefit from reduced Annual Conference fees and form a supportive network of colleagues who often grow into lasting friendships.
Conference Programme Committee
The Conference Programme Committee works closely with the EAIE Board, Thematic Committees, and the EAIE Office to develop a high quality, relevant and diverse conference programme. The CPC ensures that the programme reflects the main issues in the internationalisation of higher education across Europe and the world.
Evelien Hack
Evelien Hack is acting Teamlead of the Strategy & Innovation Team at Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education. She has over fifteen years of experience in international higher education, with a strong focus on strategic policy development, student mobility and stakeholder engagement.
Throughout her career, Evelien has held various roles, including Senior Policy Officer and Programme Manager, where she led initiatives on inclusive mobility, capacity building and international cooperation. Her work bridges policy and practice, with a particular emphasis on creating future-proof strategies for internationalisation.
Evelien has been actively involved with the EAIE for many years, serving as a member of the EAIE Expert Community Health and Welfare, as well as the General Council and at the moment as the chair for the Conference Programme Committee. She regularly speaks and moderates at international conferences, sharing insights on internationalisation, leadership and strategic development in education.
Known for her collaborative and thoughtful leadership style, Evelien is passionate about empowering professionals and fostering meaningful international partnerships that contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable education sector.
Evelien is currently Chair of the EAIE Conference Programme Committee.
Diederich Bakker
Diederich is Professor of applied sciences in international business and Head of Internationalisation at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, the Netherlands. With a PhD in marketing and over 15 years of experience working in higher education, he has a thorough knowledge of the marketing and recruitment landscape of global higher education. He actively shares this knowledge with the EAIE community and since 2020 is part of the Conference Programme Committee.
Ellen Wang
If You Want To Run Fast, Run Alone. If You Want To Run Far, Run Together. Collaboration is the key!
Ellen Wang works at Leeds University Business School as the Faculty International Manager and is responsible for developing & managing the school’s international portfolio a across wide range of activities.
Ellen obtained her Executive MBA from Leeds University Business School & her BA in Busiess Info Management. She also holds several professional qualifications including PRINCE/ILM. Ellen is a creative strategic thinker with a 10-year track record of stakeholder & programme management within the IHE sector. Ellen is experienced in setting up global strategic partnerships, study abroad agreements & a wide range of internationalisation at home (IaH) projects in collaboration with global partners.
During the global pandemic, Ellen has successfully set up two Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) initiatives. Ellen has been an active member & an advocator of EAIE since 2017. Ellen has recently been appointed as a member of the EAIE Conference Programme Committee.
Esko Koponen
Esko Koponen is Specialist in the Strategic Services for Teaching of the University of Helsinki. His responsibilities include the strategic planning and management of international education, language policy and joint educational programmes. Esko has over 30 years of experience in international education, having previously worked in the Centre for International Mobility with European cooperation programs and international higher education cooperation, and in international student services at the University of Kuopio. Esko has run several sessions and workshops on various aspects of internationalisation both in national and international contexts. Esko holds a MA degree in Translation Studies from the University of Joensuu (now part of the University of Eastern Finland), Finland. He has been a Steering group member of the EAIE Expert Community Study Abroad and Foreign Student Advisers and has chaired and presented at numerous workshops of the Association, including the EAIE Academy. In 2020, Esko became a member of the EAIE Conference Programme Committee.
Esko received the 2024 EAIE Award for Outstanding Contribution in recognition of his longstanding contributions and the generous sharing of his knowledge throughout his career and involvement with the EAIE community.
Rachel MacSween
Rachel is the Director of Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement for UK and Europe at the global education company, IDP Connect. This roles works across all UK and Europe Clients to support with international recruitment and marketing. Prior to this role, Rachel was Director of International Recruitment, Partnerships and Mobility at the University of York in the UK. She joined the University having previously headed up the Recruitment and International office at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Rachel's remit is international recruitment, partnerships and student mobility. Prior to Strathclyde, she spent seven years with Navitas, where she worked in roles in both Edinburgh and Melbourne. Before choosing the path of international recruitment, Rachel worked in advertising, PR and alumni relations in Edinburgh.
