Contact the Global Engagement Office

Renata leads the Global Engagement Office at the University of Cambridge. She oversees the University’s engagement with educational institutions, governments, funders and NGOs around the world. Her work focuses on advancing Cambridge’s international collaborations and advising on geopolitical issues, including the University’s response to global crises.

Before taking on her current role, Renata worked in the Research Office, managing the international research grant portfolio, including EU & International funding, Global Challenges Research Funds, ODA activities, and due diligence. She represents Cambridge in international networks such as the League of European Research Universities and U7+, and advises the European Commission. She also serves as an evaluator for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme. Earlier in her career, Renata worked in finance at Daimler-Chrysler in Istanbul.

Ingrid Hobbis has been a member of the office since 2016 and is the Global Engagement Manager for Germany and the Nordics.

She manages the University’s strategic partnership with LMU Munich and the DAAD Cambridge Research Hub for German Studies. She works with academics, funding holders, and partners such as the German Research Council, the Institute of Contemporary History in Munich and Centres for German Studies at other universities and institutions. Ingrid grew up in Norway, has a bachelor’s degree in European Studies and Modern Languages, and also lived in Germany for seven years.

Hilary oversees University partnerships across the regions of South and South East Asia, and Australasia. She maintains relationships with key partners, explores potential new links for the University, and supports diplomatic relations. Hilary been a member of the office since 2017.

She also manages the exchange programmes between Cambridge and India (Cambridge Hamied Visiting Lecture Scheme) and between Cambridge and the University of Canterbury NZ (Cambridge-Canterbury Exchange).

Hilary holds an MA from the University of Oxford (Classics, St Anne's College) and previously worked in classical music management. She then moved into University administration and worked at King’s College, Gates Cambridge and the Cambridge Trust, working on scholarships for international students

Outside work I am a Senior Member of Wolfson College, and a Reading Committee Assessor for the UK's Chevening scholarship programme.

Jingchen supports the University’s international engagement across East Asia and Australasia. She works closely with academic colleagues and both internal and external stakeholders to develop joint initiatives, facilitate research partnerships, and navigate the complexities of regional engagement. She supports and manages institutional partnerships, providing strategic insight and regional expertise to foster meaningful collaboration. Her work aims to ensure that the University’s international activities in the region are well-aligned, impactful, and contribute effectively to its mission.

She holds a PhD from the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge with a research focus on the servitization of manufacturing.

Olena is responsible for the strategic oversight of the University's engagement with international partners in Europe and Central Asia. She oversees stakeholder engagement and supports the development of new and existing strategic partnerships.

In her previous role as Project Manager (Ukraine Crisis Response) at the University, she coordinated the University of Cambridge's Help for Ukraine initiatives, including Ukrainian Academic Support Scheme and Cambridge-National Research Foundation of Ukraine call for research and development grants. She worked as a Senior Research Associate at the Faculty of Education. has extensive experience in education research, consultancy, needs assessment and monitoring and evaluation of secondary and higher education in Ukraine and Central Asia. Olena holds a PhD in Education from the University of Cambridge.

Maja has a PhD in immunology from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. She has many years of experience in research, strategic research funding and programme management in life sciences and health.

James oversees Cambridge's partnerships and engagement with governments, funding bodies, research institutions and universities in the Americas and South East Asia.

He holds an MA in International Relations from King's College London. James previously worked within the UK Parliament, the Department for International Development and overseas in Pakistan, The Gambia and Brazil for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Katherine supports the Global Engagement Office in administrative and financial tasks. She supports the smooth running of the DAAD Cambridge Research Hub for German Studies. She previously worked in other departments across the University, including UIS and the Safety Office. She holds an MA from the University of Cambridge.

Bruna is responsible for research and data reporting on the University's global engagements, supporting the Head of the Global Engagement Office and the Global Engagement Managers. She holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Nottingham and previously worked as a Research Information Administrator in Cambridge's Research Office.

She specialises in the Microsoft Power Platform, with expertise in application design and development (Power Apps), data analysis and visualisation (Power BI), process automation (Power Automate), and data transformation (Power Query). Bruna designed and maintains the Global Engagements Tracker (GET), a bespoke CRM. Previously she also created PRISM, a Power App for managing people, roles, institutions, and system access for the Research Office.

Kasia works with Schools, Departments, Colleges, and professional services across the University of Cambridge, as well as international partners such as Harvard University, to support the delivery of the Herchel Smith Fund’s PhD and Postdoctoral programmes. Her role spans coordination of the full award cycle, governance and committee support, and oversight of programmes administration, events, communications, and reporting.

Her contribution supports early-career researchers by shaping clear academic pathways, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring the Fund’s activities are delivered effectively. Kasia is committed to research excellence and to creating equitable, collaborative, and supportive environments for researchers. With experience in higher education since 2011 and extensive expertise gained at Cambridge, she works to help researchers thrive and to build partnerships that advance the Fund’s academic and scholarly mission.

Tammy leads the International Support Services at the University. The International Support Services works across the University to support international research, education, and partnerships by providing coordinated guidance on governance, risk, and the practical requirements of working internationally. The Service brings together expertise from across professional services to help staff navigate complex international activity.

In this role she oversees the development of the International Engagement Hub, which provides a central point of access to international guidance and support for the University community. She has a background in marketing and communications and has worked in international settings across multiple countries, supporting projects and initiatives with a global scope.

Jack leads on the development of the International Engagement Hub, a SharePoint platform that helps University staff navigate the practicalities and risks of working internationally. He works with professional services and academic teams across the University to make guidance easier to find and use.

Jack has a background in digital transformation, project management, and communications. He enjoys designing systems that make complex processes clearer for users. Before joining the University, Jack worked at AI-powered research organisations and digital start-ups, focusing on operations management and executive support.

Tooba supports strategic initiatives related to the University’s work on global crises and humanitarian issues. She coordinates Cambridge’s participation in the Council for At-Risk Academics Fellowship Programme and manages the Humanitarian Response Fund.

Tooba also helps develop resources and scholarships for individuals from forced migrant backgrounds. Her work brings together Colleges, University offices and external partners to support a coordinated and compassionate approach to international challenges.

Tooba has worked in the United States and Switzerland and brings a global experience and empathy to her role. She is passionate about fostering international understanding and supporting students and scholars affected by conflict and displacement.