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 Biddulph

MBE FCCT

James, our CEO, is an award winning educator, Cambridge academic, school founder, author, and 2025 was awarded the MBE for services to education.

Follow On Linkedin

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.

Follow On Linkedin

Bavaani Nanthabalan

Trust Director

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

Follow On Linkedin

Anjana Gupta

Trust Director

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

Follow On Linkedin

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.

Follow On Linkedin

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.

Follow On Linkedin

Michelle Loughrey

Trust Director

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

Follow On Linkedin

Kishan Parshotam

Trust Director

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

Follow On Linkedin

Roshni Thakrar

Trust Director

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

Follow On Linkedin

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.

Follow On Linkedin

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.

Follow On Linkedin

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.

Follow On Linkedin