Nitesh Gor OBE – CEO and Trustee
Mike Younger – Chair
Bavaani Nanthabalan – Trust Director
Dipa Dhokia – Trust Director
Dipa Dhokia has a long standing career in IT spanning over 20 years working in senior roles. She has worked in leading companies and blue chips focusing on strategic partnerships with global clients. In addition she is a seasoned entrepreneur who has created and operated several businesses in different industry verticals.
Dipa is passionate about empowering women in industry and business believing that the fundamental improvements in educating and developing of young children and people is imperative at grass roots. She is a proven natural mentor who also regularly participates in events to help young people get a taste of industry whilst encouraging individuality and lateral thinking. Dipa is also a strong advocate for mental, physical and metaphysical cognisance resulting in a healthier balanced lifestyle.
Sukwinder Bassi– Trust Director
Molly Warrington – Trust Director Now retired, Dr Molly Warrington was formerly a lecturer in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge and Director of Studies in Geography at King’s and Homerton Colleges. She has undertaken research into homelessness and the geographies of domestic violence, though the main focus of her work lay along the intersections of human geography and education, with a key emphasis on gender.
Though Molly’s teaching has been in the higher education sector, she has considerable experience of schools in several different contexts. For example, she co-directed a four-year government-funded project on gender and underachievement in England and led a longitudinal study on access to education for girls from extremely poor backgrounds in partnership with governments and NGOs in Kenya and Uganda. She has over forty publications in the form of peer-reviewed academic papers, books, book chapters and reports.
At Avanti, Molly has initiated an action research project with yoga teachers in several Avanti schools, producing a report showing the value of the sustained practice of yoga in schools. Through her time as a member of the Trust Board, she has chaired several committees and is currently Chair of the People and Governance Committee. Most recently Molly has been involved in setting up an Avanti Women’s Network, an informal group of women supported by the Trust Board, whose aim is to improve the working lives of women employed by Avanti, at whatever level.
Andrew Read – Trust Director
Praful Ganatra – Trust Director
Praful is a passionate believer of education being a tool for self-development and empowerment, and would like to see every child, irrespective of their personal background, be given this opportunity to fulfil their true potential.
By professional background, he is a Chartered Tax Advisor and Chartered Accountant, with extensive experience of advising multinational companies in developing their tax strategy, managing their risk and compliance obligations globally.
Anjana Gupta – Trust Director
Anjana is a chartered accountant with a background in client service and now working in the investment industry while pursuing several creative interests. She is passionate about ensuring opportunities for well-rounded development for children and young people, particularly from marginalised backgrounds. Anjana’s own educational experiences were greatly varied, which informs her belief in ongoing educational innovation and in the need to harmonise academic, physical, social and emotional development.
Michelle Loughrey – Trust Director
Michelle is a successful teacher and education leader with over two decades’ experience working in primary education. She has substantial leadership experience leading schools, including as Headteacher. Michelle is currently working as an education consultant, providing skilled coaching and strategic support; her particular interests and specialisms are in curriculum innovation, creativities, leadership development, and organisational change. She is co-editor of Sculpting New Creativities in Primary Education the third book in the University of Cambridge Primary School’s Unlocking Research series. Michelle is experienced in working in safeguarding across the education and charity sectors, including in international development, and is a trustee of the national children’s charity, School-Home Support.
Kishan Parshotam – Trust Director
Kishan Parshotam is a Solicitor Advocate at Covington & Burling LLP, with a practice focused on commercial litigation and arbitration. Kishan predominantly advises technology companies, financial institutions and life sciences businesses. In addition, Kishan runs several businesses and is a Magistrate serving in Central London. Kishan is also a volunteer at several organisations in and around London.
Kishan is passionate about education and its role in improving equity within society. Kishan also serves as Co-Chair of Governors at a primary school in Brent. He has held governor roles at schools since he was 18 years old. His vision as a trustee is to ensure equitable access to high-quality education that prepares students for success in a rapidly evolving world. Kishan has also been a visiting lecturer at a London university.
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