Often, the lines between ambition and impact are blurred, but Chanaka Palihakkara has drawn hers with remarkable clarity. From leading regional strategies across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia during her 20-year career at HSBC, she now spearheads ACH Education – a global student consultancy operating in 12 international markets.
For Chanaka, the transition from banking to education was more than a career pivot; it was a calling. “Despite the success I achieved in the corporate world, I always carried within me the dream of building something of my own, a global brand that would make a meaningful impact,” she shares. Her role at HSBC had her leading graduate internship programs, where she saw firsthand how access to education could reshape lives. That experience sparked a deeper passion: not just to open doors, but to walk students through them. In 2017, she took a
leap of faith and launched ACH Education.
What began as a vision to bridge students in Sri Lanka with global opportunities has evolved into a thriving international operation. ACH Education now serves students across Australia, the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Europe, offering them more than just academic placements. The company has become a trusted guide through the complex world of higher education, offering tailored counselling, scholarship access, and post-graduate employment support.
“Our expansion was not just about increasing geographic presence, it was about building meaningful, culturally sensitive student support systems in each market,” Chanaka explains. From developing multilingual teams to designing services that reflect both academic quality
and financial accessibility, ACH’s student-first model has proven resilient and effective.
That strategic foresight is matched by a powerful internal framework. ACH’s ability to consistently deliver measurable outcomes, such as 20%+ tuition scholarships, full PhD funding, and recruitment into top-tier companies, comes from a blend of personalised counselling, proprietary tracking systems, and deep-rooted institutional partnerships. “Our alumni and industry networks also play a critical role in ensuring a seamless transition from education to employment,” she adds.
Behind ACH’s high-performing teams is a leadership style forged in the halls of one of the world’s largest banks. Chanaka credits her time at HSBC for shaping the values and structures that now define ACH: “HSBC taught me the power of strategic execution, long- term planning, and global thinking anchored in local action.” Those same principles now underpin ACH’s operational excellence, from data-driven decision-making to outcome-based performance cultures.
But for Chanaka, leadership is not just about systems, it’s about people. She has embedded a culture of trust, integrity, and continuous development across the organisation. “Every team member is encouraged to lead with empathy, think globally, and act with integrity,” she says. It’s a human-centred approach that aligns perfectly with the organisation’s mission: empowering students to build their future with confidence and clarity.
As ACH looks toward the future, its next chapter signals another bold transformation. Chanaka’s 2025 vision includes establishing a foreign university in Sri Lanka, a move that aims to democratise access to international education while retaining local talent. “This will provide Sri Lankan students with internationally accredited qualifications at a fraction of the overseas cost,” she explains. It’s not just about expanding ACH’s footprint; it’s about elevating the nation’s educational landscape.
In a world where many chase growth, Chanaka is chasing significance. With ACH Education, she has built more than a business; she has built a bridge. One that connects dreams to degrees, ambition to access, and talent to opportunity.