Following her appointment as IHE Chair on 1 July 2026, we spoke to Sharona, President and CEO of the Global Institute of Sport (GIS), about her career journey, priorities for IHE and its members, and vision for the future.
What first drew you to the independent higher education sector?
For me, education has never been abstract. I was raised in a family of educators, and I genuinely would not be here today without the power of education. My grandmother learned to read as a young girl, and that education helped her escape Poland during the Second World War and save the lives of many of her siblings. Later, my grandparents co-founded a primary school in Canada in the early 1960s - my mother worked there, and I grew up in that environment.
That experience shaped my family’s belief that education can change the course of a life. I was also very privileged to receive an outstanding education myself, which gave me a deep sense of responsibility to help create opportunities for others to benefit in the same way.
So, while my route into independent higher education was professional, the motivation behind it was deeply personal. I have always believed students need different routes, models and opportunities depending on their ambitions, circumstances and ways of learning. I was drawn to a sector that creates space for innovation, flexibility and real-world relevance.
I was drawn to a sector that creates space for innovation, flexibility and real-world relevance.
How did building GIS shape your perspective on the independent higher education sector?
Building the Global Institute of Sport (GIS) has shaped almost everything about how I see the independent higher education sector. It has shown me how much impact specialist providers can have, and also how much courage, resilience and collaboration it takes to build something different.
At GIS, we are proud to be a British-owned organisation working globally in sports education. That experience has made me even more passionate about education that is relevant, industry-connected, and able to open doors for students in very practical ways.
It has also made me appreciate the importance of Independent Higher Education (IHE) as a representative body. When you are operating in this space, having a strong, credible and collective voice really matters.
IHE helps its members feel less alone, more informed and better able to succeed.
How did your involvement with IHE begin?
IHE has been part of my professional journey for a long time. I joined UCFB in 2014 and became involved with IHE within that same year, initially through participation in its marketing and international networks.
Over time, my involvement and engagement with the organisation grew. I contributed regularly and, in 2020, I was proud to be appointed to the IHE Board. The role of Chair feels like a continuation of a relationship that has been meaningful to me for more than a decade.
What has kept you engaged with IHE over that time?
IHE has been a consistent source of guidance, community and support through a period of real change. The people, the purpose and the sense of shared endeavour are what make the organisation so valuable.
I have turned to others in the IHE community so many times over the years - for ideas, advice, and reassurance - and I still do, regularly! Independent higher education is not always an easy path, but those who choose it do so with real passion and commitment.
That sense of community is one of IHE’s greatest strengths. It brings together people and providers who understand the realities of the work, and who are willing to share, challenge, encourage and help one another move forward.
IHE Members have already made real strides and I believe there is so much more we can continue to achieve together.
What does it mean to you to represent the IHE community?
It is a real privilege to serve. IHE Members are incredibly diverse, but what connects them is a commitment to student choice, innovation, flexibility and meaningful impact.
To represent this community means listening carefully, understanding the different realities members face, and helping ensure their views are heard clearly and constructively. It also means championing the contribution they make by transforming students’ lives, supporting employers, strengthening local communities, and enriching the wider higher education landscape.
Collectively, IHE Members have already made real strides and I believe there is so much more we can continue to achieve together.
What does the role of Chair mean to you in today’s context?
For me, the role of Chair is about good governance, strategic focus and partnership, but above all it is about keeping IHE Members and their students at the heart of everything we do. Our members are diverse, their needs are varied, and those needs continue to evolve in a changing regulatory, financial and political landscape.
As Chair, I see my role as supporting the Board to remain focused, effective and forward-looking, while working closely with the Chief Executive to provide support and constructive challenge. It is also about ensuring IHE continues to listen, adapt and represent members’ collective interests with credibility, clarity and energy.
I am excited by the opportunity to build on IHE’s strong foundations and help support its next phase of growth, engagement and impact.
What excites you most about the next phase for IHE?
I am excited by the opportunity to build on IHE’s strong foundations and help support its next phase of growth, engagement and impact. I am following in the footsteps of some fantastic past Chairs, including James Pitman and Roxanne Stockwell, from whom I have learned a great deal.
There is real opportunity to strengthen membership engagement, continue raising IHE’s profile, and ensure the organisation remains commercially sustainable and strategically focused. I am also excited to bring my own experience of building and scaling education organisations in the UK and internationally to support that work.
Where do you think IHE can make the biggest difference for the sector right now?
IHE can make the biggest difference by ensuring independent providers are understood, valued and properly represented.
There is still work to do in helping government, regulators and sector leaders understand the diversity and importance of IHE’s membership. IHE can help shape policy, advocate for members, and ensure decisions affecting providers are informed by the realities they and their students are actually experiencing.
At its best, IHE helps its members feel less alone, more informed and better able to succeed.
IHE can make the biggest difference by ensuring independent providers are understood, valued and properly represented.
What would you like IHE members to know as you begin your term as Chair?
I would like IHE Members to know that I care deeply about this work and about the people doing it. I know what it takes to build, lead and sustain an independent provider, and I do not take the responsibility of representing members lightly.
I will bring energy, integrity and a collaborative approach to the role. I want members to feel listened to, represented and proud of what we can achieve together.
Above all, I am excited to work with the Board, Chief Executive, members and wider stakeholders to champion the contribution of independent providers and support IHE’s continued success.