Your professional journey
I am an experienced international education professional with over 10 years of expertise in student recruitment, counselling, and partnership development across Australia, Canada, and the UK.
I began my career in Internal Audit before transitioning into the international education industry in 2015. Over the years, I have worked with leading organizations including 3WGE, IDP Education, and Campus Direct Pvt Ltd, where I specialized in the Australian market while also supporting Canada and UK student recruitment.
In 2021, I joined Campus Direct Pvt Ltd as Assistant Manager – Australia Destination and later progressed to Destination Manager. I played a key role in building and expanding the Australian recruitment pipeline, establishing new university partnerships, conducting training sessions for counsellors, managing teams, leading marketing initiatives, organizing student recruitment events, and mentoring staff.
I am a Qualified Education Agent Counsellor (QECA No: N985) and was recognized with the 2020 IDP Education Outstanding Performance Award for achieving the highest number of Australian applications and finalizations.
In November 2023, I joined Edith Cowan University as the Regional Manager for Sri Lanka — my dream role. I currently lead student recruitment initiatives, agent engagement, training programs, and promotional events for the Sri Lankan market.
I hold an MBA from University of Bedfordshire and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Sheffield Hallam University.
Your local market expertise
The Sri Lankan recruitment market is highly dynamic and competitive, with a growing demand for quality international education, particularly in destinations such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Students and parents are increasingly focused on visa success rates, affordability, career outcomes, and post-study work opportunities when selecting a university.
Australia continues to be one of the most preferred study destinations among Sri Lankan students, with cities such as Melbourne being especially popular due to the strong Sri Lankan community and existing family and friend networks.
One of the key opportunities in the market is the increasing interest in globally recognized qualifications and industry-focused education. However, the market also faces challenges such as changing visa regulations, higher visa refusal rates since February 2025, and growing competition among institutions.
As the only Sri Lanka-based representative promoting a Western Australian university, Edith Cowan University, I focus on building strong relationships with students, parents, schools, and education agents while providing accurate guidance and personalized support to help students achieve their international education goals.
Understanding students
Students in the Sri Lankan market are mainly motivated by better career opportunities, Affordability, internationally recognized qualifications, and post-study work and migration pathways. Many students also seek practical, industry-focused education.
Students typically research universities through education agents, university websites, social media platforms, education exhibitions, and recommendations from friends or relatives already studying overseas. They usually compare universities based on rankings, tuition fees, scholarship opportunities, location, graduate outcomes, visa success rates, and part-time work opportunities.
The main concerns students and parents face include visa approval, financial affordability, accommodation, employment opportunities while studying, and adapting to a new country and culture. Changing visa regulations and increased competition among applicants have also made students more cautious when selecting their study destination and university.
Personal strengths
My experience across multiple international education markets, combined with my understanding of Sri Lankan student and parent expectations, helps me provide effective guidance and support. I am also passionate about team management, training, and building long-term partnerships that create positive outcomes for both students and universities.
Purpose and motivation
One of my proudest moments is seeing students I guided successfully graduate and begin their professional careers overseas. Knowing I played a part in changing their future and supporting their families gives me great satisfaction and motivation in my role.
Staying current and credible
I actively participate in university training sessions, industry workshops, agent events, and market research activities. Staying connected with education networks and monitoring visa and policy changes helps me remain updated on the latest higher education trends and market developments.
Personal dimension
My passion for connecting with people and supporting personal growth strongly influences my professional approach. I enjoy creating meaningful experiences through events and mentoring students and teams to help them achieve their goals with confidence.