Team

Agnieszka joined UWC International in April 2023 and is based in London. As an Educational Support Coordinator and Safeguarding Officer she coordinates all student programmes including safeguarding, mental health, Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion (ARDEI), special education needs and English learning support.

Agnieszka brings over 20 years of professional experience from a variety of sectors including senior executive search, investment banking & private equity, executive coaching and consulting. She also volunteered with the Polish UWC National Committee and is currently a trustee of UWC Great Britain. She loves to work with organisations and individuals who want to be at their best and reach their full potential.

A Polish UWC-USA alumna (1986-1988), she holds a BA in economics from Yale University, USA, and an MBA from IESE, Spain. In her spare time, Agnieszka enjoys spending time with her family and loves to row on the river Thames.

Email: agnieszka.ziemba@uwcio.uwc.org

Alex is the Digital Communications Officer at UWC International. As part of the Communications team, Alex uses digital tools such as social media, websites and online resources to support internal and external communications around the movement. He collaborates with, and supports the UWC schools and colleges and UWC’s network of over 150 national committees (NCs).

Alex is a dual-national Canadian-British citizen who holds a Master’s degree in International Cooperation and Development from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan. His connection to the UWC movement runs deep, having lived at Pearson College, mentored UWC students on the KULE Foundation project, and worked as a Parliamentary Researcher for MP Stephen Doughty (UWC Pearson College, 1996-1998) – former chair of the UWC Great Britain National Committee. 

Throughout his career, Alex has worked with various NGOs and within the UK political system, focusing on humanitarian and educational projects. These experiences have fuelled his passion for the intersectional role that education plays in promoting human rights, peacebuilding and broadening the horizons of youth globally.

In his spare time, Alex is an avid adventurer and outdoorsman. On weekends, you’ll likely find him hiking and camping in the wilderness, or exploring one of his many passions, such as carpentry. He approaches life with enthusiasm, always seeking new ways to grow and engage with the world around him.

Email: alex.tyner@uwcio.uwc.org

Angela joined UWC International at the end of August 2023 as the Finance and Administrative Associate. Her role involves supporting the Senior Financial Accountant and office administration tasks. Prior to joining the London team, Angela was based in New Zealand where she worked in the education sector supporting students on placements as well as for a charitable organisation where she supported the fundraising team. Angela holds a BA in Sociology and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology. While she was studying her graduate diploma, she worked as a dog handler, providing basic canine training and walks to groups of dogs. 

Angela enjoys working with people from different cultural backgrounds and working together as a team towards a common cause. She is adept at conversational cantonese and, in her spare time, loves walks, trying new recipes and reading a good book.

Email: angela.lun@uwcio.uwc.org

Beata joined the UWC International Office in October 2022. She is a dedicated professional with a BSc degree in Business Psychology, bringing years of experience in managing and coordinating office and HR functions. In her current role as HR Coordinator at UWC International in London, Beata conducts comprehensive recruitment and selection activities, including resume screening, interviews and background checks. Her responsibilities extend to employee performance evaluation and the identification of improvement opportunities. Beata efficiently manages new employee orientation, onboarding and offboarding processes, as well as payroll administration. She is adept at developing and implementing HR policies and procedures aligned with company values and goals, while also ensuring the accuracy and maintenance of HR records.

Beata brings a wealth of diverse industry experience to the table, having navigated through social care, private medical care, marketing and finance. Fluent in both English and Hungarian, she thrives on fostering meaningful connections with colleagues. Beata’s dedication to employee well-being and continuous improvement not only shines through in her professional roles but also resonates in her multifaceted commitment to various hobbies, including exploring new destinations, expressing herself through travel blogging, engaging in sport activities and creating art through painting.

beata.ulicska@uwcio.uwc.org

Berianne is the Financial Accountant at UWC International since 2009. She ensures the smooth running of the financial operations, providing support to staff and International constituents.  

Prior to joining UWC, Berianne worked within the textile industry, from production management and costing to financial operations. After ten years, she decided on a career change, and pursued her interest in the non for profit sector, being employed by Diana Award, where she found her passion for working in charities.  

Berianne qualified as an Accounting Technician in 2011, and has over 18 years of experience in finance costing, planning and management.  

A strong believer in equality and respecting people’s values and opinions. When not working, studying or otherwise juggling figures, she returns to her Mediterranean roots, enjoying great food and spending time with family and friends.

Email: Berianne.coutts@uwcio.uwc.org
Phone: +44 (0)20 7269 7809

Briana joined UWC International as a Programmes Coordinator for the Global Selection Programme in September 2023. Her role focuses on running the Global Selection Program through managing applications, reviews, and selection.

