Team
Feroz Ali - Chairman
Feroz is a dynamic entrepreneur with 25+ years of executive leadership experience in New Zealand and Canada. An experienced director, with governance and advisory roles in both private and public institutions, Feroz also serves as a director on the board of British Columbia Council for International Education.
Dr. FAY AMARAL
CEO Whitecliffe NZ & Australia
With over two decades of executive leadership experience, including a notable tenure as CEO in various sectors spanning education, film, retail, and media, Fay brings a wealth of expertise to her new role.
Fay’s distinguished career includes pivotal positions with renowned brands such as VEGA, ADvTECH Ltd, Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Sony, and the BBC. Notably, she has almost completed her PhD in Psychology at AUT, focusing on the transition challenges faced by school leavers entering tertiary studies or the workforce. Her dedication to academia was recognised in 2023 when she was awarded runner-up in the AUT 3 Minute Thesis competition.
Before joining Whitecliffe, Fay served as CEO of Youthtown, a national non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting young people in New Zealand/Aotearoa. During her tenure, Fay demonstrated remarkable leadership, further solidifying her commitment to educational initiatives.
Fay’s passion for the tertiary education sector was ignited during her tenure as Managing Director of VEGA in 2013. VEGA, a leading private tertiary institution in South Africa, specialises in degree and master’s programmes across various disciplines. Fay’s strategic vision and leadership resulted in the expansion of VEGA, including the establishment of three new campuses and the introduction of innovative programmes.
Dr. Michel Tarko - CEO Whitecliffe Canada
Dr. Tarko is a distinguished academic leader with a Ph.D. in Education (Curriculum & Instruction) from the University of British Columbia and a BA in Psychology/Sociology from the University of Manitoba.
With over 15 years of experience in academic leadership, he has held key roles, including Vice-President Academic, President & CEO of the Justice Institute of BC, and Associate Dean and Dean for the Faculty of Health Sciences at Douglas College.
He is also a recognized corporate director, holding the Institute of Corporate Directors designation from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Dr. Tarko is known for his commitment to inclusive education, with a focus on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Indigenization efforts. As Chair of the BC Council for International Education (BCCIE), he plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of post-secondary education in British Columbia.
He proudly identifies as a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and draws from his Metis heritage, which includes roots in the Cree Nation and French European descent, to bring a unique and empathetic leadership style that resonates with diverse cultures and backgrounds.