She earned a BA in Journalism at Edinburgh Napier University and a PG Diploma from Queen Margaret University. She is currently enrolled in an MBA programme at the University of Strathclyde.
In 2020, Rachel became a member of the Conference Programme Committee.
Tanja Reiffenrath
Cultural studies meet internationalisation efforts
Tanja Reiffenrath works as Project Coordinator at the University of Goettingen, Germany. She works in student and academic services and is the coordinator of the project ‘Internationalisation of the Curricula’. Tanja has taught and published on diversity issues, transnationalism, and the representation of the ‘other’. While teaching at the University of Paderborn in 2012, she was part of a team that was awarded the Teaching Award for Young Academics by the university’s presidential board for internationalisation and diversity in the classroom. In 2016, she organised the conference ‘Internationalisation of the Curricula in Higher Education: Concepts, Initiatives, and Actions’ at the University of Goettingen jointly with the German Academic Exchange Service and the German Rectors’ Conference. Tanja holds a PhD in American Studies and has studied at the Universities of Paderborn and Siegen, Germany, as well as the University of Oklahoma, USA.
Tanja has been involved with the EAIE in different roles and since 2024, she has been a member of the EAIE Conference Programme Committee.
Professional Development Committee
The Professional Development Committee works to ensure that the EAIE’s portfolio of training meets the needs of members by delivering timely, relevant and high‑quality courses that reflect the full breadth of the internationalisation field, in line with the EAIE’s taxonomy.
Neil Weston
Neil Weston is Associate Dean (Global Engagement and Education Partnerships) at the University of Portsmouth. Neil is responsible for managing existing and developing new, UK and global education partnerships for the Faculty of Science and Health. He also leads on implementing the Faculty’s global engagement strategy, overseeing international student recruitment, promoting a culture of globalisation, enabling student mobility opportunities, and supporting international student progression, achievement and experience. Prior to his current role, Neil was Associate Dean (Academic) responsible for the quality assurance of all courses across the seven academic schools in the Faculty. Neil has a degree from the University of Glasgow and an MSc and PhD from the University of Chichester. 'He is also a principal lecturer in sport psychology and a Senior Fellow of Advance HE.
Neil joined the EAIE Professional Development Committee in 2022 and became its Chair in 2026.
Nadia D'Alton
Nadia D’Alton joined University College in Dublin (UCD) in 2002 and currently holds the position of Director of Strategic Programmes. Her expertise resides with supporting Education and Programmes and student experience with a strong focus on embedding UN Sustainable Development Goals in curricula and developing initiatives across the University in this area. Nadia is also a member of the Universitas 21 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) strategic group, whose purpose is to develop an educational strategy for SDG training and education for health professional trainees, and is currently Chairing a U21 group Community of Practice on sustainability.
Educated in France, Nadia holds a Business Degree, along with a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management and a Masters in Human Resources and Management, Nadia is currently a member of the EAIE Professional Development Committee.
Anthony Manning
Dr Anthony Manning is an experienced leader in international higher education, with a strong track record of strategic development and academic innovation across global learning and engagement. He is currently Associate Dean International at Arden University. Anthony has held senior roles with responsibility for internationalising the curriculum, partnerships, lifelong learning pathways, executive education, continuing professional development, online learning and degree apprenticeships. He is a Principal Fellow of AdvanceHE and a National Teaching Fellow, reflecting his commitment to teaching excellence and educational leadership. Anthony also contributes to international education as an IC Global Fellow.
With professional experience in five countries, Anthony has led educational collaborations in over 25 nations worldwide. In addition to being a member of the EAIE’s Professional Development Committee, he is also Chair of the British Accreditation Council’s Accreditation Committee, a member of the British Council’s English Language Advisory Group, and serves on NCUK’s Academic Quality Committee. Anthony also contributes to international education as an IC Global Fellow.
