Our Team
Anand Karuppiah
Chief Executive Officer
Welcome to The Institute of International Studies (TIIS)
Welcome to TIIS — a place where quality education, innovation, and student success come together.
At TIIS, we are committed to delivering high-quality, industry-relevant programs that are designed to equip our students with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities required to succeed in a rapidly changing global environment. Our courses are developed in alignment with Australian regulatory standards and industry expectations, ensuring that your qualification is both credible and career-focused.
Equally important to academic excellence is our strong commitment to student support. We provide comprehensive academic, personal, and wellbeing services to ensure that every student feels supported throughout their learning journey — from enrolment and orientation through to graduation and beyond. Our dedicated staff are here to guide, mentor, and assist you to achieve your goals.
Led by Mr Anand Karuppiah, Chief Executive Officer, who brings nearly three decades of experience across multiple education sectors with a strong specialisation in international education, the TIIS management team is deeply committed to supporting students on their learning journey and ensuring a high-quality educational experience at TIIS.
Our mission — For Today, For Tomorrow — reflects our belief that education should prepare you not only for immediate success, but also for long-term growth and future opportunities. At TIIS, we aim to empower you to build a strong foundation today, while developing the adaptability and resilience needed for tomorrow.
We look forward to welcoming you to our TIIS community and supporting you on your educational journey.
Warm regards,
Mr Anand Karuppiah
Chief Executive Officer
The Institute of International Studies (TIIS)
Board of Directors
- Mr Andrew Lillicrap, Chair of TIIS Board
- Mr Nigel Tsa, Board Member
- Fang (Amy) Li, Board Member
- Ms Ellie Wei, Board Member
- Dr Kaushik Sridhar, Board Member
- Dr Peter Mangles, Board Member
- Dr ANANDA WICKRAMASINGHE, Board Member
Academic Board
- Professor John Chelliah, Chair
- Dr Suresh Sood, Academic Board Member
- Mr Maurice Cheong, Academic Board Member
- Dr Peter Mangles, Academic Board Member
- Dr Ruth Ferraro, Academic Board Member
- Dr ANANDA WICKRAMASINGHE, Academic Board Member
Academic Team
Originally from the Waikato in New Zealand, Dr. Trevor Clark is a seasoned academic and mentor who blends curiosity with a deep commitment to people. Over three decades, he has balanced rigorous research with teaching, coaching, and leadership, guided by the belief that progress happens when people feel seen and supported.
A storyteller at heart, as an ex-rugby league professional Trevor draws on experiences in elite sport, higher education, and coaching to illuminate how humans develop, learn, and lead. He has served as Dean at the International College of Management Sydney, Head of Department at the Australian College of Physical Education, and Head of Performance for the NZ Warriors and North Harbour Rugby—roles he approaches with humility and collaboration.
Trevor prioritises student wellbeing and long-term development, designing evidence-based curricula that foster curiosity, resilience, and inclusive thinking. He mentors staff, builds trusting teams, and turns ideas into practical outcomes.
Beyond titles, Trevor is a father of four and grandfather of four with equal splits of two boys and two girls of each generation. His wife Christine is a dedicated cook looking after children within early learning centres.
Dr Trevor Clark
Academic Dean
Wajeeha has a PhD in Business Management from RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia) and MBA (Management) and Bachelors in Psychology from Pakistan. She has almost 15 years’ experience in teaching and research. She is an experienced educator, having taught several business courses and performed academic and leadership roles within universities and higher education institutes including Head Tutor; Lecturer and Unit and Program Coordinator.
Wajeeha derives much passion in her teaching by focusing on identifying student needs and strengths, helping students recognize their abilities and talents.
Dr Wajeeha Khalil
Associate Dean (Research & Scholarship)
With over 20 years of combined industry and academic experience, Emad bridges the gap between cutting-edge ICT solutions and transformative education. Holding a Ph.D. in Software Engineering and Networking from Brunel University, UK, he has delivered enterprise-grade networking, cloud, and secure infrastructure projects while leading academic programs across multiple universities.
