The Executive Committee
All CISWA activities are directed by a voluntary Executive Committee consisting of current/retired staff from a variety of WA Education Providers. The Executive Council meets on a monthly basis.
CISWA President: Celia Cornwell
Celia has over 20 years of experience in international relations in business, government, and higher education, and is a fluent speaker of Standard (Mandarin) Chinese. Celia’s contribution to the CISWA executive team is based on her experience in the development of international higher education opportunities and partnerships for the private, government and university sectors.
Celia has worked in international-focused roles in the WA State Government and at Curtin University from 2001-2017 and Murdoch University from 2018-2023. In the university sector Celia led teams of professional staff in the development of teaching and research partnerships with international partner institutions, working closely with academic colleagues at both the home and partner institution. As Dean International for faculty/college at both Curtin and Murdoch, Celia led teams focused on international student recruitment, student mobility, and a range of collaborations with international partner universities.
With many years of experience in the international higher education sector in Australia and overseas, Celia enjoys sharing her passion, knowledge and experience with others and believes CISWA is a way she can contribute to the continuing development of highly skilled professionals in the international education sector in Western Australia.
CISWA Vice-President: Dr Kevin McKenna
Kevin has had extensive experience in the international education sector with over 30 years at Curtin University. He had various roles in Curtin Business School until in June 2000 he was appointed as the founding Pro Vice-Chancellor at Curtin University of Technology’s Malaysian Campus in Miri, Sarawak.
From 2004 to 2009 he had overall responsibility for all of Curtin’s international operations, as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, International. In 2008 he was responsible for the establishment of Curtin’s Singapore campus. He is now retired, served as CISWA President for many years and is currently a Vice-President of CISWA.
CISWA Vice-President: Simon Davies Burrows
Simon has worked in tertiary education management in Australia and overseas for more than 20 years. Since 2005 he has held leadership roles in international education at Edith Cowan University including: recruitment, admissions, compliance & quality assurance, Learning Abroad (global student mobility), international relations & academic partnerships.
Passionate about quality improvements and intercultural communication, Simon has led international education discussions and industry improvements through the delivery of more than 40 conference papers, presentations and workshops to colleagues across all sectors.
In 2011, in recognition of his contributions to international education, Simon was awarded the inaugural Australian Universities International Directors Forum ‘Tracey McCabe Fellowship’.
In 2012, Simon received the Vice-Chancellor’s staff award for contributions to business sustainability through leadership and management of internationalisation at ECU.
He is a Senior Fellow of the International Education Association of Australia and a Fellow of the Association of Tertiary Education Management.
CISWA Treasurer: Veronika Fitzgerald
Veronika possesses over 12 years of experience in international education, showcasing proficiency in English, Mandarin, and Slovak. Her roles have spanned marketing, event management, and administration, fostering strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, and government representatives. Inspired by her own scholarship experiences in China and the Czech Republic, she relocated to Australia, dedicating herself to supporting international students’ well-being and academic success. At Curtin College, she served as Marketing Manager, developing impactful strategies across key markets like China and Hong Kong. Later, as Executive Officer at CISWA, she managed various programs and oversaw PR content creation and financial management. Currently, as International Coordinator for Transnational Education at Edith Cowan University, she focuses on supporting existing partnerships and exploring new opportunities in offshore markets. Her commitment is further evidenced by her role as Treasurer at CISWA, demonstrating ongoing dedication to supporting international students in Western Australia.
CISWA Secretary: Meredith Parkins
Meredith has over two decades of experience in education and hospitality, with a focus on supporting students in Western Australia. Beginning in hospitality in Australia and the Caribbean, she transitioned to education, specializing in international student services at South Metropolitan TAFE. Her roles at prestigious institutions like UWA and Curtin University emphasized student-centric services, and she became a certified Career Counselor to better guide students. Beyond her professional roles, Meredith opened her home to international students for 25 years, fostering deep connections. She‘s also involved in fostering diversity and inclusion as the past Secretary of the Perth Caribbean Association. Meredith’s commitment to empowering students of all backgrounds led her to the Executive Officer role at CISWA, where her expertise and passion for cross-cultural interactions continue to shine.
Executive Member: Derryn Belford
Derryn is the CEO of StudyPerth, the destination marketing organisation for Western Australia’s international education sector.
As well as undertaking a wide range of marketing activities to raise the awareness and position Perth as an internationally recognised study destination, the StudyPerth team actively enables international students to connect with Perth’s best education, life and work experiences, which in turn strengthens WA’s economy, enhances cultural diversity and supports enduring relationships with countries throughout the world.
Derryn joined the StudyPerth team as CEO in late February 2022, after 13 years at Tourism Western Australia. Derryn’s tourism achievements include the significant increase in new hotels built in Perth over the last 8 years, the rapid growth of the cruise ship industry in WA prior to COVID, and the continuing development of the Aboriginal tourism sector across the State. Prior to joining the international education sector, Derryn was Acting Managing Director of Tourism WA, supporting the State’s tourism industry through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Derryn is passionate about education. She has a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from the University of Western Australia, a Master of Business Administration (Marketing) from Edith Cowan University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Executive Member: Gena Rattan
Gena Rattan is a senior leader in international education and skills development with over a decade of experience spanning ICT, vocational education, and workforce-aligned training. As Director of Training Services at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), she provides strategic oversight of VET and Professional Year programs for domestic and international students, leading initiatives across curriculum innovation, industry engagement, internships, and regulatory compliance within the ASQA and CRICOS frameworks.
With a career that began in systems engineering before evolving into education leadership, Gena brings a unique combination of technical expertise, governance experience, and sector insight. Her work is focused on strengthening the connection between education and employment outcomes, ensuring programs remain aligned with industry needs and Western Australia’s evolving skills priorities.
