Our People – Avanti Schools Trust

Our
People

Reimagine

Avanti People are on a mission.

Our diverse and committed team of over 800 people includes teachers, teaching assistants, education and school operation experts, Principals, trustees, volunteers and many more.

Dr James Biddhulph

MBE FCCT

James, CEO of Avanti Schools Trust, is a Cambridge-trained educator, school founder, author, and 2025 MBE honouree for services to education.

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Mike Younger

Chair

Mike Younger, Trust Chair, ex-Dean of Cambridge Education Faculty, led top Ofsted-rated programmes; expert in teacher education, gender, and leadership.

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Bavaani Nanthabalan

Trust Director

Bavaani, passionate about children’s learning, has led four schools as Executive Head, raising achievement, attainment, and leadership capacity.

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Anjana Gupta

Trust Director

Anjana, a chartered accountant in investment, champions educational innovation and equal opportunities for young people, especially the marginalised.

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Sukwinder Bassi

Trust Director

Sukwinder, global education leader, ex-CEO GEMS East Africa & senior UK retail exec, improved 90k+ students’ outcomes and led 60k+ staff worldwide.

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Molly Warrington

Trust Director

Dr Molly Warrington, ex-Cambridge lecturer, researched gender, education & poverty; Avanti Board leader, she drives yoga studies and women’s networks.

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Michelle Loughrey

Trust Director

Michelle, veteran teacher & Head, now education consultant, trustee & author, specialises in curriculum innovation, leadership, creativity & safeguarding.

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Kishan Parshotam

Trust Director

Kishan Parshotam, Solicitor Advocate, entrepreneur & Magistrate, is passionate about equity in education, serving as Co-Chair of Governors and trustee.

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Roshni Thakrar

Trust Director

Roshni, solicitor & DEI champion, co-founded Inclusiviteam, won 2024 Rising Star, and advocates neurodiversity as trustee, adviser, podcaster & volunteer.

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Sundeep Gupta

Trust Director

Sundeep, Partner at a top consultancy, expert in transformation, regulation & PE, is also an executive coach, mentor, and advocate for diversity & inclusion.

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Aakash Mankodi

Trust Director

Aakash, Senior Policy Manager at the Bank of England, blends expertise in policy & governance with advocacy for diversity, mentoring, and social mobility.

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Sulabh Agarwal

Trust Director

Sulabh, Accenture Partner, guides global firms in payments strategy & risk, with prior Capital One experience; IIT engineer & INSEAD MBA, family-focused.

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