Roundtable
Roundtable
Our panel for Think Global Women Event
Afternoon Roundtable Discussion
Our facilitators include:
1. Working in perceived difficult geographical locations
Pam's profile
Pam provides consultancy to many of the world’s leading school and education groups, independent and international schools, UK multi-academy trusts and international Ministries of Education on strategic planning, leadership, development and expansion.
She also provides advice and guidance to start-up schools on brokering and securing investment, selecting partnerships, school design and development, and is involved in a wide variety of high-net-worth education development projects worldwide.
Gill's profile
Gill Gordon is Chair of Permits Foundation and has been a Board Member since its establishment in 2001. Gill spent most of her career with Schlumberger (now SLB) and her last appointment was as HR Director UK from 2014 to 2020, based in London. She held many different positions including HR Director for the global seismic business, Director Executive Compensation for Schlumberger, and HR Director for the global R&D population. She played a key role in setting up and developing a shared services organisation for the HR function in Europe, Caspian and Africa and was also HR Director for a global electricity and gas utilities business.
Gill was involved in a number of strategic initatives in the areas of career development, diversity and divestitures as well as numerous acquisitions and divestitures. During her career, she spent over ten years in expatriate assignments in France, Germany and the US. Gill started her career in international HR at Ford Motor Company and has a BA Hons. French & German from Heriot-Watt University.
Irina's profile
Irina Yakimenko, GMS, MIM is Intermark’s Managing Partner and Co-Owner. She co-leads Intermark Relocation with her business partner, Marina Semenova.
She is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working in international affairs and managing global businesses in locations across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and worldwide. Irina worked for NGOs for many years before working in the Global Mobility industry. She is skilled in Cross-Cultural Communications, People & Talent Management, Immigration Law, Global Mobility, and HR Consulting. Irina is a well-versed operations and client services professional with an M.A. in Linguistics and Cross-Cultural Communications, an M.A. in Management and Strategic Planning from Moscow University for Economics and Statistics, and Business Coaching from Erikson Coaching International.
Irina has been a proud TIRA member for five years and previously served as a TIRA Board member for two years. She is also an Executive Board Member of EuRA.
Irina was born into a Jewish Ukrainian family in Moscow with strong family roots in Ukraine and Israel. She resides in the U.K. with her family. She is dedicated to her family and friends and enjoys watching American Football, a nice glass of wine, a brisk walk, or an enjoyable book. Irina is passionate about Jewish culture and tradition, interfaith dialogue, feminism, and equal rights.
Read Irina’s 40 Outstanding Global Women profile.
2. Navigating challenging workplaces
Ann's profile
Ann Ellis, co-founder and CEO of Mauve Group, is a recognised leader in global HR, employment, and business expansion. Since founding Mauve in 1996, she has driven its growth into 70+ countries, providing businesses with seamless, compliant solutions for hiring, paying, and retaining global talent. Originally from Wales, Ann moved to Italy and founded Mauve Group in 1996 – initially serving as the company’s only back-office employee. Under her leadership, Mauve has grown into a multinational organisation with a network across 150 countries, providing innovative workforce solutions for 70+ industries. Ann’s expertise has been featured by The Times and the BBC, and she is a sought-after speaker at global events. Ann was named International Director of the Year 2024 by the Institute of Directors, and one of Think Women’s 40 Outstanding Global Women. Passionate about empowering growth-focused businesses of all sizes, Ann continues to shape the future of global work.
Read Ann’s 40 Outstanding Global Women profile.
Sue's profile
Sue Shortland, PhD earned her doctorate in gender diversity in expatriation at the University of Westminster where she previously lectured in International HRM before retiring from teaching in July 2024. She holds the title of Professor Emerita, London Metropolitan University. Sue remains an active researcher and has published in a wide range of peer-reviewed academic journals including: Human Resource Management, International Journal of Human Resource Management, Journal of Global Mobility, Career Development International, Gender in Management, Personnel Review, Employee Relations, Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, and European Journal of International Management. Her specialist research areas lie in diversity and gender in expatriation and in corporate governance with a focus on executive remuneration.
Her previous roles include being a manager in international HRM consultancy at KPMG, heading up the CBI’s Employee Relocation Council, and working in various editorial and research capacities for industrial relations and HRM journals.
Read Sue’s 40 Outstanding Global Women profile
3. Education — Early years to life-long learning
Mary's profile
Mary Biddlecombe has built a career on breaking the glass ceiling. Moving from HR to business development, Mary’s career progression also shows the transferability, value and relevance of HR’s professional certification in today’s workplace.
Mary’s ambition, coupled with strong leadership attributes spotted early on by employers, enabled Mary to help organisations and individuals grow. Today, Mary is supporting the next generation of globally minded leaders and their families by championing TASIS’s vibrant diversity, equity and inclusion programmes, STEAM subjects and innovation.
Paul's profile
Paul oversees learning and development at ATG Entertainment, the world’s largest live entertainment group. He has been a senior leader in Sales, Ticketing and HR. During his time in talent development, he has designed acclaimed in-house leadership development programmes, helped to build a successful internal coaching faculty, and coached leaders at all levels within the organisation.
Paul is a passionate advocate for coaching, the arts and culture, and life-long learning. He is a Chartered Member of the CIPD and holds a Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching from the AoEC. Paul also specialises in coaching leaders around ‘the Childhood Story’, based on the work of Dr Sarah Hill and David Kantor. Paul is Regional Chair for Great Britain at the Association for Coaching (AC), and has written a chapter for a new book ‘Coaching as a Leader’ due to be published by Kogan Press in April this year.
4. Wellbeing, family and work-life balance
Heather De Cruz-Cornaire
Certified Principal Business & Coaching Psychologist, Cafe Coach
Heather's profile
Heather De Cruz-Cornaire, MSc, BSc (Hons) is a Certified Principal Business Psychologist (ABP), Coaching Psychologist (BPS) and Fellow Coach (AC) with an international track record for over two decades in HRM and IHRM. Founder and Managing Director of Café Coach Ltd, an innovative coaching platform and global HR consultancy practice. As a Relocate Think Global People 2024 Award Winner for Best Research Contribution ‘Peace of Mind on the Move’, she has also won multiple awards for Excellence in Coaching and Thought Leadership in the UK, EMEA, and the USA. She uses the power of psychology to uncover blind spots in the workplace. In global talent mobility she is an expert, thought leader and advocate for leaders to understand the impact of the dual-career dilemma.
Read about Heather’s winning Awards entry
Claudine's profile
Claudine Hakim is Head of Student Support at the International School of London (ISL) and is the leader of the award winning ISL Positive Transitions Care programme. Claudine was previously a Head Teacher at an independent Special School and another International School.
Claudine holds a Masters degree from the University College in London, in Educational Leadership and Management and a BA in Pyschology and Counselling from Richmond International University. Claudine is a citizen of the United Kingdom, is originally from the Lebanon and born and raised in Ghana.
Having lived in three continents, Claudine is passionate about fostering well-balanced and inclusive international communities.
Read Claudine’s 40 Outstanding Global Women profile
Read about the roundtable facilitators
Think Women’s 40 Outstanding Global Women 2025 | Elaine Héry
Think Women’s 40 Outstanding Global Women 2025 | Gill Gordon
Think Women’s 40 Outstanding Global Women 2025 | Irina Yakimenko
Destination Services Provider of the Year – Regional
Best research contribution
Pam Mundy, Think Women’s 40 Outstanding Global Women 2023
Mary Biddlecombe, Think Women’s 40 Outstanding Global Women 2023
