From Brewing to IDP and StudyPortals: Julian Longbottom on Two Decades in International Education

From the beer business to international education, Julian Longbottom’s career has been anything but predictable—and that’s exactly what makes this episode so good.In this wide-ranging conversation, Rob sits down with Julian to unpack a life of unexpected pivots, bold strategies, and smart innovation—from launching Carlton Cold and Carlton Mid, to helping transform the University of Canberra’s reputation, to building StudyPortals in Asia-Pacific from the ground up.There’s business wisdom here, to be sure—but also great stories and laughter, including a wild skiing trip to Kashmir (avalanches, Russians, military zones—you name it).In this episode, we cover:Julian’s start in the brewing industry (yes, really!)How transferable skills landed him a leadership role at IDP during its transformationBuilding data-driven marketing strategies for the University of Canberra and StudyPortalsWhat innovation actually looks like inside big orgs—and how to foster it🏔️ Heli-skiing in Alaska, backcountry snow missions in Kashmir, and the thrill of offline adventurePlus, a memorable quote to take away:“Is there a gap in the market… and a market in the gap?”Julian shares candid reflections on success, failure, curiosity, and carving your own path—whether that’s through the boardroom or knee-deep Himalayan powder.We are incredibly proud to be the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host.The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website.This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]