Catherine Cushnan
International Education Consultancy
ESTABLISHED 2019 · BASED IN LISBONWith first-hand experience in international school admissions and 20+ years spent working closely with families, schools and institutions, Catherine brings educational insight, a vast global network and a deeply personal approach to every engagement.
Bachelor's of Arts with Honours Degree / International Relations with Italian
UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX, UKFaculty of Political Science / Erasmus
UNIVERSITÁ DI BOLOGNA, ITALYPostgraduate Diploma European Export Marketing
IRISH INSTITUTE FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS, BELGIUM
From The Admissions Side To The Family’s Side.
Catherine’s career has been shaped by 20+ years of working closely with families, schools and education professionals across international education. Before establishing her consultancy, she worked during 14 years as the Head of Admissions and Round Square Representative at an IBO, British, Bilingual School in Bogotá, giving her first-hand insight into how international schools assess students and families, how admissions decisions are made and how important the right fit is on both sides of the process.
That experience continues to define the way she works today. She understands the concerns families face when considering education abroad — from academic fit and school culture to wellbeing, independence and the transition to a new country — while also understanding what schools are looking for and how institutions build meaningful relationships with students and families. Now based in Lisbon, Catherine works across Colombia and Europe through family advisory, school representation, boutique recruitment and destination management, bringing together her knowledge of the Colombian market, her European network and her experience within international education.
Her approach remains deliberately personal and highly involved. She listens first, takes the time to understand the individual context, connects people and institutions carefully, and stays closely engaged throughout the process. Whether she is advising a family, representing a European or British school, supporting an international school with recruitment or developing new educational connections between markets, her work is grounded in trust, judgement, relationships and a clear understanding of what truly matters.
“Having lived in eight different countries, I understand what it means to navigate change and challenges in an educational and family context”.
“I understand the concerns of the family, but I also understand what the school is looking for.”
THE DIFFERENCEExperience Built From The Inside Out
Director of Admissions
COLEGIO ANGLOCOLOMBIANO · BOGOTÁA defining chapter in Catherine’s career, working closely with students, families and school leadership while developing first-hand insight into the admissions process and what makes the right fit work on both sides.
Executive Assistant to the President
LLOYDS TSBAn early international corporate chapter that strengthened the discretion, organisation and relationship management that continue to inform the way Catherine works today.
Founder & Consultant
CATHERINE CUSHNAN INT. EDUCATION CONSULTANCYSince establishing her consultancy in 2019, Catherine has brought together her experience in admissions, international network and deep understanding of families, schools and education markets across Colombia and Europe.
Conference & Event Organiser
LAFFERTY GROUP (BANKING & RETAIL FINANCE COUNCILS) DUBLINAn international events role focused on the retail banking sector across Europe and Latin America, coordinating conferences from speakers and sponsorship to logistics and marketing, including the annual Latin American Retail Banking event in Miami.
THE DIFFERENCEExpertise Matters. So Does Knowing The Person In Front
Of You.
Catherine’s approach is deliberately boutique.
She takes the time to understand the person behind every decision: the student beyond the application, the family beyond the brief, the candidate beyond the CV and the school beyond the vacancy.
The objective is never simply to present an option. It is to understand what the right fit should look like, and guide each client towards it with clarity, experience and care.
PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS & RECOGNITIONTrusted Within International Education
APPROVED AGENTAPPROVED AGENT
A BRIDGE BETWEEN MARKETSEuropean Institutions. Colombian Insight.
COLOMBIA · SWITZERLAND · PORTUGAL · SPAIN · ITALY . UNITED KINGDOMRooted in Colombia.
Connected across Europe.
Catherine represents leading European and British schools and education institutions with a particular focus on Colombia, helping them understand the market, build meaningful relationships and connect with families and education communities on the ground.
Her long-standing network in Colombia, combined with her base in Portugal and direct relationships across the UK and Europe, allows her to work naturally between markets — bringing together local insight, international perspective and the trusted connections that make meaningful opportunities possible.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE · INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE · TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS
Based in Lisbon.
Connecting education globally.
Based in Lisbon, Catherine supports schools and education institutions looking to create meaningful connections, events and professional networks in Portugal.
Her local network spans both the academic and operational sides of international education, allowing her to bring together institutions, organise school and networking events, and support education-focused meetings, conferences and gatherings in Lisbon.
With Portugal increasingly positioned as an international destination for summits and professional events, Catherine connects institutions with the local relationships, academic contacts, venues and trusted partners needed to bring these initiatives to life.
INSTITUTIONAL CONNECTIONS · EVENTS & NETWORKING · ACADEMIC NETWORKS
WORK WITH CATHERINEThe Right Opportunity Begins With Understanding What Truly Matters.
Whether you are a family considering education abroad, a school developing its international presence or an organisation looking for the right professional, every engagement begins in the same way: with a conversation
