MR. REN VARMA
Head of Mainland Southeast Asia of ACCA
Ren Varma is an accomplished senior leader with over 25 years of global experience in international education, transnational education (TNE), strategic partnerships, and business development. He currently serves as the Head of ACCA Mainland Southeast Asia, overseeing operations across Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. In this role, Ren has successfully driven revenue diversification, expanded ACCA’s footprint into new market segments including secondary and vocational education, and forged high-level partnerships with governments, industry, and education institutions.
Prior to this, Ren was Head of Partnerships for Emerging Markets at ACCA, based in London, where he led major growth initiatives including the India Growth Project, embedding ACCA’s Foundation Programmes in schools and vocational colleges to build sustainable student pipelines. His earlier leadership positions include Regional Director for Asia at ABE UK, where he spearheaded expansion into China and Southeast Asia, and senior international recruitment roles within the UK further and higher education sectors.
Ren brings deep expertise in government engagement, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and cross-border programme development. He has a robust track record of designing and delivering strategic growth plans, developing new revenue streams, and leading high-performing teams to achieve sustainable business outcomes. With a career spanning the UK, Asia, and emerging markets, Ren offers a global perspective combined with a strong passion for widening educational access and strengthening institutional impact through innovation and partnership.
Back