Grok Global Services

Grok colleagues recently gathered for a Holi celebration. Holi is more than just a festival—it’s a reminder to embrace joy, laughter, and the spirit of togetherness. Just like colors blend beautifully, so do people when we come together with warmth and positivity. From all of us at Grok Global, wishing you a Holi filled with happiness, bright moments, and wonderful memories. Happy Holi! ?? ?? ??

Ashley Tanks (IEAA-F), Director of Partnerships for Australia and New Zealand, had the privilege of speaking on a panel at last week’s International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) Young Professionals event in Sydney. The topic was “2025: Trends and Predictions in International Education,” and Ashley was joined by Iori Forsyth, Peter Hawke and Anna Kirkham. Ashley and her fellow panelists discussed how shifting policies and the upcoming election may impact international recruitment in Australia this year. They also talked about recruitment strategies to help universities navigate the uncertain landscape. The panel was preceded by opening remarks and updates from Phil Honeywood, Professor Ren Yi. (PhD, IEAA-SF, Fellow of ARMS), Iris Chan and Vincent Liu. With potential twists and turns on the horizon, we are grateful to the IEAA for the opportunity to engage in such important discussions about the future of international recruitment in Australia! ????

Associate Director South Asia?Megha Srivastav?had the honor of serving as a panelist at the?British Council Agent & Counselor Symposium in Mumbai last month. ???? The event, organized in partnership with BUILA, brought together universities, agents and high school counselors from across India and Nepal to discuss how best to support students in international education. Megha and her fellow panelists discussed ways to build a sustainable international student ecosystem and foster collaboration among key stakeholders. Panelists included?Samreen K.?(Imperial College London), Shikha Singh?(The Cathedral and John Connon School) and Sushil Sukhwani?(Edwise International), with Siobhan Marshall?(BUILA) moderating the session. Grok values the importance of gathering so many stakeholders together in one room—the conversations that take place are both impactful and enlightening. We are grateful to the British Council and BUILA for the opportunity to attend and participate in such a meaningful and timely event! ?? Geetanjali Sharma Chris Kelly Fraser Deas

Associate Director South Asia?Megha Srivastav?had the honor of serving as a panelist at the?British Council Agent & Counselor Symposium in Mumbai last month. ???? The event, organized in partnership with BUILA, brought together universities, agents and high school counselors from across India and Nepal to discuss how best to support students in international education. Megha and her fellow panelists discussed ways to build a sustainable international student ecosystem and foster collaboration among key stakeholders. Panelists included?Samreen K.?(Imperial College London), Shikha Singh?(The Cathedral and John Connon School) and Sushil Sukhwani?(Edwise International), with Siobhan Marshall?(BUILA) moderating the session. Grok values the importance of gathering so many stakeholders together in one room—the conversations that take place are both impactful and enlightening. We are grateful to the British Council and BUILA for the opportunity to attend and participate in such a meaningful and timely event! ?? Geetanjali Sharma Chris Kelly Fraser Deas

Grok has experienced significant growth in recent years, and team building has never been more essential. We recently hosted team-building events in India, Vietnam and Malaysia to foster collaboration and efficiency among our growing teams—and to share ideas about the higher education landscape. We value our in-country staff and make it our top priority to help everyone thrive! ???? Our Vietnam team convened in Ho Tram for two days of personal and professional training. The theme was “building authentic relationship and resilience skills,” and it was a major success! Grok colleagues and program officers participated in open discussions, team-building exercises and, of course, tea ceremonies. It was an unforgettable event that helped strengthen collaboration and trust between all. ???? The Grok India team gathered in Ranthambore for a weekend of training sessions and lively discussions centered on higher education. A highlight of the event was a tiger spotting during a team safari! ?? Wildlife spotting aside, the team discussed evolving industry trends and approaches to enhancing institutional partnerships. Leadership coach Sonnia Singh helped team members develop goals, time management skills and leadership strategies. It was a great opportunity for team bonding—and there’s no better way for teams to bond than spotting a tiger in the wild. ???? The Grok team in Kuala Lumpur gathered for a day packed with hands-on training. The team learned practical strategies for time management and productivity, including activities focused on self-analysis. The session reinforced the importance of collaboration and staff well-being, with a special emphasis on work-life balance and stress management. And of course, no event in our Malaysian office would be complete without an abundance of food! Team-building events play a core role in Grok offices around the world. Not only are they a fantastic chance for Grok colleagues to gather together, but they also foster a collaborative culture where everyone feels supported. We look forward to more team building in the future! ?? Alex Green Jerry Czub Ben Barth Rica Robinson Fraser Deas Dylan Hoemsen Geetanjali Sharma Megha Srivastav CL Ng Emily Dai Carla Butterfield Islam Lafi Simisola Smith Victoria Steele Chris Kelly Ashley Tanks (IEAA-F) Jenna Sices Piers Lloyd Eli Tian 田力 Jiou (Rita) Ren Thao Pham

