Fernando Rojas Franco
Tilburg,NB
Summary
Energetic professional with over 25 years of project management, team leadership, sustainability strategy, and entrepreneurial experience in the top-tier industry and higher education institutions. A dynamic leader and coach developing strong and highly motivated teams. A business entrepreneur with a global social approach. An international higher education lecturer, avid public speaker and internationalization strategic advisor to top-rated institutions.
Work and visa status: Australian, Dutch and Mexican citizen, German permanent residence permit.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of the Department
AVANS UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
01.2018 - Current
- Of internationalisation, Dual Degrees and core Strategic international affairs
- Generated anincrease of 15% in international students intake by creating a university-wide strategic plan for internationalisation, onboarding and higher education innovation (global classroom, internationalisation at home and COIL projects)
- Increased 20% of strategic partnerships and developed International Relations with top-tier universities while leading a team of 15+ professionals in higher education and operations of international affairs specialists
- Secured the premium gold label from FIBAA international accreditation and prepared the path of AACSB and EFMD global accreditations as head of strategic international accreditations
- Successfully managed International emergency plans during global crises like COVID-19 and Europe war conflict mobilizing 600+ students
- Represented Avans at the EAIE, NAFSA and APAIE conferences to strengthen partner relationships and identify potential future partnerships
- Achieved a line-up of 6 strategic partners as the Founder of the AVANS global classroom (COIL project) for the International Business program
Lecturer
AVANS UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
01.2016 - Current
- In Social Entrepreneurship, Business Sustainability, Intercultural Management and Int. Business Operations
- Developing and delivering curriculum for the Latin American Business, Global Sustainability and IB Programs to 300 students per semester.
- Successfully developed and implemented curriculum applying impact investing strategies for international social entrepreneurship, project management and multicultural management programs
- Developed hybrid education strategies for the International Business Academy at AVANS
EMEA Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
BOOKING.COM
01.2012 - 01.2016
- As one of the founders and coordinators of the social responsibility program (Booking Cares),managed more than 500 social development programs in all the EMEA offices (20+), while leading a team of +150 professionals in different countries.
- Management of PR, Marketing and Communications for Booking Cares Social Responsibility program
Operations Team Manager
BOOKING.COM
01.2011 - 01.2016
- Secured the recruitment, hiring and onboarding of over 700 new colleagues (400% growth) in a 2 yr period to Booking.com offices in Berlin as the project and team manager in the operations team
- Managed the change of strategy and implementation in the senior executive team as per the new corporate ambition of 80+ senior executives and corporate support specialist as operations manager.
Trainer
CITADEL GROUP AND AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS ACADEMY
01.2008 - 01.2011
- Management consulting, executive training in business operations, project management and leadership to over four training programs
General Manager
VENTILATION SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA
01.2006 - 01.2011
- Increased revenue by 100% p.a
- Ensuring the continuation and enhancements of products and services leading a team of 10+ professionals.
International Marketing Coordinator and Project Manager
HILC
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Created and supported development of in-market initiatives and programs to grow business.
- Executed global marketing promotions by drafting newsletters, e-mails and other communication.
Founder, CEO and Project
GRUPO MARCO DE MéXICO
01.2001 - 01.2004
- Manager of a conglomerate of Automotive business providers.
- Developed strong partnerships with other businesses to allow for collaboration and more significant opportunities for growth
Project manager and sales engineer
BREMBO SPA
01.1999 - 01.2001
- Managed technical integration, systems engineering program management, customer support and program management for German luxury automotive market
Environmental Analyst, Industrial Engineer, Project Manager
VOLKSWAGEN AG
01.1998 - 01.1999
- Planned, designed, and scheduled phases for large projects.
- Provided detailed project status updates to stakeholders and executive management.
Education
Ph.D. - International Education Innovation
LEIDEN UNIVERSITY
The Hague12.2025
Associate of Arts - Organizational Leadership
HILC
Sydney12.2004
MBA -
UDLAP
Puebla Mexico07.2003
Industrial Engineering And Automation
OSTFALIA FH
BraunschweigBachelor of Science -
PUEBLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Mexico07.2000
Skills
- LANGUAGES
- SPANISH (Native); ENGLISH (Fully Bilingual); GERMAN (Advanced); DUTCH (Intermediate); ITALIAN (Basic)
- Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
- Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Languages
Spanish
Native language
English
Proficient
C2
German
Upper intermediate
B2
Dutch
Intermediate
B1
Timeline
Head of the Department
AVANS UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
01.2018 - Current
Lecturer
AVANS UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
01.2016 - Current
EMEA Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
BOOKING.COM
01.2012 - 01.2016
Operations Team Manager
BOOKING.COM
01.2011 - 01.2016
Trainer
CITADEL GROUP AND AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS ACADEMY
01.2008 - 01.2011
General Manager
VENTILATION SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA
01.2006 - 01.2011
International Marketing Coordinator and Project Manager
HILC
01.2004 - 01.2006
Founder, CEO and Project
GRUPO MARCO DE MéXICO
01.2001 - 01.2004
Project manager and sales engineer
BREMBO SPA
01.1999 - 01.2001
Environmental Analyst, Industrial Engineer, Project Manager
VOLKSWAGEN AG
01.1998 - 01.1999
Ph.D. - International Education Innovation
LEIDEN UNIVERSITY
Associate of Arts - Organizational Leadership
HILC
MBA -
UDLAP
Industrial Engineering And Automation
OSTFALIA FH
Bachelor of Science -
PUEBLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
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