Fully accredited by AEGIS, the Boarding School Association and British Council trained, we support parents to educate their children internationally. We are also certified Safer Recruiters so our team and hosts are all recruited in line with safeguarding guidelines.
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Lorna founded Academic Families in 2012 following her 13 year overseas career in Australia, South America and East Africa. With 30+ years’ experience in business and as a former expat mother, Lorna leads the Academic Families team to deliver our premier personal and professional service. Lorna’s knowledge and expertise ensures that our students receive the best possible advice and support leading to their educational success.
In addition to recognition by the British Council, AEGIS, Boarding Schools' Association, English UK and Youth Mental Health England, Lorna was awarded an MBE by King Charles for Services to Young People.
Louise is responsible for introducing our services to families around the world, ensuring we provide the support they need. Louise has spent most of her life living outside the UK in SE Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean. Working for international travel and relocation companies has developed Louise’s cultural intelligence ensuring her excellent international understanding and relationships.
Coming to the UK for her own boarding school education and selecting the best boarding schools for her own 3rd culture children has given Louise a wealth of personal and professional experience. She is a great support to our parents – understanding their dilemma of choosing the right education for each child.
Michaela has been working in the Finance sector for 10 years. She enjoys working with numbers and creating systems that simplify them for others.
Michaela moved from South Africa to Scotland in 2024 with her daughter and husband. She understands first-hand the challenges of moving internationally and adapting to a new culture. Helping her daughter adjust to the UK has equipped her with a newfound knowledge and empathy for our international students who are moving away from home.
Roni heads our Admissions and Guardianship teams and is our designated Child Protection Officer.
She has taught overseas for 20+ years in British curriculum international schools, latterly as Deputy Head in Kenya. Her insight into the challenges moving cultures, curriculum and learning styles enables her team to ensure students are well prepared. Roni's British Council training, experience and expertise placing students in closely matched schools ensures their happiness and success and her child-centred focus ensures their safety and wellbeing.
Catriona works in the Admissions Team and her experiences living abroad and working with children allow her to relate to our community of international students. She is a British Council Certified Counsellor.
Catriona graduated with a degree in Spanish and Italian from Durham University and studied at the University of Salamanca, and in Florence, during her degree. After graduating, she returned to Italy and taught English at schools in Lombardy. Catriona also volunteers as a Youth Worker at charity-run summer camps in Scotland that welcome children from all over the world and she has received training in Child Protection.
Julia is part of the Admissions Team for Academic Families assisting with the registration process.
Julia worked for an international trading company based in London in the Administration Department. She relocated to Yorkshire with the group where she became Office Manager. After taking a fifteen-year break to raise her three children, she returned to work in junior and senior schools where she had several roles.
Sophie manages our Guardianship support and is responsible for our students’ UK arrangements and safety. Her UK-wide team of Guardianship Care Managers provide local support. Sophie's British Council training ensures her comprehensive knowledge of the UK education system and visa regulations ensuring our families are professionally supported at all times.
Sophie has lived in Kenya, Australia and the UK. At school, she swam competitively at national level then taught and coached swimming for 7 years at top schools, clubs and Loughborough University. Her natural teaching skills and easy rapport with our students ensure their education goes beyond the classroom as they develop their independence safely and happily.
Lydia is part of the guardianship team, supporting our students in England. Having experienced education abroad, she has a first-hand understanding how to best support students on their exciting venture.
Lydia completed her European Studies degree in the Netherlands, before returning to her family home in Spain to teach English as a Foreign Language. She has lots of experience working with students of all ages. She came to the UK to continue her studies in Inclusive Education, and is passionate about supporting accessible, high-quality education for all. Drawing on her own experiences of moving countries, she provides empathetic support for students, encouraging them to thrive during their time here.
As a former Primary School teacher and tutor, Helen has worked with students of all ages and understands both the Scottish and English education systems well. She also has experience welcoming international students at an English Language School in Edinburgh.
These experiences combined with her organisational skills developed in past administration roles benefit her when she coordinates with school staff and our Spanish partners to ensure a smooth experience for students.
Emily is part of our Guardianship Team and has first-hand experience of boarding school life, along with time spent working in UK schools.
Her background in psychology helps her support young people as they settle into a new culture and education system with confidence.
Originally from the south of England with close family in Italy, Emily values the mix of cultures and perspectives that international students bring. She aims to be a steady, encouraging presence as they build their own positive experiences in the UK.
With a background in psychology, education and mental health, Shona is part of our Guardianship Team.
Having lived and studied abroad herself, Shona understands both the excitement and challenges of settling into a new country. She takes time to build strong relationships with students and families – offering a calm, friendly and reassuring presence throughout their time away from home. Her experience means she recognises how important it is for students to feel safe, listened to and genuinely supported.
Reuben supports our students in Scotland.
Reuben has extensive experience working with international students of all ages from his time working in UK boarding schools. He's supported children from all around the world and understands both the excitement and challenges that come with moving abroad for the first time.
