Meet the Team

I have been in this business for over 30 years. I started out as a teacher in Ireland, then a teacher of English in some other countries, and finally as a director in a language school in Dublin – before starting my first company, ETE (Education Through English) in 1988, providing high school programmes in Ireland. Those of you who know me are familiar with what happened after that, but in 2002 I started my new company, HSI, in both Ireland and the UK. I have also been involved in high school operations and start-ups in the US, Canada and Australia.

I love this business and have a great network of friends and colleagues in all corners of the world. I love the impact that a high school experience has on kids and their parents and families.  This keeps me motivated and interested.

I have been fortunate with a great team of colleagues – some have been with me for 30 years and they make my life easier and a lot more enjoyable.

Although I spend a lot of time travelling, I love home life and I play really bad golf when I can.

With a B.Ed degree and an MA in Education, Culture and Policy, I have over 23 years of experience in Education, Management, Business Development, and Operations roles, nationally and internationally.

A former Secondary Teacher and Principal, I have worked across secondary- and third-level schooling, as well as the English Language (ELE) Sector. I have served in Commercial, Operational and Business Development Director roles in two global education recruitment and teacher training businesses, with apex responsibility for stakeholder engagement, driving growth trajectories and improvement agendas, as well as generating strategic commercial opportunities and partnerships.

I am the Head of HSI, Ireland, which means I lead and support the team in our Dublin HQ. If I am not working from our office, I am visiting schools, host families, and students across the country to ensure that our service levels are the best that they can be and that we continue to be the best in the business.

Outside of work, I try to travel regularly but balance the separation anxiety I feel from being away from my French bulldog, Tashe (my furbaby)!

My role involves managing agency and student accounts, the day-to-day financial operations of Head Office.  In addition I oversee the area of IT and technical support.

I love working with a small team of people, having been part of larger organisations in the past.  The friendly, supportive environment of HSI makes it easier to get up in the morning and “go to work”.

Before HSI I worked in marketing and corporate affairs with a major international retail chain as well as in my father’s small wholesale business.

I play drums for fun … it keeps me sane!!

I graduated from Marino Institute of Education in 2016, (accredited by Trinity College Dublin) with a degree in Education Studies. This was a broad-based degree, where I had the opportunity to study adult, adolescent, and childhood education, as well as psychology, sociology, and much more!

After my final year of college, I decided to do a J1 where I lived and worked at Walt Disney World in Florida. I met people from all around the world including England, Mexico, Canada, the USA, China, and Hong Kong to name a few. I enjoy travelling, good food, and any kind of live music.

In my role as Placements Manager, I liaise with our partner agents and schools, assisting with enquiries. However, I have also acted as a part-time student advisor during my time here. I enjoy interacting with our students and getting to see more of Ireland when visiting them.

I enjoy the variety of work here at HSI, no two days are ever the same!

My name is Katie and I am a student advisor for HSI Ireland. I graduated from Marino Institute of Education (accredited from Trinity College Dublin) in 2019 with a degree in Education Studies.

I have always had an interest in working with children of all ages and abilities. I am also a qualified gymnastics coach and began coaching when I was 16 years old. I am a volunteer coach and manage my own group of gymnasts. I have plenty of experience working with children and have done so for many years now, having worked as an afterschool teacher, resource teacher and special needs assistant.

I love my role at HSI so far, travelling all around the country meeting new people, visiting the students and their host families, and working in a close-knit team. It’s very diverse and every day is different to the next.

My name is Karolina and I am an innovative and confident Student Advisor at HSI Ireland. I have a master’s degree in Cultural Management and a diploma in Child Psychology. I worked as a teacher for 5 years with different age groups. I can communicate effectively with students, parents, colleagues, and superiors on a daily to ensure tasks are completed, with a focus on detail to ensure a high level of quality.

When I work as a Student Advisor, I get the opportunity to meet people from various backgrounds and walks of life. Whether I am working with individuals, advising students I get to encounter a wide variety of needs and situations. I can dig deep into details and what’s important to students so I can help them in the best way possible.

I graduated in 2010 with a Business and Marketing Management Degree from TU Dublin, after which I worked in Market Research in Dublin. From there, my travels took me to South Africa for several years, during which time my interest in working with the youth and people from different nationalities grew. I took teaching positions in Asia, China and Vietnam where I taught English under Government education initiatives and completed my Cambridge CELTA through International House Dublin. I came back to Ireland permanently in 2021, where I studied a Diploma in Digital Marketing through the UCD Professional Academy and graduated with Distinction. I’m also trained as a Special Needs Assistant.
My passions and interests include psychology, music and attending concerts, travelling, and woodworking.

My role as a Student Advisor is both dynamic and rewarding, as I liaise with our dedicated host families, international agents, schools and students nationwide. I get to meet new and interesting students and support them in having the best experience possible in Ireland, which is very fulfilling.

My name is Conor Madden and I’m a student adviser with HSI. My role includes ensuring student welfare and enrichment, coordinating with agents and liaising with schools and host families. Prior to my role as a student adviser I worked with HSI in a support capacity in operations and administration.
Outside of work I enjoy occupying myself with fitness in the gym, art with a focus on illustration and hobbyist study of ancient history.

I just finished my masters in Anthropology at Maynooth University. I also did my undergraduate degree there in History and Anthropology. I have a grown up daughter and I like reading, rugby and Formula 1.