Cambridge Worldwide Academy was founded in 1997 by Dr Amina Wakefield a multi-award winner in business, leadership, international education and export of British education. Recognized globally as the most decorated educator and business leader in international education, Dr Wakefield is in receipt of 29 awards from different countries and governments including the 2025 and 2024 Influential Women in Business Award, 2023 She Inspires Lifetime Achievement Award, 2023 Remote Working Businesswoman of the Year Award, 2023 Global Education Leadership Award, 2022 Woman Who Achieves In Business Growth Award, EU awards in innovation in curriculum design and the Saphira Award in Leadership and Enterprise.
In 2013 British Minister of Foreign Trade Mr Alistair Burt presented Dr Wakefield with the G8 UK Award for Women in Business in recognition of her outstanding achievements over 20 years in developing partnerships in education between the UK and the MENA countries, enterprise and export in education, managing the best international operations in the FE sector and generating over £180 million in export of British education. To date Dr Wakefield’s education services and pro bono work contributed £220 million in export income to British education.
In 2004 Cambridge Worldwide Academy changed its mission to mainly focusing on the export of British education and expertise. This change came about as a result of an increasing demand for education services related to knowledge transfer from the UK to education institutions overseas and the provision of practical solutions to increase the economic participation of women and young people.