?? We’re excited to announce that Director of Client Success Fraser Deas will be speaking at the British Council?East Asia Agent Conference 2025 in Hong Kong this Thursday. Fraser looks forward to connecting with UK institutions and Education Agents from across East Asia and sharing some insights from our latest in-country staffing survey. We’re also pleased to share that?Grok Global Services?is sponsoring the event. If you’re attending, please stop by our booth and say hello to Fraser, as well as Director for Southeast Asia?CL Ng?and Director for Vietnam Thao Pham. Looking forward to catching up with many of you there!

?? We’re excited to announce that Director of Client Success Fraser Deas will be speaking at the British Council?East Asia Agent Conference 2025 in Hong Kong this Thursday. Fraser looks forward to connecting with UK institutions and Education Agents from across East Asia and sharing some insights from our latest in-country staffing survey. We’re also pleased to share that?Grok Global Services?is sponsoring the event. If you’re attending, please stop by our booth and say hello to Fraser, as well as Director for Southeast Asia?CL Ng?and Director for Vietnam Thao Pham. Looking forward to catching up with many of you there!

Wishing our colleagues, partners, and communities around the world a peaceful and blessed Ramadan. May this month bring joy, prosperity, and countless blessings to all. Ramadan Mubarak. ??

Director of Partnerships Ashley Tanks (IEAA-F) has been traversing Australia to meet with Grok partners across the continent, and she recently wrapped up her second week along with CEO Alex Green — visiting partners on the East and South Coasts. We’re grateful to the University of Newcastle, University of Adelaide and Flinders University for being such gracious hosts! ???? Ashley and Alex sat down with partners to discuss in-country staff, including how our in-country teams can help navigate Australia’s shifting landscape in international recruitment. Ashley and Alex also presented annual benchmarking data and region-specific marketing initiatives to various partners. A heartfelt thank you to our partners in Australia for the warm welcome. We look forward to working together in the coming months! ?? Chris Mumford Natalie S. Shree Andrew Qian (Kate) Zhou Dr Yik Ren Teo Matt Schultz Lexie Liu Bill Damachis Shirley Chung Ivan Li Kristina Qiu Monica Ruston Xiao Wen Tan Jessica Rattley Carly Spalding Karen Garzón

We are thrilled to welcome Dung Pham to the Vietnam team as our new Office Manager! ???? Dung joins us with a wealth of experience from diverse international organizations, including the European Union, the New Zealand Consulate General, the U.S. Consulate General, and the Nordic Chamber of Commerce. With her strong background in local HR, accounting, and administration, Dung is well-equipped to ensure our office runs smoothly and efficiently. We are excited to have her on board and can’t wait to see the positive impact she will bring to our team! ?? Alex Green Jerry Czub Ben Barth Rica Robinson Fraser Deas Dylan Hoemsen Geetanjali Sharma Megha Srivastav CL Ng Emily Dai Carla Butterfield Islam Lafi Simisola Smith Victoria Steele Chris Kelly Ashley Tanks (IEAA-F) Jenna Sices Piers Lloyd Eli Tian 田力 Jiou (Rita) Ren Thao Pham Rosario Vasquez Arguello