Michael Fay

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Michael Fay

Michael Fay

Director - Educational Services

Michael is a Director and Head of Education Services and has over 40 years’ experience of the international education sector. He is regional specialist on business and education in Southeast Asia and served on the Board of the National ELT Accreditation Scheme (NEAS Australia) and the Board of the Australia Indonesia Business Council (AIBC) 2015-2019 www.aibc.com.au . He provided education sector input to the Indonesia Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) trade negotiations. Michael is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and a long-term supporter of the International Award for Young People.

Michael was a co- founder of Insearch Language Centre UTS (1987), now branded as UTS College, Australia’s first public private partnership in international education and in 1994 established the Australia Centre Medan, North Sumatra which will have its 30th anniversary in 2024. www.acmedan.com.

Michael works across all education sectors with a regional focus on ASEAN and country focus on Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. Clients have included Study NSW on transnational delivery of VET; the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) on their ASEAN Strategy, TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) and TAFE NSW in relation to Skills Training in Indonesia. Recent clients have included the University of Wollongong on Indonesia and Malaysia, Southern Cross University on its eastern islands Indonesia strategy focused on the maritime sector, the Northern Territory Government on its Indonesian engagement, Ramsay Healthcare, and the Hotel School Australia on its Indonesian and Malaysian strategy.

Michael has convened the ASEAN Australia Education Dialogue -AAED since 2108 which has become a trusted platform for building stakeholder relationships in international education. www.aseanaustraliadialogue.com

In November 2023 he was appointed Special Advisor to the ASEAN University Network (AUN) Executive Director on issues pertinent to AUN policies and strategies www.aunsec.org . On Australia Day January 26^th 2024 Michael was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his contribution to international relations and education.

Peter Church’s professional experience in Asia commenced in 1978 when he was the first Australian to practice law in Indonesia. Since then, he has continued to live and/or work throughout South East Asia and India as a lawyer and corporate adviser and has represented many of Australia and the world’s largest corporations in their activities in those markets.

Lindley Edwards has spent most of her professional career undertaking cross border transactions (debt, equity and M&A) with Asian based companies and individuals. For many years Lindley was a director of Asialink, which organisation also focuses on strengthening Australian and Asian ties and networks. Through these experiences Lindley has developed long term relationships throughout China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Singapore.

Michael Fay, who heads our Education and Skills Training division, has over 30 years of experience of the education and training sector in Australia and South East Asia. He was the co-founder and managing director of Insearch Education at the University of Technology Sydney UTS. Michael has a particular focus on Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam and has provided strategic advice to a wide cross section of Australian education stakeholders from schools, English language, skills training, higher education and EdTech. Michael has convened the ASEAN Australia Education Dialogue since 2018 which is a highly regarded regional platform linking Australia and ASEAN www.aseanaustraliadialogue.com

Garry Hersey has had many years’ experience working in senior executive roles with both listed and private companies in relation to their Australian and Asian businesses. He has a particular focus on Vietnam and other countries within ASEAN. He has significant experience working with companies facing strategic and financial challenges, undergoing significant external corporate developments or requiring debt and equity funding.

Sherman Mak is a multi-disciplinary strategic advisor, investor and entrepreneur. He has over 25 years of strategy, investment, banking and advisory experience. He has held senior appointments in global strategy, marketing, human capital and products with a range of international brands, such as Citigroup, HSBC, J.P Morgan and Westpac. He personally advises a number of Asian private family wealth offices, governments, DeepTech investment groups, one of South East Asia’s largest telecommunications companies and one of the world’s largest vertically integrated multi segment agri-food conglomerates (Charoen Pokphand Group of Thailand).