As of 2025, Anthony volunteers as a Professional Development Committee member at the EAIE.
- X:
- @drantmanning
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/manninganthony/
Tímea Mester-Takács
With 12 years of experience in international higher education, Tímea is currently Project Officer at CIVICA. Previously, she worked with the Hungarian national education agency, participating in both international and national mobility projects, conducting trainings and coordinating the representation of national higher education worldwide. She joined the international team at the Central European University in Vienna (CEU) in 2023, Austria, where she contributes to the management of the CIVICA Alliance.
Holding degrees in literature and communication studies and with a background as a freelance journalist and social media content writer, she strongly believes in the importance of knowledge sharing, cross-sector exchange between the humanities and STEM fields and the development of soft skills.
As of 2025, Tímea volunteers as a Professional Development Committee member at the EAIE.
Katja Stephenson
Katja Stephenson (nee Nieminen) is an international higher education professional with over 25 years of experience of working in the US, UK and Finland. She worked in the UK higher education sector for 18 years supporting strategic internationalisation efforts, global engagement and partnerships. With a Master’s in Comparative International Education from Loyola University Chicago, and doctoral research studies in higher education policy from the University of Bath, Katja is a passionate advocate for internationalisation of higher education and research.
Since 2021, Katja has served as the Head of International Affairs at the University of Oulu, Finland, where she is responsible for the development and coordination of the university’s international strategy and internationalisation initiatives. Katja has been an EAIE member since 2013, served two terms in the EAIE Conference Programme Committee and acted as the Chair of the Committee 2018-2021.
As of 2026, Katja volunteers as a Professional Development Committee member at the EAIE.
Lilit Ghazaryan
Lilit Ghazaryan is the Director of the Internationalisation and Development Department at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia. She specialises in higher education internationalisation, project management, and strategic partnership building. With over a decade of experience, she has led EU-funded initiatives, managed international alumni and communications networks, and supported policy development in education. Lilit's focus is about enhancing global engagement opportunities for emerging universities.
As of 2026, Lilit volunteers as a Professional Development Committee member at the EAIE.
Publications Committee
The Publications Committee shapes the EAIE’s publications strategy by generating new ideas and encouraging contributions from authors for Forum and other EAIE publications.
Eva Janebová
Eva Janebová, Ph.D. is the Director of the Mestenhauser Institute for International Collaboration. Her qualifications were gained from Columbia University, Masaryk University Charles University, and the University of Minnesota as the first Mestenhauser Fellow. Eva serves on the International Advisory Board of Morgan State University, STAR Scholars Editorial Board, and as an Ass. Prof. at Palacky University. Among other, she is a co-author of Inequalities in Student Mobility, Mestenhauser and the Possibilities of International Education (Routledge), and ACA Think Piece on Inclusive Internationalization.
Eva is currently Chair of the EAIE Publications Committee.
Arnim Heinemann
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." (Nelson Mandela)
Arnim Heinemann is Senior Executive Director and oversees University of Bayreuth’s global engagement with offices in Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe. During 20 years in academia and the German diplomatic service, he specialised in science diplomacy, strategic internationalisation and global higher education leadership, research networks and sustainable collaboration worldwide. Arnim holds a PhD in Middle Eastern Studies from Martin Luther University in Germany.
Arnim is a speaker and exhibitor in global professional higher education networks (AIEA, APAIE, EURIE, IEAA, NAFSA and EAIE) and events. Since 2020, he is president of SGroup – Universities in Europe. He is member of the committee for new funding programmes at DAAD and founding member of the German steering committee of Scholars at Risk.
Arnim is currently a Member of the Publications Committee.
Queenie Lam
Global Lessons, Personal Growth: Diligence from China, Entrepreneurial Spirit from Hong Kong, Creativity from America, Flexibility from Belgium, Responsible Leadership from Germany.
