Adam's journey at Trinity started 12 years ago, having gained international experience in the education field in Australia and Europe. Initially joining Trinity within our SELT (Secure English Language Testing) business area, Adam is now a Service Transition Manager in our Customer Success team. Listen to the fascinating story of the career lattice he chose for himself.
My career has always been in education, as that’s the sector I’ve consistently felt drawn to. Before joining Trinity, I worked for Laureate Education in Amsterdam, a company specialising in online education delivery. It was a very tech-focused environment, and that experience gave me a strong understanding of digital processes and operational efficiency.
I completed a Master’s degree in International Management at the University of Liverpool, and even before that, my first role back in Australia was with the South Australian State Government’s international education service. In that role, I helped arrange homestay placements for international students coming to South Australia to study at university. That experience really confirmed that I wanted to build my career in education and in roles that directly or indirectly support students.
My first role with Trinity was as Training Team Leader for UK & Ireland. It was initially a maternity cover position, so I knew I had 12 months to make a difference. Coming from a technology-driven organisation, I was able to suggest improvements that streamlined processes and modernised some of the more outdated workflows. At the end of the 12 months, I was fortunate to be offered an extension, which coincided with Trinity winning the original SELT bid and beginning to set up new centres an exciting and pivotal time for the organisation.
When that extension ended, I applied for and was offered a Centre Manager position overseeing both the Hammersmith and Holborn centres. I really enjoyed managing two centres at the same time, as it gave me the opportunity to work with two different teams and perspectives. Being able to share best practice between them strengthened both teams and ultimately improved the service we provided to candidates.
After two years in the dual Centre Manager role, I was offered the opportunity to help set up and manage a brand-new SELT centre in Croydon. Being involved in the initial setup and recruitment was a fantastic learning experience. It allowed me to develop new skills in areas such as audit and risk management, safeguarding, contingency planning, security, and compliance all of which are critical in the SELT environment.
After four years as a SELT Centre Manager, I was ready for a new challenge. I saw an internal vacancy for Written Examinations Manager within the Operations team and felt that my experience with written exams and compliance would put me in a strong position. Moving into that role exposed me to a completely different side of the business. I became involved in more project-based work and collaborated much more closely with other teams, which broadened my understanding of Trinity beyond centre operations.
That experience ultimately prepared me for my current role as Service Transition Manager. While not all of my moves have been traditional promotions some have been sideways each change has been rewarding and has added something valuable to my skill set. I’ve developed strong leadership, operational oversight, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills, and I’ve learned the importance of adaptability and continuous improvement.
If I were to give advice to someone thinking about their own progression at Trinity, it would be not to discount sideways moves. Progression doesn’t always mean moving up immediately. Sometimes moving across into a different role or team gives you the skills, exposure and confidence you need to take that next step later on. Being open to learning and embracing new challenges has made a real difference in my journey, and every role I’ve taken on has played a part in shaping where I am today.
“Progression doesn’t always mean moving up immediately. Sometimes moving across into a different role or team gives you the skills, exposure and confidence you need to take that next step later on.”