Ben Sowter
Project Managers:
Benchmarking: Abby Chau
QS Stars: Deena Al-Hilli
Latin America: Liliana Casallas
Baerbel Eckelman
Analysts:
Ina Chiriliuc
Susan Gatuguta Gitau
Stephanie Braudeau
Martin Juno
Jason Newman
Researchers:
Irene-Jay Shin (London)
Samuel Wong (Singapore)
Lifiawaty Henry (Singapore)
Process Development Specialist: Fan Yang
Ben Sowter
Head of Division
Ben is from Nottingham, England. After moving around a lot, he returned to the University of Nottingham where he undertook a BSc in Computer Science. Upon graduation, Ben spent two years working for the UK national office of international student charity, AIESEC, for which he was ultimately elected National President.
Ben leads the QS Intelligence Unit who are fully responsible for the operational management of all major QS research projects including the QS Top MBA Applicant and Recruiter Research, the QS World University Rankings® and the QS Asian University Rankings.
Ben has travelled to over 40 countries and spoken on his research in over 20. He has personally visited over 35 of the world’s top 100 universities amongst countless others and is also a regular speaker on the conference circuit.
Ben is married with a one-year old son but if he had any free time it would be spent reading, watching movies and skiing.
Baerbel Eckelmann
Research Manager
Baerbel is originally from Germany. She has a MA in General Pedagogy, Sociology and Psychology from the University of Passau, Germany and a MA in Applied Social and Market Research from the University of Westminster. During her studies in Passau, Baerbel acted as student assistant for a professor at the Department of General Pedagogy where she compiled entries for the Pedagogic Lexicon, prepared lessons and conducted survey research.
Soon after joining QS, Baerbel took on the responsibility for the data and knowledge management of the QS World University Rankings® and the QS.com Asian University Rankings. Baerbel also manages the QSIU research team in Singapore.
She has travelled to over 25 countries and has extensive experience speaking to Vice Chancellors, Department Heads and other university representatives to maximize data outputs in terms of quantity and quality. She has also established a sound relationship with Ministries and Statistical Agencies.
Baerbel is a keen athlete who regularly trains for triathlons and marathons.
Jason Newman
Global Commercial Director
Jason Newman is the Commercial Director for the QS Intelligence Unit and Commercial Director for QS Australia/New Zealand.
Based in QS London HQ, he has worked in events and promotions for the last 22 years and specifically in international education for the past 12 years. He has run a portfolio of international student recruitment products and services that include undergraduate and postgraduate recruitment fairs, publications and websites.
Abby Chau
Project Manager/Analyst
Abby is from California where she obtained an undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley in English Literature. During her time at Berkeley, she worked for two years in the admissions department for indisciplinary studies as well as an intern for a public policy research firm. Wanderlust eventually led her to Hawaii, where she worked as a freelance journalist for a weekly newspaper covering politics, entertainment, and local curios. Abby also worked as the Membership and Development Coordinator for the Hawaii International Film Festival as well as a Legislative Aide for a State Senator where she researched bills related to the Freedom of Information.
She moved to London in the autumn of 2006 to pursue a Master’s degree in English Literature at the UCL. After a stint as a researcher for an investment information company which publishes rankings of FTSE 100 and 250 companies, she joined QS in February 2010. She now oversees the QSIU Benchmarking Service.
Abby enjoys walking, reading, and a good chocolate fondant.
Deena Al-Hilli
Project Manager for QS Stars and the Middle Eastern region
Deena is from London and has a BEng in Internet Engineering and an MSc in Technology Exploitation & Management from Queen Mary University of London, UK. Her degree led her to spend nine months in Dubai coordinating the launch of the newly developed website for the Ministry of Education.
Deena first joined QS in 2006 as a Sales Executive working on the World MBA Tour, liaising with business schools around the globe, to help them recruit high quality MBA candidates. She also introduced several new business schools in the Middle East to QS, helping them to improve their local and international presence. Later she moved on to the Intelligence Unit, where she now works as a Project Manager and Data Analyst, overlooking and growing the new initiative QS Stars which is a new evaluations system that evaluates universities using a rating method.
Deena is also actively working with the institutions in the Arabic region, many of them are seeking ways to improve their international profiles to students and other academics, attract international students to the region, retain their local students and seek partnerships with universities worldwide.
A key player in a local hockey team, enjoys reading, going to the gym, photography and sculpture.
Liliana Casallas
Project Manager for the Latin America region
Liliana hails from Venezuela and has a MSc in IT, Management and Organisational Change from Lancaster University. Before joining QS in 2009, Liliana spent two years leading a restructuring and organizational change project for the finance office of the Venezuelan regional government in Venezuela and a large corporate Japanese manufacturer.
