Rania van Heerden
Surrey
Summary
Strategic partnerships and engagement leader with 15+ years of international experience across higher education, professional bodies and global institutions. Proven track record in building long-term relationships with universities, regulators, employers and senior stakeholders to strengthen talent pipelines and institutional collaboration. Experienced in designing structured engagement strategies, leading cross-regional initiatives and delivering high-impact events that connect academic institutions with industry needs. Combines strategic insight, stakeholder influence and cross-cultural collaboration to drive sustainable partnerships and measurable organisational impact.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work history
Business Development Manager - Executive Education
London Business School
London
09.2024 - 03.2026
- Design engagement strategies connecting global organisations with LBS executive education programmes and thought-leadership initiatives.
- Plan and deliver executive-level roundtables and faculty-led events engaging senior leaders from global organisations.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to scope organisational needs and develop tailored learning solutions aligned with business priorities.
- Provide insight into client priorities and market trends to support programme positioning and strengthen long-term organisational partnerships.
Lead Market Development Manager
ACCA, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
London
05.2018 - 06.2023
- Spearheaded ACCA’s entry into 13 new international markets, delivering sustained qualification growth and strengthening global presence.
- Built strategic alliances with universities, regulators and major employers across emerging markets to strengthen professional talent pipelines and institutional partnerships.
- Led engagement with global professional services firms, including the Big 4, to strengthen employer partnerships and expand access to professional qualification routes.
- Contributed to regional growth strategies focused on expanding employer partnerships and strengthening relationships with training providers.
- Exceeded certificate programme sales targets through expanded employer engagement and market development initiatives
Head of Emerging Asia (Secondment)
ACCA
London
09.2017 - 04.2018
- Led a regional team of eight responsible for employer engagement and qualification growth across emerging Asia markets.
- Partnered with employers, regulators and academic institutions to strengthen recognition and adoption of ACCA qualifications across the region.
- Worked with senior stakeholders across organisations to support professional development initiatives and expand engagement with ACCA programmes.
- Delivered regional growth objectives through targeted partnership development and market engagement strategies.
Regional Education Manager - Emerging Markets
ACCA
London
03.2015 - 08.2017
- Built and managed strategic partnerships with universities and professional training providers across emerging markets.
- Led accreditation initiatives aligning academic curricula with ACCA qualification frameworks.
- Partnered closely with universities to support students pursuing the ACCA qualification, working with academic teams to enhance student success and strengthen long-term academic collaborations.
International Marketing Manager
Global University Systems (GUS)
London
06.2012 - 03.2015
- Managed international marketing initiatives and partnerships to support global student recruitment and strengthen institutional visibility.
- Executed global campaigns and events across multiple regions to strengthen GUS's brand presence and enrolment growth.
Marketing Executive, EMEA
Encyclopaedia Britannica (UK) Ltd.
London
09.2007 - 06.2012
- Delivered integrated B2B marketing campaigns and international events across EMEA, expanding brand recognition and digital engagement.
Education
MSc - International Business Development, focus Europe
ESC Bretagne Brest
Brest, FranceBA (Hons) - Business Administration
University of Greenwich
LondonSkills
- Strategic partnerships & stakeholder engagement
- University and academic partnerships
- Global market development
- Cross-sector collaboration (academia, regulators, employers)
- Event strategy and thought leadership engagement
- Strategic communication and stakeholder influencing
- CRM systems (Salesforce)
- Microsoft office mastery
LANGUAGES
French - Expert
Native
English - Advanced
Fluent
Spanish - Intermediate
Advanced
Arabic - Intermediate
Upper intermediate
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Business Development Manager - Executive Education
London Business School
09.2024 - 03.2026
Lead Market Development Manager
ACCA, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
05.2018 - 06.2023
Head of Emerging Asia (Secondment)
ACCA
09.2017 - 04.2018
Regional Education Manager - Emerging Markets
ACCA
03.2015 - 08.2017
International Marketing Manager
Global University Systems (GUS)
06.2012 - 03.2015
Marketing Executive, EMEA
Encyclopaedia Britannica (UK) Ltd.
09.2007 - 06.2012
BA (Hons) - Business Administration
University of Greenwich
MSc - International Business Development, focus Europe
ESC Bretagne Brest