Meet the Team
With many years' combined experience within the British boarding schools' sector, our team comprise sector experts who have the knowledge, experience and drive to find solutions to the challenges faced by our members. We are passionate about what we do and always strive to go the extra mile to support and care for our diverse global community of members.
Suzanne Rowse
Director & Head of School Membership
Suzanne has almost 30 years’ experience in international marketing and student recruitment, focused on the UK boarding school sector. After studying Business at university, Suzanne began her career in international marketing, working across the digital publishing, software and events industries. She later spent eight years as Marketing Director at a leading British boarding and day school in Kent, where she developed and implemented an international recruitment strategy that increased pupil numbers by 30% and broadened the diversity of nationalities within the boarding community. It was during this time that Suzanne developed a strong appreciation of the important role education agents play in international recruitment, as well as a first-hand understanding of the challenges schools face in developing overseas markets, managing agent relationships and making effective use of limited time and budgets. Suzanne founded BBSN in 2006 to bring schools and agents together and provide the Contacts, Knowledge and Support they need to work effectively. Since then, she has led the development of BBSN and its network of UK boarding schools and international education agents. Alongside her role as Director, Suzanne leads School Membership and works closely with member schools to help them make the most of BBSN and the wider network. She provides practical and strategic advice on international student recruitment, developing and diversifying markets, working effectively with education agents and building relationships that support schools’ longer-term recruitment objectives. Suzanne remains closely involved with schools and agents across the network, ensuring that BBSN’s services, events, resources and support continue to respond to the changing needs of the sector.
Antony Rowse
Director
Antony co-directs the company alongside Suzanne. Before establishing the company in 2006, Antony was a successful freelance technical illustrator and graphic designer, working for a range of commercial clients across the world. As well as managing all the visual aspects of the BBSN brand, Antony also leads the technical side of the Network – constantly developing the members' portal, the website, services and events. He has a drive to ensure our company exceeds the expectations of our members and his creative flair - and love of technology, lighting and design - add the touches of magic which ensure our events have a professional, yet welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere.
Elyse Conlon
Head of Events & Training
Elyse leads the strategic development and delivery of BBSN's programme of events, webinars and professional development, ensuring members have access to high-quality opportunities to learn, network and collaborate. Elyse is responsible for BBSN's flagship events, including the British Boarding Schools' Workshops (BBSW), held each March and November, together with member networking events, webinars and the development of BBSN's growing training programme. She works closely with schools, Approved Agents and sector partners to create engaging events and practical training that respond to the evolving needs of the international boarding school sector.She brings more than 20 years' experience in international education, including seven years overseas in senior leadership roles. Prior to joining BBSN, she worked for 15 years at a member boarding school in Shropshire, where she held academic and leadership positions, most recently as Director of Admissions & Marketing. Previous roles included Academic Director of the International Study Centre and Summer School, Head of EAL and GCSE English Teacher. As Director of Admissions & Marketing, Elyse led UK and international student recruitment, marketing, alumni engagement, events and the summer school. She developed successful international recruitment strategies, strengthened the school's nationality mix, built long-standing partnerships with agents worldwide and represented the school extensively at BBSN events, giving her a strong understanding of the needs of both schools and educational agents. Alongside her events expertise, Elyse has extensive experience designing and delivering professional development programmes for teachers, school leaders, governors and support staff in both the UK and overseas. Her training has covered areas including cultural awareness, inclusive teaching, assessment for learning, English as an Additional Language (EAL), marketing and admissions, and international education, as well as residential teacher training programmes. Elyse brings an empathetic and practical understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing schools, agents and the wider international education sector. Passionate about professional development, she is committed to creating high-quality events and training that equip members with the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed. A strong advocate for the boarding sector, she champions collaboration, continuous learning and the exceptional work taking place across the BBSN community.
Joanne Richards
Events & Training Assistant
As Events & Training Assistant, Joanne works closely with Elyse Conlon, Head of Events & Training. She supports the planning and delivery of BBSN’s events, training programmes and networking opportunities, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in education and customer-focused administration to the role. Before joining BBSN, Joanne spent three years in the Admissions and Marketing team at a BBSN member boarding school. She supported UK and international families throughout the admissions journey and developed strong relationships with education agents. Her role included managing agent familiarisation trips, coordinating itineraries, travel and accommodation, and arranging school visits, interviews and assessments for international families and agents. Before this, Joanne spent 18 years at a state secondary school, progressing through a variety of administrative and finance roles before becoming Examinations Officer. In this position, she managed the school’s public examinations, coordinating complex timetables, logistics, invigilators and regulatory requirements. Throughout her career, Joanne has helped to organise a wide range of events and activities, including open days, recruitment events, business lunches, parents’ evenings, governors’ meetings and wider school community events. She has also supported the delivery of training and informational content for agents through webinars and podcasts. Having spent six years living in Malaysia, Joanne brings a personal understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with living abroad. Her experience in event logistics, stakeholder communication, database management and complex administration enables her to bring people and details together to create professional and welcoming experiences for everyone involved.
