Team
Feroz Ali - Executive Chairman
As a seasoned executive, Feroz has a proven track record in launching new ventures, navigating complex mergers and acquisitions, and scaling businesses for sustainable growth. His leadership extends to advisory and board roles in both private and government-owned organizations, where he provides strategic direction and governance expertise.
With an entrepreneurial mindset and a deep understanding of industry dynamics, Feroz continues to shape the future of education and business, fostering innovation and global expansion.
Dr. FAY AMARAL - Whitecliffe NZ
With over two decades of executive leadership experience, including a notable tenure as CEO in various sectors spanning education, film, retail, and media, Fay brings a wealth of expertise to her new role.
Fay’s distinguished career includes pivotal positions with renowned brands such as VEGA, ADvTECH Ltd, Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Sony, and the BBC. Notably, she has completed her PhD in Psychology at Auckland University of Technology, focusing on the transition challenges faced by school leavers entering tertiary studies or the workforce. Her dedication to academia was recognised in 2023 when she was awarded runner-up in the AUT 3 Minute Thesis competition.
Before joining Whitecliffe, Fay served as CEO of Youthtown, a national non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting young people in New Zealand/Aotearoa. During her tenure, Fay demonstrated remarkable leadership, further solidifying her commitment to educational initiatives.
Fay’s passion for the tertiary education sector was ignited during her tenure as Managing Director of VEGA in 2013. VEGA, a leading private tertiary institution in South Africa, specialises in degree and master’s programmes across various disciplines. Fay’s strategic vision and leadership resulted in the expansion of VEGA, including the establishment of three new campuses and the introduction of innovative programmes.
Dr. Michel Tarko - Whitecliffe Canada
Dr. Tarko is a distinguished academic leader with a PhD in Education from the University of British Columbia and a BA in Psychology/Sociology from the University of Manitoba.
With over 15 years of experience in academic leadership, he has held key roles, including Vice-President Academic, President & CEO of the Justice Institute of BC, and Associate Dean and Dean for the Faculty of Health Sciences at Douglas College.
He brings more than a decade of governance experience as a corporate director, holding the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D.) designation from the Rotman School of Management from the University of Toronto. Dr. Tarko is known for his commitment to good governance, inclusive education, with a focus on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Indigenization efforts. As former Chair of the Board of Directors for Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and past Chair of the BC Council for International Education (BCCIE) Board of Directors, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of post-secondary education in British Columbia and Canada.
Matt Hill - Whitecliffe Australia
Matt Hill is an experienced Executive with nearly 20 years experience working with global brands, and building and growing local brands in the education, financial services and IT sectors. Strong marketing professional skilled in Digital Strategy, Customer Acquisition, Brand Management, Advertising, and Strategic Planning. Focused on delivering superior digital customer experiences through data, insights and innovative products and strategies.