A woman with light brown hair smiling softly outdoors, wearing a black blazer and a blue top, with a blurred green background of trees and grass.

Janet Ilieva’s journey with the British Council began in her school years in Bulgaria, where English opened a window into UK life and culture. At the time, the British Council had no office in the country, but its selected teachers and university library resources became a lifeline for students like Janet.

The British Council Resource Centres were one of those few places where you could actually find the textbooks in English and find out what Economics was all about,’ she recalls. Later, while working on an education project in Manchester to attract international students to the UK, Janet realised she was fulfilling her childhood dream of experiencing the world.
My experience with the British Council was a dream come true. It wasn’t just about connecting with the world but actively building the bridge between the UK and other countries,’ she says.

Today, as an external consultant for transnational education projects, Janet reflects on the values that have kept her tied to the organisation for nearly three decades.

It's people that make up the British Council, their dedication, their commitment, their genuine interest in others and bringing people together from all across the world. It's quite a unique chance to be able to be involved in that, to be part of that.

For Janet, the British Council remains a beacon for building connections and promoting multicultural fluency, a mission she believes is more important than ever.

This story is based on an interview with Janet for our 90th-anniversary project exploring the British Council experiences of individuals from around the world. Discover the full collection at Oral Histories: The British Council in Action.