A member of the Australian Computer Society (ACS), he has proven success in curriculum design, TEQSA compliance, program coordination, and delivering impactful education initiatives, demonstrating strong leadership in higher education.
Currently driving AI and cybersecurity initiatives over cloud platforms in collaboration with industry partners, he integrates research in software-defined networking, IoT-cloud convergence, and next-generation network security into both commercial applications and academic curricula. Published in top-tier IEEE journals and a contributor to EU and EPSRC-funded projects, he excels at delivering technology solutions, building academic-industry partnerships, and preparing the next generation of ICT professionals.
Dr Emad Alasadi
Associate Dean (Innovation & Enterprise)
Dr Alexander Roper is an experienced higher education leader, with a distinguished career spanning academic management, course development, and regulatory compliance across Australia’s university and private higher education sectors. Holding PhD, Master, Graduate Diploma and Bachelor degrees from his studies in the UK and Australia, Dr Roper has led the successful registration and accreditation of new institutions, developed innovative undergraduate and
postgraduate programs, and established strong governance frameworks to ensure academic excellence. He has been instrumental in elevating teaching standards and student outcomes, achieving national recognition, including guiding a postgraduate school to the No.1 ranking in NSW and No.2 in Australia for Management and Commerce courses (QILT). Dr Roper’s approachable leadership style, combined with deep regulatory knowledge, has enabled him to build collaborative teams and foster vibrant learning environments. Published across North America, Europe and Australasia, Dr Roper was most recently Dean at the Lead Institute of Higher Education (and prior to this, the same – Dean – at the International Graduate
Institute and the International College of Management Sydney), where he shaped the future of tertiary education, embedding quality assurance and student-centred learning across all levels of study. His extensive portfolio includes chairing academic and ethics committees, mentoring academic staff, and engaging with industry to enhance graduate employability.
Dr Roper also serves as an external examiner and contributes to cross-institutional benchmarking, championing continuous improvement across the sector. Committed to lifelong learning and meaningful impact, Dr Roper combines academic rigour with practical leadership to create enriching, future-focused educational experiences.
Alexander Roper
Program Coordinator – Business
TIIS Learning Centre Manager (Librarian), holds multiple degrees including DBA, MBA, LLM and a Master of Information Studies. He is also a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA Australia) with 25 years of auditing, accounting and finance experience in Hong Kong, mainland China, Australia and America, having been the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of a US-listed corporation. He is passionate in connecting the academic field with the business world.
Dr Daley Mok
Librarian & Learning Centre Manager
Megan brings a wealth of corporate governance and education expertise to the role. Having commenced her career as a teacher then moving into education operations and transitioning to corporate governance Megan is a recognised leader in organisational transparency, accountability and risk management with a focus on people, purpose, process and performance. Her background extends across corporate affairs, finance, C-suite roles, company secretary and Board directorships within Government, the not for profit and private sectors. In her spare time Megan enjoys returning to her speech and drama Trinity College roots as well persevering in bringing her mango and fig trees to fruit!
Duncan Honoré-Morris
Program Coordinator – Accounting & Finance
Megan brings a wealth of corporate governance and education expertise to the role. Having commenced her career as a teacher then moving into education operations and transitioning to corporate governance Megan is a recognised leader in organisational transparency, accountability and risk management with a focus on people, purpose, process and performance. Her background extends across corporate affairs, finance, C-suite roles, company secretary and Board directorships within Government, the not for profit and private sectors. In her spare time Megan enjoys returning to her speech and drama Trinity College roots as well persevering in bringing her mango and fig trees to fruit!