Marion Clifford-Taggart
Head of Agent Membership & Accreditation
Marion leads the strategic development and management of BBSN's Approved Agent Membership & Accreditation Programme, ensuring schools have access to a trusted, high-quality network of international education agents. Marion is responsible for overseeing the full agent membership journey, from recruitment and onboarding through to accreditation, engagement, compliance monitoring and member retention. She works closely with Marinda to oversee due diligence, reference checks, and compliance processes. She also plays a key role in BBSN's implementation of the UK Agent Quality Framework (AQF) within the boarding school sector. She contributes to the development and delivery of the new BBSN and Fragomen LLP AQF Training Programme for Agents, launching in September 2026. She works closely with schools, agents and strategic partners to promote best practice in international student recruitment. As Head of Department, Marion is responsible for expanding BBSN's international network of Approved Agents and ensuring the continuous development of services that support both schools and agents. She regularly meets with BBSN's global network of Approved Agents through online review meetings, building strong relationships with members while gathering valuable market intelligence and feedback that helps shape BBSN's future initiatives. Before joining BBSN, Marion spent almost ten years in the External Relations Department at King William's College, an independent boarding school on the Isle of Man. As Admissions Registrar, she managed local and international admissions, organised recruitment events, FAM trips and school visits, and developed extensive experience in working with education agents and international families. She represented the school at education conferences and agent events around the world, building strong partnerships across key international markets. Having attended the British Boarding Schools' Workshop (BBSW) for many years as a school representative, Marion now supports these flagship events, working closely with agent members before, during and after each event. Marion is passionate about raising standards across international education and is committed to supporting schools and agents through collaboration, professional development and the sharing of best practice.
Marinda Gerber
AGENT MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR
Marinda supports the day-to-day delivery of BBSN’s Approved Agent Membership & Accreditation Programme, working alongside Marion on agent onboarding, compliance monitoring and ongoing member support. Originally from South Africa, Marinda has lived in Brazil, Singapore and Luxembourg before settling in the UK, giving her a valuable international perspective and an understanding of the experiences of families living overseas. Before joining BBSN, Marinda spent nearly six years at a boarding school in Kent, working across its Senior and Prep Schools in administrative and international programme roles. As International Immersion Coordinator, she worked closely with education agents, overseas partner schools and colleagues across boarding, academic and pastoral teams to coordinate programmes for visiting international students. Earlier in her career, Marinda worked in communications, public relations and community engagement in South Africa and Singapore, including corporate communications, events and the charity sector. At BBSN, Marinda brings together her international outlook, understanding of boarding schools and practical, people-focused approach to help Approved Agents feel welcome, informed and well supported.
James Marriott
Head of Engagement & Digital Strategy
In his role, James leads the development of new ways to engage with and support BBSN’s member schools and Approved Agents, with a particular focus on helping members gain greater value from BBSN’s digital resources and members’ portal. James began his career as a qualified teacher at an independent boarding school, giving him first-hand experience of boarding school life and a strong understanding of the communities that support students. His interest in technology and communications later led him into school marketing and admissions, where he worked with families throughout the admissions journey and helped develop communications with parents, alumni and other stakeholders. James subsequently moved into the education technology sector, working for a UK HubSpot consultancy specialising in education, before becoming Partnerships Manager for a multinational communications company. These roles developed his experience in digital engagement, partnerships and using technology to improve communications and customer journeys. At BBSN, James works closely with schools and agents to help them use the portal effectively, from finding and managing information to interpreting data and turning insights into action. He also leads the ongoing development of the Knowledge Hub, helping members access BBSN guidance, training, market intelligence and best-practice resources more easily. With a particular interest in emerging technology and AI, James brings together his experience in boarding schools, education, digital technology and engagement to help BBSN and its members make effective use of digital tools and prepare for future change.
Susan Hogan
Membership & Support Coordinator
With a background spanning admissions, marketing, communications and relationship management, Susan supports BBSN’s member schools and agents, helping them make the most of their membership and access the network, resources and support available to them. Susan brings more than 17 years’ experience working in the independent and boarding school sector to her role as Membership & Support Coordinator at BBSN. Before joining BBSN, Susan spent more than six years as Director of Admissions at Canford School, where she developed a strong understanding of school admissions, student recruitment, the needs of international families and UKVI compliance. Earlier in her career, she worked internationally as Director of Community Relations at Dulwich College Shanghai, giving her valuable insight into international education and overseas markets.
Ollie Rowse
Marketing & Special Projects Manager
Having grown up with the family business, Ollie has been attending the BBSW since he was 14, helping with event set-up, photography, video production and technical support. He graduated in July 2025 with a first-class honours degree in Business & Events Management and has since focused on his work with the BBSN team full-time. As Research & Special Projects Manager, Ollie’s role spans strategy, research, creative delivery and business improvement. Working closely with the directors and wider team, he helps identify opportunities, explore new ideas and translate research and insight into projects that strengthen BBSN’s services for schools and Approved Agents. His work has included improving and automating the Approved Agent application journey, developing research and feedback processes, and supporting new initiatives across membership, events and digital services. Ollie also contributes to BBSN’s marketing and creative output through campaign planning, publications, graphics and video content, as well as supporting the planning, delivery and evaluation of events. Combining long-standing knowledge of BBSN with creative thinking and practical problem-solving, Ollie is committed to helping the Network continue to develop in response to the needs of its members. As a former weekly boarder himself, he also brings a personal understanding of boarding school life and the communities BBSN supports.
Manue Hutton
Finance & Admin Coordinator
Manue is an experienced finance and administration professional with more than 20 years’ experience gained across the UK, France, the Netherlands and South Africa. A graduate in Finance and Accounting from Normandy Business School in France, Manue began her career in corporate finance, working with international organisations including Nike, LEGATO Systems, Cisco Systems and Diageo. Her experience spans financial reporting, budgeting, reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable, and financial process management. Since relocating to England, Manue has focused on finance and administration within the education sector, working across both academy trust and independent school environments. Before joining BBSN, she was Finance Assistant at an independent boarding and day school in Hampshire, giving her valuable first-hand understanding of school finance and operations. At BBSN, Manue supports day-to-day financial and administrative operations, bringing strong attention to detail, an organised and approachable manner, and an international perspective to her role. She is fluent in both French and English.