The People Behind Our Purpose

Prior to joining Stirling Education, Victor was the CFO of a large shipping company. He is a graduate of St.Petersburg Polytechnical University, where he studied Economics. Victor worked at PwC for ten years, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and held various positions from a consultant to a senior manager. He loves football, ice hockey and chess.

Umed is CEO and sits on the Board of Directors of Stirling Middle East. He has served as the Vice-Chancellor, General Secretary, Representative for the Board of Trustees, Dean of Students, and lecturer for Tishk International University in Erbil.

He earned an MSc in Biophysics and PhD in Bioengineering and completed his undergraduate studies in Physics. He has a rich background in schools, formerly working as a teacher, school administrator, and head of department. His considerable experience across various levels and contexts of education enables him to guide and lead the various institutions and departments in Stirling Middle East effectively.

Mersid is the Rector of International Burch University in Bosnia and Herzegovina, part of the Stirling Education network. He holds an MBA and PhD in marketing and teaches subjects including Strategic and Digital Marketing. He serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Economic and Social Studies and co-chairs the ICESoS conference, focusing on regional economic and business topics. Mersid has published several books and papers, enjoys sports and music, and is a proud father of two. He is passionate about creating a learning environment that inspires growth, fresh ideas, and critical thinking.

Sara is the Head of Marketing and Communications of Stirling Education. She runs all of our media channels to help keep everyone up to date with all our work. Sara received her Masters in International Law and has since worked as a legal and medical interpreter while also tutoring in her spare time, helping students learn English.

Having parents from a mixed heritage, she grew up speaking multiple languages such as Arabic, Bosnian as well as English, and has developed a keen interest in learning several more because she believes that language is the key to understanding people and their culture.

Laura is a Board Member at Stirling, and provides support to the organisation’s activities to ensure it makes consistent progress towards its mission in the most effective possible way.She graduated at Granada University, Spain as a Teacher and moved to London where she worked in an Independent School and a SEND School.

After some years in teaching she spent a year in an Independent British School in Madrid as School Director, and went back to the UK where she continued training in education leadership with UCL. Laura has been part of the team at Stirling Education since 2018.

Michael Green is the Education Consultant at Stirling Education, supporting schools and universities in achieving high academic standards.He holds a BA and Ph.D. from the University of Liverpool and has taught in Germany, Australia, and at universities in Durham and Edinburgh.

His career spans two fields — 20 years as an archaeologist specializing in Ancient Egypt, and over 30 years in international recruitment and partnerships across leading UK universities.

Professor Amon Chizema is an esteemed expert in corporate governance and international business, currently serving at the Business School of Loughborough University. With extensive experience across top UK and international institutions, he has significantly contributed to the fields of corporate governance, strategic management, and international business.

Professor Chizema’s research, widely published in leading academic journals, focuses on executive leadership, corporate performance, and governance practices globally. In addition to his academic roles, he has consulted for organizations like the African Development Bank and the Financial Reporting Council in the UK, shaping governance frameworks that impact businesses worldwide.

Neil Brown is the independent Financial Advisor to Stirling Education, advising on finance, risk management, and sustainability. He brings over 40 years of experience in global finance, having held senior roles at Earth Capital, Credit Suisse Asset Management, and HSBC. He has also served as a UK pension fund trustee and expert witness in regulatory cases. Neil is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment and holds a degree in Economics from University College London.

Sam Thomson is Business Development Advisor at Stirling Education, with over 20 years of experience in education, childcare, and organisational growth.

She supports the group in areas such as team leadership, school partnerships, and stakeholder engagement.Sam also runs a consultancy offering mentoring and training for education providers, with a focus on wellbeing. She holds a B.Ed. (Hons) from Oxford Brookes University and brings a practical, supportive approach shaped by her background in teaching.

Tim is a creative industry leader with over 20 years of experience owning and managing agencies, using creativity to drive change across organizations.He is currently involved in further and executive education, serving as an Entrepreneur in Residence and Honorary Fellow at the University of Nottingham Business School.

Tim is passionate about using education to tackle societal challenges and helps individuals turn ideas into impactful ventures.He is also part of the executive education team at the University of Leicester and is a qualified business mentor, facilitator, and Climate Reality Leader.