This article examines the perspectives of senior academics on internationalisation of higher education across three countries: England, Czech Republic and Australia. In particular, it investigates the perspectives and experiences of academics in a range of leadership positions in university faculties and schools. The research utilises a critical event narrative inquiry method which is particularly suited to investigating complex, human and culture-centred aspects in examined phenomena, such as internationalisation in higher education. The article highlights the similarities and differences between the perspectives of the academics in the three higher education systems and investigates the reasons for these with implications for practice and further research.