Recognising the higher education & careers counselling community
THE Counsellor is excited to announce the third edition of the Global Counsellor Awards, taking place at the BMI/THE Global Counsellor Workshop in Sesimbra, Portugal, on Monday 11 May 2026. The awards have been created to recognise the counsellors who have excelled in their role of providing students with the tools and support to make life-changing decisions about their future studies and careers.
We invite the CAP counsellor community to vote for the winners of the Global Counsellor Awards 2026.
- You must be a CAP accredited counsellor to vote
- One vote per person per category only
- Voting will close on 14 April 2026 and the winners will be announced live at the Global Counsellor Workshop in Sesimbra, Portugal on Monday 11 May 2026 and through our LinkedIn page shortly thereafter
Congratulations to the finalists!
If you work for a company that supports the counselling community and would like to show your appreciation, contact us to discuss sponsorship opportunities by emailing Spencer@bmiglobaled.com
If you have any questions about the process you can contact us at counsellor@timeshighereducation.com
Categories:
1. Global Counsellor of the Year
This award recognises outstanding college counsellors who have demonstrated exemplary dedication, leadership and impact in the field of international college counselling. Finalists will have a proven record of guiding students to successful and well-matched college placements, fostering a positive and supportive counselling environment, and making significant contributions to the overall success and reputation of the school's college counselling programme. These counsellors exemplify a commitment to the professional development of their peers, innovation in counselling practices, and a genuine passion for helping students achieve their academic and career goals on a global scale.
Finalists:
Jenny Tassell, International School of Panama, Panama
Kam Stylianou, English School Nicosia, Cyprus
Marsha Oshima, International School of Geneva, Switzerland
2. Counsellor Community Support and Collaboration
Finalists have demonstrated exceptional commitment to fostering a supportive and collaborative community among fellow counsellors. These counsellors will be actively engaged in mentorship, knowledge sharing, and professional development initiatives within the counsellor community. They will have contributed to creating a positive and collaborative atmosphere, sharing resources, best practices, and providing support to colleagues to enhance the overall effectiveness of a college counselling team in an international high school setting. Their efforts reflect a commitment to building a strong professional network and a sense of unity among counsellors.
Finalists:
Lucas D'Nillo Sousa, Beacon School, Brazil
Ruru Huang, Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong, China
Alyssa Casallo, Hiba Academy Shanghai, China
3. Rising Star of the Year
Finalists will be early in their counselling career but have already demonstrated exceptional commitment to the profession, embracing learning opportunities, and developing new solutions that can better support students and the wider counselling profession.
Finalists:
Alexander Manners, Bangkok Prep, Thailand
Juliana Vásquez, Maymount School Medellin, Colombia
Bilha Akoth Agage, Daraja Academy, Kenya
4. Lifetime Achievement in Counselling
Finalists have made significant contributions of outstanding significance to the counselling community and their students throughout their career. This includes showing exemplary leadership, significant efforts to make the profession more inclusive, and had a positive impact on people, organisations or communities. These counsellors will have demonstrated exceptional practice over a significant period of time including impact outside their primary job role. This award is for lifetime achievement, rather than a single contribution.
Finalists:
Dawn Parry, Prem International School, Thailand
Myriam Polo de Molina, New Cambridge School Cali, Colombia
Colleen Usher, British Vietnamese International School Hanoi, Vietnam
5. Counsellor of the Year - Latin America (Sponsored by ICN Business School)
Finalists:
Diego Lopez Calleja, Linoln School, Costa Rica
Renata Condi de Souza, Colegio Rio Branco, Brazil
Lucas D'Nillo Sousa, Beacon School, Brazil
6. Counsellor of the Year - Europe (Sponsored by Universidad Europea)
Finalists:
Rachel Doell, ICS Inter-Community School Zurich, Switzerland
Phillip Wenturine, Brewster American School, Spain
Marsha Oshima, International School of Geneva, Switzerland
7. Counsellor of the Year - Middle East (Sponsored by Northwestern University in Qatar)
Finalists:
David Turner, Dwight School Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Farah Alessandra Al Abdallat, Islamic Educational College, Jordan
Arjumand Rafiq, King’s Education, United Arab Emirates
8. Counsellor of the Year - Africa
Finalists:
Rebecca Zeigler Mano, USAP Community School, Zimbabwe
Saltanat Rakhmanova, Nigerian Tulip International Colleges, Nigeria
Martha Kikuvi, Aga Khan Academy, Mozambique
9. Counsellor of the Year - Asia
Finalists:
Samantha Caras, The British School Manila, Philippines
Rebecca McIntosh, Beijing National Day School, China
Carlo Kuepers, Dulwich College Shanghai, China
