Strategic consulting for a more inclusive and sustainable international education sector

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Sarah Mines is a respected leader in international education, known for her strategic thinking, collaborative approach, and commitment to values-driven work that supports long term impact across the sector.

  • With nearly two decades of experience, Sarah has worked across Canada with governments, institutions, associations, and private-sector partners to shape intentional internationalization strategies, build meaningful cross-border partnerships, and integrate climate justice into global education practices.

    Sarah’s strengths include business development, interest-holder engagement, market research, benchmarking, project management, and strategic planning. She is valued for her extensive network, her ability to navigate complexity, and her dedication to delivering practical, evidence-based solutions.

    A trusted public speaker and knowledge sharer, Sarah brings clarity, purpose, and a spirit of collaboration to every project. Her work is grounded in values—equity, sustainability, and impact—and guided by integrity, compassion, and bold vision. She holds a certificate in Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard Business School Online, is certified Carbon Literate from Green Takeover, and is a trained Climate Reality Leader through Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project.

  • To connect and support professionals in international education through open knowledge sharing, collaboration, and partnership, building a more inclusive and sustainable sector that serves future generations.

  • A more compassionate and sustainable international education sector—one that centers students, uplifts communities, and empowers every individual to contribute with purpose. 

  • Transparency

    Trust is built through openness. Actions are grounded in clear communication, shared expectations, and a commitment to honesty throughout the process - from initial conversations to project completion.

    Knowledge Sharing

    Meaningful change is more likely when ideas and experience are exchanged, not held. Research, insights, and tools are developed not to be kept, but to be used to support others in making informed, values-driven decisions and fostering collective learning across the sector.

    Community 

    Collaboration and care are central to every project. This work prioritizes strong relationships, thoughtful guidance, and the belief that everyone, regardless of role or title, has something meaningful to contribute and deserves to be supported in doing so.

    Integrity

    Every decision is guided by a strong moral compass. That means centering long-term impact over short-term optics, holding space for hard conversations, and consistently aligning actions with principles of equity, justice, and sustainability.

Sarah’s commitment to her mission, vision and values is demonstrated through the co-founding of NourishED International (NEDI). NEDI strives to build an inclusive, nourishing, and sustainable global community of practice that empowers international education practitioners throughout their careers - from newly entering the field to those retiring. Visit the website to sign-up to receive more information as we roll out NEDI services and supports.

Services

Sarah Mines Consulting provides institutions and organizations with thoughtful, informed, and actionable support for the international education industry. While each project is unique, the focus is always on delivering meaningful outcomes and building mindful, long term impact that centres students and the community.

With 20 years of experience, a global network of collaborators, and an unwavering commitment to international education, partners benefit from Sarah’s robust industry experience, sector insight, and ongoing support, even after the project is completed.

In addition to the services below, Sarah welcomes the opportunity to co-create customized solutions that meet your specific needs.

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  • Strategic Planning & Implementation Design

    We work closely with our clients and partners to design strategic plans and implementation strategies that are intentional, student-centered, and aligned with institutional priorities. Projects encompass everything from early-stage visioning and interest holder engagement to detailed implementation plans and team support.

    Projects are often in collaboration with Kate Jennings.

  • Market Research & Report Authoring

    We deliver in-depth, data-driven research and manage collaborative multi-interest holder projects. This includes market research, trend analysis, environmental assessments, and initiatives designed to inform strategy, guide policy, and support evidence-based decision-making.

  • Climate Justice Training & Adaptation

    We support the international education sector with education and training, emissions inventories, and climate justice planning to help bridge internationalization and sustainability. Our work is globally focused, and our members are regionally based, coming alongside our clients in their climate journey.  

    In cooperation with Alethea Global Cooperative.

Clients and Partners

Testimonials

  • “With Sarah’s support and guidance, VCC recently completed our International Education Strategic Plan. As our consultant, Sarah was instrumental in providing advice, direction and guidance throughout the entire process. Her extensive knowledge and experience in internationalization were invaluable for our college, and she was able to lead the development of our plan and ensure that we considered everything from stakeholders, to change management, to implementation and everything in between. With her extensive knowledge of the sector and her experience in strategic planning, I would highly recommend Sarah to support the development or the review of your institution’s strategic plan.”

    - Jennifer Gossen,

    Director of International Education, VCC

  • “It was a pleasure to work with Kate and Sarah on the development of our strategic plan. They brought a wealth of knowledge and experience, offering insights that were both practical and tailored to the needs and identity of the institution. Every step of the process was clearly communicated and they consistently met all deadlines. Their collaborative approach made the entire experience smooth and productive.”

    - Amy Beyer,

    Associate Registrar - International, University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)

  • “Sarah was hired as a consultant for me at SAIT to project manage the creation of a Development Plan for a new provincial international education organization called the Alberta Bureau for International Education (ABIE). This approx. 4.5 month appointment required Sarah to engage with the broader higher education system of 26 post-secondary institutions. Sarah demonstrated high-level PM and communication skills throughout the project and helped ensure timelines and key outcomes were met. I was impressed with Sarah's professionalism, whether working with the public, senior academic leaders or government officials. I would have no hesitation hiring Sarah again on similar complex initiatives.”

    - Mark Butler,

    Vice President Corporate Development, Applied Research & International, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)

  • “I am delighted to recommend Sarah for her exceptional expertise in international education strategy, and project management. Having had the pleasure of collaborating with Sarah on a contracted project at the BC Council for International Education (BCCIE), I can attest to their deep knowledge of the global education landscape. Sarah brings a unique blend of strategic thinking and practical execution to the table. Her ability to analyze complex international education trends and develop comprehensive plans sets her apart in the field. She is committed to delivering high-quality results on time and within budget. I highly recommend Sarah, as her passion for advancing climate action through equitable approaches to internationalization make her a standout professional in the field.”

    - Chelsey Laird,

    Director, UMAP International Secretariat at University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP)

  • “Sarah worked with us at BCCIE back in the day, and we had no hesitation in approaching her to do a major consultancy on the diversification of the post-secondary sector in British Columbia. The work was completed over the Fall term of 2020 and involved an environmental scan of BC's relative strength in both national and global contexts, and a comprehensive market and data analysis. The final report was cogent and articulate and contained practical recommendations, resourcing recommendations and timelines towards implementation. Very much appreciated.”

    - Randall Martin,

    Executive Director, BC Council for International Education

Contact

smines@gmail.com

+1 604-838-4042