Who we are

GERSA is the Global Education Recruitment Standards Authority. A fully independent, not‑for‑profit body dedicated to safeguarding and strengthening the movement of students across borders. Our mandate is straightforward: remove needless risk from international recruitment so education providers, agents and, above all, students can operate in an environment of integrity and trust.

We pursue that mandate through genuine collaboration. Our Board and technical committees draw membership from government departments, sector associations, ethical education agents, student advocates and compliance experts on five continents. This blended governance model ensures no single interest can dominate and that every decision is stress‑tested against real‑world practice.

From this process has emerged the world’s first single, enforceable Code of Practice for student‑recruitment intermediaries. Harmonising existing guidance, including the UK Agent Quality Framework, with rigorous due‑diligence protocols, the Code sets measurable standards that raise the baseline for the entire sector and give regulators a credible partner in self‑regulation.

“Our recurring audits operationalise frameworks like the UK’s AQF, giving universities hard evidence that their agents meet—and keep exceeding—the promised standard. That protects students, cuts sector-wide risk and saves millions in duplicated compliance costs.”

Birgit Hirst | Chief Commercial Officer

The GERSA Executive Team unites diverse expertise in international education, non-profit incorporation and management, regulatory compliance, global expansion, and strategic marketing. Each member, despite varied backgrounds, shares a commitment to raising ethical standards and driving innovation in student recruitment. Their collective strengths position GERSA to lead meaningful change in international education.

Nick is a seasoned edupreneur with a 40-year career in international education, pioneering large-scale student mobility. He co-founded CATS Colleges (1985), Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts, Cambridge Education Group (1998) and On-Campus (2007). As a Cambridge Angels investor, he backed and exited several EdTech ventures, including The Ambassador Platform. Nick brings GERSA profound insight into the ecosystem, engages diverse stakeholder groups, and is committed to international education as a force for good. He holds an MA in Law from Magdalene College, Cambridge, and lives in Cambridge, UK.

Birgit is a leader in international education. She led StudyLink’s global expansion with go-to-market strategies and at Navitas established university partnerships, gaining deep sector insight. As Change Manager at the World Gold Council, she transformed a not-for-profit association into a commercially disciplined organisation managing a $120m budget. Earlier roles include consulting at Boston Consulting Group, portfolio operations at a private equity fund and audit at KPMG. Birgit holds an MBA from MIT Sloan and a BA in Psychology and Economics from NYU. Birgit now resides in London. Passionate about ethical standards, she champions GERSA’s mission.

Glynne is a leading education lawyer with over 30 years’ experience, most recently as a partner at Eversheds Sutherland. He helped establish the QAA, OIA and the Russell Group, and advised on founding the Francis Crick and Turing Institutes. He led the landmark sale of the University of Law and the creation of branch campuses in Malaysia, China, Asia and the Gulf. Expert in pathway providers and agent networks, he offers deep insight into international education and champions GERSA’s mission. Glynne holds an MA in Law from Jesus College, Oxford and lives in Cambridge, UK.

Paige is an international education specialist with over a decade’s customer-facing and operational experience, most notably at Kaplan International. There, she managed student accommodation and welfare, gaining first-hand insight into the student experience abroad. She’s also led dispersed teams and driven strategic initiatives—including a secondment directing Kaplan’s CSR programme. A committed advocate for education’s transformative power, Paige champions the cultural exchange that international programmes foster for students, institutions and host countries alike.

Nolan is a strategic marketing leader with 25 years’ global brand experience, blending creative insight and commercial acumen to deliver impactful results. He has helped guide organisations ranging from multinationals like Mitsubishi Electric to start-ups, and gained deep understanding of independent schools and the international education sector. Expert in brand storytelling, strategic messaging and integrated marketing, Nolan excels at building authentic connections. His commitment to purpose-driven marketing aligns with GERSA’s mission to elevate ethical standards.