Gena actively contributes to the broader education and innovation ecosystem through committee and board service, including the Future Skills Organisation (FSO) Committee, Curtin University System Think Tank, Spring Hill Primary School Board, and WAITTA’s Game Changer and INCITE Awards judging panels. She is passionate about advancing inclusive, student-centred initiatives that support international students to succeed academically, integrate into the community, and build meaningful career pathways in Australia.
She holds a Double Master’s degree, including an MBA (Distinction) from Curtin University, and is recognised as a Certified Professional (MACS CP) by the Australian Computer Society. A committed Women in Tech advocate and proud mother, Gena is dedicated to fostering leadership, opportunity, and belonging within the education sector.
Executive Member: Danielle Rock
Danielle Rock is the Campus Manager at the largest school within the Kaplan Business School network, overseeing the two Perth campuses in their delivery of business and industry-related Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs, ranging from AQF 5 to 9.
Having worked for over a decade in a number of senior academic and professional roles within ELICOS, Pathways and Higher Education, she understands the need for international students to feel welcomed, supported and empowered with the confidence to succeed in Higher Education, and aims to create a rich and holistic study experience for all students.
Alongside supporting students to reach their full potential, she is particularly passionate about developing high-performing teams, one of the many reasons which has led Danielle to enrol in a HDR program at UWA, within the School of Psychological Science. Her research interests are leadership and leadership development, supporting junior leadership emergence with individuals from culturally and racially marginalized backgrounds, leadership identity and Self-Determination Theory.
Executive Member: Amanda Turner
Amanda is the inaugural Director of UWA College which prepares international students for study at UWA.
Prior to this Amanda work at UWA as Associate Director, Global Engagement in a role focused on establishing and operationalizing UWA’s strategies aimed at increasing successful international engagement and growth.
Amanda has a undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in Commerce and Information Technology. She has spent a large portion of her professional life within the education sector predominantly as Divisional General Manager for Students and Education at the University of Tasmania. Other education organizations she has worked at include the Australian Maritime College, Western Sydney University and Charles Darwin University.
Amanda has also worked in a number of leadership roles in the community services sector that focused on disability support in Tasmania, and assisting the long term unemployed and indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.
Executive Member: Dr Linda Yang
With over 25 years’ experience working in China, U.K. Ireland and Australia, Linda has extensive experience in delivering intercultural consultancy and training to diverse participants from more than 100 nationalities from higher education and business sectors. Linda is an energetic educator with a PhD in intercultural studies who brings dynamism to every discussion. She works hard to effectively enhance the performance of individuals and teams across disciplines, cultures and borders. Linda is well known for her research-led, engaging training and out-of-the-box thinking.
Linda is the Managing Director for the Intercultural Development Institute (ICDI), a research-led and practice-oriented intercultural training and consulting organization based in Perth, WA.
Linda is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at College of Business, Murdoch University and Lecturer at Kaplan Business School, Perth.
She specialises in:
• Intercultural Communication
• Intercultural competence
• Multicultural teams
• Intercultural conflict and negotiation
• Emotional intelligence
Executive Member: Rohini Modgill
Rohini Modgill - Founder and CEO – Keystone College of Business and Technology (KCBT)
With over twenty-three years of experience in education and training, Rohini has successfully catered to both domestic and international students across various learning disciplines. Her expertise spans RTO compliance, recruitment, learning and development, marketing, continuous improvement, and implementation of ‘best practice’ strategies. Passionate about learning and committed to quality education, Rohini has a robust background in course development for adult learners in both higher education and vocational training settings.
Throughout her career, Rohini has held impactful positions in the private sector (VET), TAFE, and Higher Education, demonstrating her versatility and depth of knowledge in the field.
Driven by a solution-focused mindset and a strong work ethic, Rohini took the initiative to establish Keystone College of Business and Technology (KCBT) in 2014, headquartered in Western Australia (Perth). Under her leadership, KCBT has evolved into a reputable institution, with campuses now located in Western Australia (Perth) and South Australia (Adelaide).
Rohini firmly believes that education is not merely a privilege but a fundamental right that unlocks countless opportunities. She sees education as a catalyst for societal well-being and views it as essential for nurturing the growth of future generations.
Executive Member: Mina Cho
Mina Cho is an international education specialist with over 18 years of experience. Driven by a passion for learning and cross-cultural collaboration, she has built her career advancing inclusive and globally connected education.
Her expertise lies in fostering international partnerships and developing programs that link Australian education with the global community. At Curtin University, she manages initiatives in transnational education, global engagement, and institutional capacity building.
Mina also has over 10 years of experience designing and delivering professional development programs through global non-profit organisations. At CISWA, she co-leads training and development initiatives that strengthen the capacity of staff supporting international students, alongside Mr Simon Davies Burrows.
As an academic, Mina teaches in the Marketing major at Curtin University and is pursuing a PhD focusing on adult learning, micro-credentials, and education policy. She has presented her research at international conferences and in a peer-reviewed journal.
Executive Member: Catherine Loayza
Catherine Loayza has worked in the international education sector for over 10 years, starting as an education agent to joining Murdoch University as part of the Admissions team and then moving across to the international college engagement team.
On her current role Catherine oversees and manages the development, engagement and administration of the programs under the International Relations and Programs portfolio’ these being, inbound and outbound mobility, international loans, international sponsors programs and under 18s international.
With industry knowledge and expertise in the international education industry, supplemented by first-hand experience as an international student; she has been able to reinforce everyday practices to promote and improve the pastoral care to the cohorts under the portfolio and our engagement with international sector partners.