Reuben also worked as a Tennis Coach in UK boarding schools and encourages his students to get involved in the wide range of exciting extracurriculars offered to them.
Diana is from Lleida, a historic city in western Catalonia - and speaks Catalan, Spanish and English.
Her studies have taken her to Barcelona, the Netherlands, and most recently to St Andrews, Scotland. Having studied in the UK as an international student herself, Diana understands both the excitement and the importance of strong support when living and learning abroad. She also holds a master’s in teacher training with a specialism in Spanish language and is a strong believer in the value of a cross-cultural and inclusive education.
Outside of work, Diana enjoys reading, cooking for friends and family, and singing in choirs.
Sara supports our students hosts throughout the UK.
Having hosted international students for 20+ years, Sara fully understands the hosting experience and requirements, making her ideally placed to recruit, support and match our hosts with students. She is also a grandmother with a daughter living in Germany.
Sara has worked in sales and customer-facing roles across different sectors and is approachable and pragmatic. She is enthusiastic about helping students overcome any challenges and make the most of their British education.
Mari moved to the UK from Finland with a Masters degree in Economics and Business Administration. Her own sons both attended UK boarding schools before studying at Bath and Cambridge universities. Mari loves being a Guardian and helping Academic Families students achieve their goals.
Maki moved to the UK from Japan to study Business at university, so our student's experience of moving abroad resonates deeply with Maki.
After helping her own 3 children excel in the UK education system, she brings this knowledge to being an Academic Families Guardianship Care Manager. She helps our Japanese parents with any language issues and teaches Academic Families students how to make sushi!
After a business career in China, Lisa came from Beijing to the UK in 2001. Now married with a school age son, Lisa teaches secondary Chinese. Her first-hand knowledge of both education systems enables her to support our Chinese families to understand everything you need to know about UK education and culture.
Lisa also ensures our schools understand some of the cultural backgrounds our students come from so everyone learns together!
After high school, Kirsty spent a year volunteering in China teaching students ages 8-18. This year's work inspired her love of languages, and she returned to the UK to complete her degree in Chinese. Since then, she has studied abroad in Taiwan and Spain and returned to China to work as a kindergarten teacher.
Through working with students and parents from all backgrounds, Kirsty understands the need to add personal touches to students' time in the UK. With this in mind, she enjoys being able to help the rest of the Guardianship Team look after the students and provide them with the best level of care and attention possible.
In 2024, Academic Families acquired English Country Guardians (ECG), a highly regarded British guardianship company based in the South of England. Both organisations are united by shared values and a student-centred approach, dedicated to providing personalised and high-quality care for international students attending UK boarding schools.
ECG’s team has extensive experience supporting students applying to Oxford and Cambridge, with many staff and their children having attended these prestigious universities. If your child aspires to go to Oxbridge, they can now benefit from this specialised guidance.
Originally from The Netherlands, Janneke spent over 20 years living in Asia before settling in the UK with her family. Raising her son in Sri Lanka has given her a lot of first-hand experience in the international school system and the British curriculum.
With almost 30 years of working in the travel industry, Janneke is dedicated to creating memorable travel experiences for our students, ensuring they return to school with unforgettable memories and fresh perspectives.
Libby works as our Marketing Manager, responsible for overseeing all marketing projects and campaigns and implementing strategies to meet our marketing objectives.
Libby graduated with a degree in Entrepreneurship and Marketing from the University of Strathclyde and joined the Academic Families team shortly after. In 2022, she spent a year living and working in New York City, so is familiar with the rewards and challenges that come from living abroad. Libby also spent four summers working at a summer camp in New York, which garnished valuable experience in working with children and fostering leadership, adaptability and empowerment. In her spare time, Libby provides pro-bono marketing consultancy for charities and third-sector organisations.
Amelia is our Marketing Design and Content Executive responsible for overseeing our blog, email campaigns, design work and social media and brings our brand to life through thoughtful and creative content. Amelia holds a degree in Marketing and Management from the University of Exeter.
Originally from England, Amelia moved to Singapore during primary school and spent over a decade living there and attending international school. This gives her a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that come with studying away from home. Her global perspective helps shape our communications in a way that can resonate with different families all over the world.
Mia Ngo is a marketing professional from Vietnam with six years of experience in brand management and corporate marketing. In 2021, she came to the UK as an international student to pursue a Master’s degree - a move that broadened her perspective and strengthened her passion for inclusive marketing. Her experience studying abroad sparked her interest in creating communication that connects with international audiences. Mia is excited about the mission of bringing UK education to students from all over the world through the services of Academic Families. She is a British Council Certified Counsellor.
Outside of work, she enjoys yoga and long walks in nature.
Originally from Mexico, Sam is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese, giving him the skills to build on his previous marketing role with us to now develop our business in the Latin American market.
Building on his digital marketing and design experience, he continues to support our marketing team ensuring our messaging appeals to the LATAM market, although his focus is now on opening up new markets.
Get in touch and we will contact you to discuss your child's needs and explain how we can help you year-round.
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