Looking back: Erna Berntz, Regional Manager Latam, on working with Trinity for 28 years

28 years ago: my first day working for Trinity College London

When I reflect on my journey with Trinity as National Manager, my mind inevitably goes back to my first day at work, in London!

It was April 1998, and it was also my first time in the UK.

The organisation was much smaller then, and I remember meeting colleagues who welcomed me warmly and introduced me to a world that I could never have imagined would become such an important part of my life.

Erna standing in front of Big Ben during her initial visit to London

Before joining the organisation, I had spent many years teaching English and as a Rep for OUP (Oxford University Press). Like so many teachers, I worked with coursebooks filled with images of London’s iconic landmarks: Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the River Thames, amongst many others. They felt strangely familiar to me, even though I had never actually seen them.

One evening, after an intense day of work during my first week with Trinity, I decided to go out for a visit. I came out of Westminster tube station and found myself standing right in front of Big Ben. For a moment, I simply stopped. Here was this landmark that I had shown to countless students over the years, suddenly appearing before me in real life, beautifully illuminated and the city lights sparkling around it.

The experience was so overwhelming that I sat down on the steps nearby and just stared at it. In that moment, everything came together: years of teaching English, years of showing my students pictures of London — I was given the chance of starting a new chapter with an international organisation. It felt like receiving a gift, and I have never forgotten it.

Since then, I have had the privilege of witnessing an extraordinary transformation within the organisation. I have seen it grow, become increasingly professional, and continuously adapt to the changing needs of education and assessment. I have watched the development of new qualifications designed to reflect the skills required in a rapidly evolving world, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and relevance.

Perhaps the most significant transformation came during the pandemic. Despite the immense challenges faced by humanity, that period accelerated changes that were already beginning to emerge. Digital delivery opened new possibilities for accessibility and inclusion, making assessments available to people in locations that had previously faced significant barriers. In a vast country such as Argentina, this has made a particularly meaningful difference, bringing opportunities closer to communities across the country.

Locally, one of the most remarkable changes I have witnessed has been the growth of our presence in Argentina. When I started, it was essentially a one-person operation. Later joined by two part-time colleagues, we gradually began to build our activities and reach. Today, I have the privilege of working alongside a highly professional team whose expertise, experience and commitment continue to drive our success. Each member brings unique strengths and perspectives, and together we have built not only a strong operation in Argentina but also a platform for growth across LATAM.

The journey from a small local presence to a dedicated regional team reflects not only organisational growth but also the passion, resilience and professionalism of the people who are part of our present at Trinity.

Erna and colleagues, taken during a monthly team meeting

Top row left to right: Marina Angelini, Beatriz Coello, Aldana Sanjuanbenito, Rocío Iglesias.

Bottom row left to right: Adela Rojas, Julieta Serrano, Erna Berntz, Valentina Moreno.

One of the greatest privileges of my years with Trinity has been the opportunity to travel across Argentina. Over the years, I have lost count of the flights, buses, taxis, hotel check-ins and early-morning departures. If I had to guess, I have probably taken well over 500 trips in the course of my work. What those journeys gave me, however, was far more valuable than miles. They allowed me to discover the extraordinary diversity of Argentina, meet dedicated teachers and learners in every corner of the country, and understand firsthand the impact that education and qualifications can have on people's lives. It has been a long journey in every sense of the word — and one that I would happily take all over again.

For more than two decades a significant part of our work involved bringing examiners to Argentina for the face-to-face sessions. At times, we were coordinating the travel arrangements of up to thirty examiners simultaneously, juggling flights, hotels, taxis, schedules and contingency plans. Looking back, I sometimes think we were running a travel agency that happened to organise examinations.

Most trips went smoothly, but every now and then there was an unforgettable adventure. We dealt with lost passports, last-minute flight cancellation, and even the occasional examiner who became so enthusiastic about sightseeing that he temporarily disappeared from the carefully planned itinerary, leaving hotels calling us to ask whether we knew his whereabouts as they had not seen him for 3 days!  (If you're wondering how it ended, the examiner arrived at work on time, straight from his wanderlust trip on a long national holiday weekend).

Nowadays, one of the most significant transformations has been the introduction of our exclusive delivery model in the country and across the region: VC (video conference) examinations. As a result, the way we manage exam sessions has changed considerably, giving us far greater flexibility and enabling us to offer many more examination sessions throughout the year.

When looking back, I feel deeply grateful. I have had the good fortune to grow alongside an organisation that has remained true to its core values while continuing to evolve with the times.

And whenever I think about where this journey began, I still smile at the image of myself sitting on those steps in London, feeling unbelievably fortunate.

In many ways, that is still how I feel today.

Main image: Erna and Trinity colleagues pose for a photo, December 2025

Sitting – left to right: Julieta Serrano, Marina Angelini, Aldana Sanjuanbenito, Rocío Iglesias

Standing left to right: Daian Alberico, Emilia Pittelli, Valentina Moreno, Beatriz Coello, Erna Berntz , Adela Rojas