She has worked as a Project Manager leading successful projects in public and private sector in different markets, Japan, Europe and Latin America such as for the European Commission at Information Society, conducting research and learning about the functionalities of European institutions. Liliana has also worked in one of the top Blue Chip companies in the government sector for the European market based on international organisation funding. She has also lead successful large projects for Venezuela and the Latin American region in general.
Liliana speaks Spanish, English and Japanese and loves hiking, travelling and photography.
Ina Chiriliuc
Analyst
Ina is from Moldova and completed her Master’s degree at the London School of Economics. She has gained research and analytical skills in her previous roles at the LSE and Société Générale. Also she was involved in organizing various high-scale projects for students in her home country.
Ina is a fluent speaker of English, Russian and Romanian and has a genuine passion for travelling.
Susan Gatuguta Gitau
Analyst
Susan is originally from Nairobi, Kenya where she obtained a BSc in Information Systems and Technology from the United States International University – Africa. Having successfully completed her internship at Barclays Bank, Susan went on to work as a Project Manager at a leading consulting firm. During the tenure of her employment, she led several major projects including the official launch of a major Chinese telecommunications giant and setting up the largest Business Process Outsourcing centre in East Africa. Susan also worked as a volunteer at a home for HIV babies.
She moved to the UK in the autumn 2005 to pursue an MA in Corporate Strategy and Governance from Nottingham University Business School. Prior to joining QS, Susan worked as an account manager at a leading pharmaceutical company in Islington, London. Her background led her to join, as an analyst, the QS Intelligence Unit in early 2009.
Stephanie Braudeau
Analyst
Stephanie hails from France and has a Master’s degree in Management from La Rochelle International Business School. Having been awarded a scholarship from the Chinese government, she studied Chinese for one year at the Shanghai International Studies University. She also studied for an undergraduate degree in foreign languages, where she took part in a university exchange in New Zealand. Stephanie’s contribution to the Higher Education sector includes the development of industrial relations of a School of Technology, part of Shanghai University (UTSEUS) with European companies. Besides this role, she gained events and market research skills in a work experience in Malaysia within the French Trade Commission.
Her hobby is travelling, she has visited 17 and lived in 5 different countries.
Martin Juno
Analyst
Martin Juno is from Mar del Plata City, Argentina. He has a degree in Tourism Management & Economics from The National University of Mar del Plata. Upon graduation, Martin joined Fundación Global (Global Foundation), a prestigious and think-tank based in Argentina where he worked for almost 10 years as an economic researcher and data analyst, leading several research projects and outreach programmes.
Martin joined the QS Intelligence Unit in November 2010 and is Research Executive of the Latin American Rankings at the QS Intelligence Unit.
Fan Yang
Process Development Specialist
Fan Yang is from mainland China. He has been living in the UK for 3 years, and spent time studying at the University of Birmingham before moving to London. He has a Banking and Finance degree, but he joined the Education industry instead of Banking. He said that is because he would rather help people to gain knowledge instead of turning their money into bubbles.
In QSIU, Fan provides technical support to Analysts and makes data processing more efficient. He says he likes to work in QSIU and it’s been really pleasant. Especially with the sweets people share in the office.
Samuel Wong
Senior Researcher
Samuel is from Singapore and has a Bachelor’s in Economics at the University of Tasmania. His research and analytical skills have been gained from years of exposure to a wide spectrum of research work, stretching from economics research with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Singapore National Printers Ltd, and market research with Thomson Multimedia. Prior to joining QS, he was with a research agency handling quantitative and qualitative research for local and regional clients.
He can understand conversational Mandarin, fluent in English, as well as several Chinese dialects and Malay. He loves sports, particularly watching EPL football matches.
Irene-Jay Shin
Research Executive
Originally from South Korea, Irene attended Ewha Womans University, as well as Kyushu University in Japan for an exchange student programme on Japanese studies. In 2009, she obtained a degree in international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Before working as a research assistant at the QS Intelligence Unit, she worked in various sectors, such as government, non-profit sector, translation, etc.
Irene loves to play musical instruments such as the violin, viola, cello, and the piano. She has lived in several different countries such as the United States, Japan, and now London.
Lifiawaty Henry
Research Assistant
Lifi is from Indonesia and completed her diploma at the TMC Business School in Singapore. She has gained her research skills working for a market research company where she was involved in organizing various F&B and Retails projects.
Lifi speaks Indonesian, English and Mandarin. She loves reading and travelling.
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