Head of Partnerships & Growth - Director
Shakeel is a Director at LinkD and a seasoned International Education Strategist dedicated to fostering global academic growth. With a career built on bridging the gap between institutions and international markets, he specializes in Transnational Education (TNE) and the development of high-impact institutional partnerships.
As a British Council Certified Counsellor, he brings a gold-standard level of ethics and expertise to student recruitment. At LinkD, he leads strategic initiatives that help educational providers expand their global footprint through sustainable TNE frameworks and robust partnership consultancy. His vision is centered on creating seamless pathways for students and institutions to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. Ahmed is driven by a passion for identifying emerging study destinations and providing catered solutions that benefit both institutions and students alike.
Director of IT & Digital Transformation
Shahzad serves as Director of IT & Digital Transformation at LinkD and is an accomplished SAP Activate Project Manager with extensive experience in leading secure and scalable digital transformation initiatives. With a strong foundation in enterprise technology strategy, he plays a pivotal role in aligning innovation with governance, compliance, and long-term organisational growth.
As a GDPR Certified professional and ICO-Registered Data Protection Officer (DPO), Shahzad brings a rigorous compliance-driven approach to technology leadership, ensuring that digital infrastructures meet the highest standards of security, privacy, and regulatory accountability. His expertise spans enterprise system implementation, data governance, and risk-managed transformation frameworks.
Through active collaboration with Kagool, he contributes to advanced data and analytics solutions that empower institutions with actionable insights and sustainable digital capabilities. At LinkD, Shahzad is committed to building secure, future-ready technology ecosystems that support global expansion and institutional excellence.
Strategic Regional Consultant
Veronica is a London-based international education consultant with nearly 20 years of experience working with institutions, agencies, and student recruitment partners across the UK, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. As Founder and Director of UKSS, she focuses on strategic markets in Africa and the Americas, with particular expertise in Portuguese-speaking regions.
She has extensive experience in international scholarship programme management, supporting students sponsored by organisations including SONANGOL E.P, Total France, Maersk Oil, Soco International, and the Angolan Ministry of Petroleum. Over her career, she has worked with more than 2,000 students across approximately 200 UK education providers.
Veronica has also represented language schools across Brazilian and European markets, strengthening her expertise in student recruitment and institutional partnerships. As Strategic Regional Consultant for LinkD, she supports regional development through market intelligence, partner engagement, and ethical, student-centred recruitment.
Combining strategic oversight with operational expertise, she helps institutions and agents align academic offerings, regulatory requirements, and candidate profiles to build sustainable partnerships and achieve strong student outcomes across international markets.
Business Development Manager - Ethiopia
Yeshi is our Business Development Manager, promoting LinkD in Ethiopia. She is dedicated to supporting students from diverse backgrounds in achieving their academic and professional goals. She works closely with prospective students to guide them through applications, admissions, and other opportunities, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to succeed.
Before joining LinkD, Yeshi gained broad management experience across several sectors, including general management, operations, office administration, government relations, human resources, finance, and sales. Her previous roles include Deputy General Manager at Abyssinia Ballooning PLC, House Manager in Kuwait, and Owner/GM of a coffeeshop in Addis Ababa. This diverse experience has strengthened her leadership, problem-solving, and team collaboration skills.
Her approach combines practical guidance with empathetic support, empowering students to feel confident and prepared for their future. Yeshi is committed to creating opportunities that make education more accessible and transformative, helping the next generation of leaders achieve their aspirations.