Megan Lavender
Governance Executive
- Dr Philip Booth, Senior Lecturer
- Dr Annamaria Kurtovic, Lecturer
- Mr Shibly Abdullah, Lecturer
- Mr Senthilananthan Suntharalingam, Lecturer
- Dr Donna Gill, Lecturer
- Mr Iswan Mastro, Lecturer
- Dr Rochelle Wilson, Lecturer
- Dr Charles Thevathayan, Lecturer
- Dr Santiago Gomez, Lecturer
- Mr Michael Lehner, Lecturer
- Dr Munazza Zaib, Lecturer
- Mr Patrick Riakos
- Ms Brenda McCormick
- Dr Aruni Niroshika
- Dr Seyed Lajevardi
- Dr Saugat Neupane
- Ms Luciana Uhlemann, Lecturer
- Dr Mohammad Momeni, Lecturer
- Mr Jude Gibson, Lecturer
- Ms Margaret Redestowicz, Lecturer
- Ms Donna Mack, Lecturer
- Dr Kanwal Javed, Lecturer
- Dr Nectar Costadoupoulos, Lecturer
- Dr Bijan Jamshid-Nejad, Lecturer
- Dr Maruf Mostafa, Lecturer
- Dr Muhammad Umair Manzoor, Lecturer
- Dr Ramtin Ranji
- Dr Fazal E Amin
- Dr Niousha Nazemi
- Dr Javed Mahmood
- Dr Sommala Sisombat
Professional Team
With more than 24 years of background in the migration industry as an Administration Officer. Here at TIIS, specialize in providing appropriate services to the students. The first point of contact for them. Always here to help and advise.
Amy Zeng
Student Services Officer
I am an experienced professional in the international education sector with over 7 years of expertise in student recruitment, business development, team management, and strategic engagement across multiple sectors ELICOS, VET, and Higher Education. Having begun my journey as an international student in Australia, I bring both personal insight and professional expertise to support students in achieving their educational goals. I have also worked alongside migration agents and lawyers which has contributed to sound understanding of different visa subclasses and their obligations.
Over the years, I have recruited thousands of international students and contributed to significant revenue growth for leading Australian institutions, while building strong networks across the Sub-Continent, Middle East, LATAM, Greater China, and Southeast Asia. My approach is driven by ethical practice, compliance, and a strong understanding of global education markets.
Alongside my work in education, I also have expertise in multimedia and digital marketing, allowing me to deliver strategies tailored to diverse audiences. As an Accredited Mental Health First Aider paired with active multicultural community engagement, I am committed to student wellbeing and fostering inclusive learning environments.
Brasish Suwal
Business Development Manager
With a Master’s degree in Marketing from the University of Melbourne, Ben brings over three years of industry experience to the table. Renowned for his prowess in navigating the complexities of the China-Australia market, he excels in crafting and executing strategic marketing campaigns. Currently holding the position of Marketing officer at TIIS Melbourne, Ben spearheads enrollment endeavors across the East Asia region with precision and dedication.
Benhan Shi
Marketing Manager
Jackie is fluent in both English and Mandarin and holds a Master’s degree in Crosscultural Communication from the University of Sydney. Currently a member of the Student Services team, Jackie brings strong attention to detail, developed through prior experience in a logistics environment. His skills support effective communication and dedicated service within diverse student communities.
Jackie Lu
Student Administration Officer
Chandni has been driving marketing initiatives for Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs at a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) since 2019. Now extending her focus to the Higher Education sector, she continues to expand her capabilities across a broad spectrum of marketing strategies. With a degree in marketing and a culturally rich background rooted in India, Chandni brings a global perspective to her work. Her diverse expertise spanning traditional outreach and a strong digital marketing presence—enables her to develop impactful, inclusive campaigns that engage a wide-ranging audience
Chandni Thakkar
Marketing Manager
Nica holds a degree in Marketing and Advertising and brings over 8 years of experience in marketing roles across diverse industries. Her background includes event coordination, content development, and campaign strategy, with a passion for creating meaningful brand experiences. At TIIS, she supports both marketing and student services, contributing to the institute’s visibility and student engagement through creative and strategic initiatives.
Nica Tamayo
Marketing and Student Services Officer
Want to know more?
Find out more about studying in Australia with TIIS Institute.