Jimmy Wong

In my 35 years working in the industry there’s not many industries where you can call your partners as friends. But I would proudly say that Navitas are friends  

 Can you tell us when and how you came to partner with Navitas?  

It started in, I believe it was in 1992. I was working and another agent and Mr  Rod Jones, he was on secondment from Australia working in Hong Kong in the agency for a couple of months. We just had a couple of brainstorming sessions and you know how innovative Rod is. So, he came up with his concept of – previously it was called the IBT. So, he kind of had his great vision to set up a pathway provider. So, I guess that’s how PIBT first came about.  

 And so that was my first encounter with Rod. Thirty years later, look at how successful Navitas has become.  

 PIBT was the first ever pathway provider that I partnered with. I even remember the original founders of PIBT. So I guess during those days, the market wasn’t as competitive as it is now. So, it was a pretty easy option to introduce the PIBT pathway program to international students in Hong Kong. This is a great pathway opportunity for Hong Kong students. So it’s just become, I guess, the pioneer of the whole pathway education sector.  

 What is one of your favourite memories from working with Navitas?   

 Well, for me personally, I don’t think it’s just one favourite memory. I think I’ve got probably quite a few. I would say overall, it makes me so proud to be a contributor of the success of Navitas. I guess in our industry, there’s not many people who’ve been working as long as I have to see how successful the whole Navitas group has become. That’s probably made me super proud to be one of the major education agent contributions to the success.  

 You know, it’s not just one special memory. I think it’s all these years that I love my job and I’m still very passionate about what I do and to see just what an amazing educational group that Navitas has become, not just in Hong Kong, of course, but as a global kind of educational brand. So yes, I would say it’s not just one particular moment, but it’s over the years.  

How has partnering with Navitas made an impact on your work and the lives of the students you have helped? 

When Navitas first came into the market – and back in those days, it was known as the IBT – especially in my market in Hong Kong, the education system kind of really suited the pathway opportunities that the IBTs have given to Hong Kong students. It’s kind of helped my business growth, because it offered a very, very wonderful opportunity for students who couldn’t go on to universities in Hong Kong. And to go through the Navitas pathway allows them to see fantastic alternative opportunities, and to see my students and my business grow because of that, that’s probably one of the biggest thing that has really helped my business.  

It was because of Navitas Group giving these opportunities to young students from my region to explore these great on campus provisions. And it wasn’t just one area that they can pursue. It really allows students who have different interests to pursue an educational degree. I guess what Navitas provide is this amazing sort of on campus experience, with great facilities, with great academic support and welfare support.  

 It has definitely helped my business really expand, not just regionally in Australia, but how it expanded to the UK, expanded to the US and also expanded to Canada, as well as some European destinations as well. I feel very proud.  

 What key achievements come to mind during your partnership with Navitas? 

Well, the key achievement again, I think it’s just feeling like one of the sort of major sort of contributors, as an agent sort of angle to the overall success that can Navitas has become.  

I always feel that Navitas to us, it’s more of a family educational group. It’s a bit different to others. I always say that in my 35 years working in the industry, I would proudly say that Navitas are friends. There’s not many industries where you can call your partners as friends. But I definitely, definitely feel that what Navitas gives us as an agent is that, you know, apart from just a business partner, but more on a personal kind of level, more like a friend, family kind of relationship. That is some way that I would definitely position Navitas, that they really understand the needs of agents and really help to support the agents.  

I just want to say a big, big congratulations Navitas, 30th anniversary and to my friends Rod and Scott and Tony and all the previous founder from Navitas.  

I probably didn’t say that before when I had my wedding back in 1999, rather than the whole Navitas founding partners came to my wedding . It was a wonderful occasion to have them attend my wedding. So I just want to say a big thank you and a big congratulation to Navitas’ 30 year anniversary.