Briana holds a BA in Anthropology from Trent University and MA in Cultural Heritage Management and Conservation from Sir Sandford Fleming College. She spent several years in the heritage sector as an artefact conservator before deciding to make a change and enter into education admissions and selection. Prior to joining UWC, she worked as a Programme Coordinator for the Rise scholarship, where she was first introduced to the UWC movement. She quickly became passionate about enacting social change through aiding young people to achieve their academic dreams. 

Briana is originally from Ottawa, Canada, and moved to the UK and settled in Oxfordshire in 2022. She has also lived in the United States of America and Malta.

Outside of work, Briana spends her time crocheting, baking, playing tennis with friends and travelling around the UK and beyond. 

Email: briana.ippolito@uwcio.uwc.org

Briana joined UWC International in January 2022 as Programmes team intern and is now working as Programmes Officer in the Berlin office. She works to support and strengthen UWC schools, colleges and national committees in their processes and operations. 

Prior to joining UWC, Briana graduated from McGill University in Montreal with a BA in International Development and Political Science. Since then she has worked for various national and international non-profit and charity organizations. In her most recent roles, she worked as programmes coordinator for organizations providing mentoring and education opportunities to young black men and women, both in Canada and the UK. Driven by her passion for education and social justice, Briana is excited to be working for such an international and wide-reaching movement like UWC that is providing incredible education opportunities to youth all over the world. 

In her spare time, Briana can be found bouldering, reading, traveling, listening to podcasts, and eating her way through Berlin (or anywhere else). 

Email: briana.wilson@uwcio.uwc.org 

Clara is UWC International’s Digital Communications Manager. She is a Portuguese UWC Adriatic alumna (1996-1998) who for many years led the volunteer-run Portuguese UWC National Committee while keeping her day job as a professional video editor.

As part of the Communications team, Clara runs digital communications – i.e. social media, website content – and internal communications – liaising with and supporting all 18 schools and colleges and UWC’s network of over 150 national committees.

Prior to joining UWC International she worked as a video editor for Red Bull Media House in Austria, after years working in Portugal between media production companies and national TV stations. Upon finishing her pre-Bologna 5-year degree on Sound & Image at Escola das Artes da Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Oporto, Clara joined UWC Portugal as a volunteer in 2008 where she was able to put to good use her varied set of interests and skills. However, it was while working on communications for the Portuguese UWC National Committee that she found the best way to combine her expertise on media and communication and her passion for UWC, finally joining UWC International’s team in June 2017.
Apart from her Portuguese native language, Clara speaks English and Spanish, can communicate in Italian and to some extent in French. A gadget/internet enthusiast, Clara won’t rest until she finds the best possible solution to a problem.

Email: clara.cruz@uwcio.uwc.org

Dana joined the UWC International Office in February 2025 as the Finance Officer in support of the smooth running of financial operations as part of the Finance Team.

Dana holds a Level 2 certificate of Association of Accounting Technicians, Bachelors of Science degree in accounting and finance and is currently studying for her Masters of Science also in accounting and finance.

Dana holds a strong administration background within the Mental Health NHS Trust working in various roles like Medical Human Resources, as a Senior Service Administrator and in General Practice Surgeries. After twenty years Dana pursued her career change in memory of her desired role in Coutts & Co in her first job where she obtained the feel for finance. Since the start of studying for her bachelors degree in 2019, Dana gained her finance experience working in a variety of sectors including employment with different charities like the Royal International Institute of Affairs (Chatham House), The Felix Project and the Human Tissue Authority where she has developed her preference and interest for Continued Professional Development.

Dana values family time with her children, siblings and friends, cooking and gives priority to visit Jamaica to spend time with her elderly mother whilst enjoying the good food and weather!
 

Email: dana.briscoe@uwcio.uwc.org

Daniela is UWC International’s Communications Manager. In her role, Daniela is the main contact person for all communications related requests from across the UWC movement and ensures that the UWC International Office’s short and long term communication objectives and responsibilities are fulfilled. Her areas of responsibility include external and internal communications, crisis communications, philanthropy communications, PR, digital comms, and more. She also liaises with all communications teams across the UWC schools and colleges to support them and provide guidance and coordination on shared projects.

Daniela originally joined UWC International in April 2016 as Communications Officer, became Communications Coordinator in 2017, and finally Communications Manager in May 2022. 

Prior to joining UWC, Daniela worked at global PR firms Weber Shandwick and Burson-Marsteller (now Burson Cohn & Wolfe) at their Milan offices. Her area of expertise included corporate and B2B PR, with a focus on tech clients such as Samsung, Facebook and SAP. Daniela holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and a MA in Public, Political and Social Communications at the University of Bologna, Italy. She is Italian and has been living in London with her husband since 2015, with the addition of her daughter Viola in 2017. 

Email:daniela.lipia@uwcio.uwc.org