ILAC Education Group

John DeFranco

CEO

John is a graduate of Western University with a degree in business.

John spent the majority of his career in retail and service organizations. As the previous Chief Commercial Officer at Staples Canada, he co-led a multi-year transformation that strengthened the brand and grew the business.

Prior to that, John was President of PetSmart Canada, where his leadership helped the organization become the largest and fastest-growing pet retailer in Canada. John also spent 13 years at Home Depot Canada in progressive roles in store development, merchandising and strategic planning.

As a first-generation Canadian, John has a great appreciation for the opportunities Canada provided to him and his family. He is excited to be part of an organization that supports students as they dream big.

Zeeshan Ali Khan

CFO

Zeeshan Ali Khan is the Chief Financial Officer of International Language Academy of Canada Inc. In his role, Zeeshan leads the finance, accounting and information technology teams while supporting the company’s strategic and financial objectives.

Zeeshan is an accomplished strategic and operational finance executive with more than 15 years of experience in senior leadership roles across telecommunications, technology, sports and media.

Prior to joining ILAC in 2024, Zeeshan spent a decade at Rogers Communications, most recently as Vice President, Finance for the Technology and Digital business. He previously worked at Bell Canada and began his career at Deloitte.

Zeeshan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and a Master of Accounting from the University of Waterloo’s School of Accounting and Finance. He is also a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator.

He has served on the board of directors for Dome Productions and on the financial advisory and audit committee for Numeris Inc.

Itai Shenker

Senior Vice President, Operations

Itai Shenker serves as Senior Vice President of Operations at ILAC, where he leads strategic initiatives and oversees the core operational functions that drive ILAC’s performance and growth.

He is responsible for streamlining business operations, enhancing efficiency and optimizing processes to support long-term success. With more than 20 years of experience in international education and information technology, Itai has directed global operations teams through growth and strategic planning.

Passionate about ILAC’s vision and mission, Itai is dedicated to advancing excellence in education, empowering students and fostering an inclusive, globally connected learning community.

Itai holds an MBA from Toronto Metropolitan University, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Haifa and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Haifa.

Magdalena Link

Senior Vice President, Partnership Development

Magdalena Link is the Senior Vice President of Partnership Development at ILAC Education Group. She works closely with university and college partners and oversees higher education initiatives.

Magdalena has more than 20 years of experience in international education in Canada and the United Kingdom. Born in Poland, her family emigrated to Germany before settling in Canada. Her own journey has given her a deep appreciation for the international student experience.

Throughout her career, Magdalena has been a strong advocate for international student mobility and educational opportunities abroad.

She is a mentor through the CBIE International Network of Tomorrow’s Leaders Mentorship Program and serves on the IAS Adjudication Board, an independent board of international education leaders responsible for assessing potential breaches of the ICEF Agency Code of Conduct.

Angela Johnston

Vice President, Academic

Angela Johnston is the Vice President, Academic at ILAC Education Group. She leads academic programming, quality assurance and compliance across the Language and Careers divisions.

Angela works to ensure ILAC’s programs meet high standards for academic integrity and student success. She has more than 15 years of experience in international education, with leadership and teaching roles in Canada, Egypt and the Netherlands.

She is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and Royal Roads University and holds a Master’s in Higher Education Administration and Leadership. She also holds certifications in TESOL, Intercultural Studies and Adult Education.

Angela serves on the Board of Directors for Languages Canada, where she is co-chair of the Quality Assurance Committee.

Olga Kuznetsova

Vice President, Human Resources

Olga Kuznetsova is the Vice President of Human Resources at ILAC Education Group. She leads the organization’s human resources function and people and culture strategy in support of ILAC’s mission, values and continued success.

With more than 17 years of human resources experience in Canadian and international settings, Olga brings a strategic and people-centred approach to HR leadership.

Olga is a certified HR professional with CPHR BC & Yukon and holds the SHRM-SCP designation. She graduated from the Human Resources Management Certificate Program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology and holds a degree in Economics and Management.

Jenny Nieveen

President, UniApplyNow

Jenny Nieveen is an international education leader with more than 26 years of experience building global partnerships and expanding access to higher education in North America.

As President of UniApplyNow, part of ILAC Education Group, Jenny leads the growth of higher education initiatives, pathway programs, recruitment networks, government relationships, strategic partnerships and university collaborations across North America and globally.

Jenny’s work focuses on sustainable enrolment growth, improving the international student experience and helping shape the future of global higher education. She is also the founder of OHLA Schools, a Florida-based language training provider.

Originally from Colombia, Jenny is a business graduate of Universidad de La Sabana. She is proud to be part of a team that prioritizes student outcomes, agent relationships and reliable growth opportunities for universities.