Summer Xia, British Council

Describe yourself in three words or phrases.

Curious, positive, passionate.

What do you like most about your job?

I love working in a region where education genuinely transforms lives – and where every partnership feels like building a bridge between people, cultures, and future possibilities.

Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.

I’m very excited about the UK-Indonesia Education Roundtable I helped organise during President Prabowo’s recent visit to London. It brought together the President and senior leaders from 20 UK universities – something that doesn’t happen every day. Out of that meeting, we launched the new UK-Indonesia University Network, which will bring institutions together to collaborate on teaching, research and innovation in a much more strategic way. It genuinely feels like the start of something big.

What’s a piece of work you’re proud of – and what did it teach you?

I’m proud of helping UK and Indonesian partners navigate the early stages of transnational education – especially supporting new branch campuses and joint programs through the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships grants, including the King’s College London partnership in the Singhasari Special Economic Zone. It taught me that real progress often comes from patient relationship‑building and a willingness to walk with partners through uncertainty.

What’s a small daily habit that helps you in your work?

A five‑minute “reset walk” between meetings – usually around my apartment or the office. It clears my head, recentres me, and stops my calendar from swallowing my personality.

What’s one change you’d like to see in your sector over the next few years?

More student‑centred design in international education – not just programs built for institutions, but pathways shaped around real student needs, wellbeing, and aspirations.

What idea, book, podcast or conversation has stayed with you recently?

A recent conversation with our ASEAN‑UK SAGE Women in STEM scholars, who talked about wanting careers that make a real social impact in their communities, not just personal advancement. It reminded me how quickly expectations of education are shifting, and how responsible young people feel about the world – and how important it is that we keep up.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in this field?

Stay curious, stay generous, and don’t underestimate the power of a well‑timed question. International education is ultimately about people – relationships will take you further than any job title.

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