New colleagues at the helm of Society’s Schools and Colleges Practice

Society’s Schools and Colleges Practice is going from strength to strength under the leadership of Monika Fryzicka and Phil Gifford. They are currently working on a number of diverse and high-profile assignments across the global sector, including:

• the Principal of Jumeirah College in Dubai; 
• the Director of Education for United World Colleges (UWC) International;
• several Trustees Appointments for Moor House School in Surrey;
• two upcoming senior appointments for a highly-respected HMC school in South West England.

Monika joined Society four months ago to take over the Head of Practice role from Conor Wilson, who was departing the business after a total of seven years. Phil joined her in August with the remit of coordinating our research in this sector, and of assisting Monika in client relationship management and the growth of the Practice.

Simon Lucas, Society’s Managing Director, commented:

“I have known Monika for about six years and I’m delighted that the stars have finally aligned in a way that’s enabled her to join Society. Schools and Colleges have the potential to transform lives, but the sector faces huge challenges. As such, the need for exceptional leadership has never been greater. I’m excited to see the impact that Monika can make in that arena. The fact that we have been able to welcome Phil at a similar time is doubly exciting. We are already feeling the benefit of their combined expertise and networks.”

Monika has been operating in search and recruitment within the education sector since 2007. She started out leading the international and independent schools consultancy division at The Times Educational Supplement (now TES Global), before moving into the executive search arena with a series of the best-known independent firms. In more recent years she has also worked directly with a number of schools and schools groups. Her experience includes handling senior appointments for individual schools, Boards and ‘not-for-profit’ organisations, as well as large multinational school groups, investors, education providers, and international expansion or start-up projects. Her network embraces both educationalists and commercial and operational school leaders. Although she is based in London, she has spent significant time working in both the Middle East and South East Asia, and for clients in China.

Phil was raised in the English Midlands and moved to London after graduating with a First Class degree in Philosophy and Music. He has spent the past eight years recruiting permanent candidates into senior schools roles around the world on behalf of Connaught Education, where he ultimately led a team of consultants. Phil is extensively networked within the independent education sector, and his personal search track record includes a wide range of academic and operational leadership appointments. He brings experience of supporting charitable organisations, for-profit private schools, education consultancies, and independent school groups and associations, as well as of working directly with individual school owners and proprietors.