Meet Our Visionary Leaders
Our leadership team combines global expertise in education, innovation and international collaboration to guide PEN Group's growth and impact. Driven by a shared vision, they work to expand access to quality education while fostering partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for learners worldwide.
Prof. Cedric D Bell LLB, LLM, PhD
Chief Strategic Officer (CSO)
Professor Cedric Bell is an internationally recognised academic entrepreneur, barrister and legal scholar with extensive experience in higher education leadership and governance. A triple law graduate of the University of Birmingham, he has held visiting professorial positions since 1996 across multiple UK and international universities. He served as Vice-Chancellor at Limkokwing University.
MD Arifur Rahman
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
MD Arifur Rahman is a highly accomplished operations leader with over 13 years of experience in higher education management, specialising in multiple operations, student recruitment, and institutional performance. As Chief Operating Officer, he plays a pivotal role in driving operational excellence across the Group, ensuring the effective delivery of academic and non-academic services across multiple institutions and international markets.
Andrew Green
Chief Experience & Communications Officer (CECO)
Andrew Green is a senior education leader with nearly four decades of international experience across Europe, Asia, and the United States. His expertise spans transnational education, academic leadership, and international programme development, with a particular focus on building and scaling partnership-led growth.
Leaders Across Our Network
Experienced leaders driving academic excellence and operational growth within each institution of the PEN Group.
Ann Healey
Director for AUP, Victoria College of Arts and Design
Ann holds a First Class BA (Hons) in Fine Art and Mathematics from Liverpool University and a MSc in Professional Leadership, with distinction, from Middlesex University. She also has a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. With over 20 years experience as a practising visual artist, Ann has also held senior academic leadership roles, including Dean of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies, before joining VCAD.
Zain Kanwal
CEO, Victoria College of Arts and Design
Zain is a senior leader in UK higher education with over 10 years of experience in academic operations, organisational development and institutional management. A graduate of the University of Greenwich, he brings a strong academic foundation to his work. Before joining VCAD as Director of Operations, he gained expertise in student recruitment, admissions, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. Zain combines strategic insight with operational excellence, driving continuous improvement, enhancing academic quality, and strengthening overall institutional performance.
Dr Laura Marulanda-Carter
Director & Academic Dean, William College
Laura is a doctoral-qualified education leader with a background from Loughborough University, bringing extensive experience in curriculum design, digital learning, and academic development across multiple FE and HE institutions. A TechWomen100 award winner and Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, she has held senior learning and teaching management roles and contributed to shaping innovative academic programmes. Laura combines strong research credentials with practical leadership, making her well placed to drive academic quality and innovation at William College.
Asaduzzaman Lotus
CEO, William College
With over a decade of experience in UK higher education, Asaduzzaman brings strong expertise in leadership and operational standards that support high-quality education, alongside a commitment to widening participation and improving access for diverse student communities; his academic background provides a multidisciplinary perspective that blends technical knowledge with strategic leadership to drive institutional excellence and student experience.
Prof. Ian Luke
Executive Strategist, PEN Group
Ian is a senior academic executive with over 20 years of experience across public and private higher education. Previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor of a TEF Gold rated institution, he has led transformational initiatives spanning learning and teaching, academic development, digital innovation, and internationalisation. Ian's leadership is grounded in fairness, collaboration, and purpose - building trusted relationships with local education boards, regulatory bodies, and overseas partners to drive sustainable, globally connected academic growth.
Philip Burke
CEO, City College Dublin
Philip holds an LLB (Hons) from the University of London and qualified as a Barrister at Law from The Honorable Society of King's Inns, practising at The Law Library before moving into education. He spent 9 years as Head of Law and Board Member at Griffith College Dublin, then co-founded Independent Colleges before establishing the City Education Group in 2011 - which today incorporates City College Dublin and Ashfield College - and has served as CEO for over 14 years. With over 25 years in education and law, he has led the group's growth into one of Ireland's leading private education providers.
Richard O'Brien
COO, City College Dublin
Richard holds a BA (Hons) in Business Studies & Marketing from Dublin Business School. He has over 17 years of extensive experience in both domestic/EU and international education markets, working across a diverse range of programmes including accountancy, law, undergraduate and postgraduate education, corporate training, and English language provision. With a background in business development, relationship management, and operational leadership, he brings a results-driven and student-centred approach to the organisation. He has held senior roles across student recruitment, admissions and operations before progressing to COO at City Education Group.