Queenie Lam founded Y-Europe in 2022 and has a two-decade-long career in the higher education sector in Asia and Europe. Her roles at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Trier University, Academic Cooperation Association and European Commission involved recruiting (international) faculty/staff members, developing academic cooperation partnerships, developing EU research projects, evaluating Erasmus+ grants and providing independent expert advice to EU institutions, national agencies and universities on mobility-related issues. With a double doctoral degree in sociology and economics from Ghent University in Belgium and Kassel University in Germany, Queenie's research focuses on global higher education systems, governance, marketization, internationalization and, recently, the history of student mobility.
Her publications on EU policies and programmes, strategic mobility market analyses, and services in leading professional-academic networks like the EAIE and ENIS showcase her contributions in bridging research, policies and practices in international academic cooperation. Queenie has been an EAIE Publications Committee member since September 2022.
Ragnhild Solvi Berg
European programmes and policies, public management, international programmes.
Ragnhild Solvi Berg is Senior Advisor at HK-DIR/Norwegian Contact Office for Research, Innovation and Education (Norcore) in Brussels. Ragnhild has worked in the field of internationalisation of higher education since 2004. She started her journey at the Norwegian Centre for Internationalisation of Higher Education (SIU, now HK-DIR). From 2010 to 2016 she was seconded to the European Commission as a national expert, working on higher education cooperation outside of Europe. Since 2016, she is representing HK-DIR at the Norcore office in Brussels. In 2019, she became co-chair for the IGLO working group for higher education in Brussels and is serving on the Administrative Council of Academic Cooperation Association from 2016-2021. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Anthropology from the University of Bergen, in addition to degrees in Cultural Studies and Spanish and Latin-American Studies.
In 2021, she became a member of the EAIE Publications Committee.
Sonja Knutson
Dr Sonja Knutson is a long-time practitioner and scholar in the field of International Education in Canada. She has been an invited guest speaker and instructor in over a dozen countries on five continents, sharing research and insights into the international education role. She is Chair of the not-for-profit provincial association, International Education Newfoundland and Labrador (IENL), and is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Education at Memorial University.
In 2022, she developed a Graduate Diploma program offered through Memorial's Education Faculty on Internationalization of Higher Education (IHE). Dr. Knutson recently retired from her administrative role as Senior International Officer at Memorial, in order to have more time to devote to teaching, research and service to the IHE field. She is a constant advocate for the IHE profession and has held volunteer leadership roles with both NAFSA and CBIE. She has also participated in EAIE activities, as well as with the University of the Arctic. As a passionate leader in international education, Dr Knutson takes every opportunity to engage with colleagues, from newcomers to veterans in the field.
In 2025, Sonja became a member of the EAIE Publications Committee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I join a Functional Committee?
When a vacancy opens on any of the three Functional Committees, a call for applications is made public. Vacancies can open up at any time of year. Suitable candidates are invited for an interview, and the Board confirms final appointments. Committee members are appointed for a three‑year term and may be reappointed for one additional term. Applications to join the Conference Programme Committee are now closed. When any new positions arise on the three committees, an announcement will be made.
Do I need to be an EAIE member to apply?
Yes. Positions on all three Functional Committees are only open to current EAIE members.
How much work is involved?
All three Committees typically meet four times per year, with ongoing engagement throughout the year. The workload varies by Committee, with a significant peak for CPC members in November–December during the conference proposal review period.
Many volunteers report that the commitment is manageable alongside a full‑time job, with occasional busy periods linked to reviewing proposals, training course content or article submissions.
What do I get for being a volunteer?
Volunteering offers valuable professional and personal benefits. Additional perks include a reduced Annual Conference volunteer registration fee, travel and accommodation covered for in‑person committee meetings, the chance to form a supportive group of colleagues who often become genuine friends, and the rewarding experience of contributing to the international education sector in a meaningful way.