The Britus Education Round Table

Deborah Eyre
Owner
High Performance Learning Services Ltd

Deborah Eyre is an educational leader, academic researcher, writer and influencer focused on creating high performing schools with high performing students. She owns the company High Performance Learning Services Ltd which helps schools transform education quality. Her career includes senior education posts globally and in UK as well as advising governments and educational foundations in UK, Hong Kong, South Africa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, USA and Singapore.

A widely published author in advanced cognition, her most recent books, High Performance Learning: How to Become a World Class School and Great Minds and How to Grow Them are in use extensively in schools across the world. Deborah holds a professorship at Oxford Brookes University, an Honorary Professorship at the University of Warwick, is a Liveryman of the City of London and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Mark Whitfield
Education Director
Britus Education

As Education Director of Britus Education, Mark comes to the Britus Education with more than 20 years of experience in the education sector. A qualified teacher, Mark spent thirteen years working in the university teacher education sector in the UK and for the last 7 years Mark has worked in the schools sector in the Middle East.

He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to schools. During his time in the Middle East, Mark has held senior roles with Nord Anglia Education, International Schools Partnership and Bin Omeir Education Foundation. He has also been an independent consultant, working in a range of schools in the region. Mark’s has an outstanding track-record in supporting school leaders and teachers to improve learning, achievement and academic outcomes. Mark has also supported school owners and investors to ensure their schools are operationally and financially effective.

Recognising that society benefits from being served by successful schools, and a belief in the transformational power of education, Mark is driven by a passion for learning and student achievement. An inclusive educator, Mark’s philosophy of education is uncompromising in a belief that all students have the potential to succeed and the right to a good education.

Mark holds an MA in Education Leadership and Management and a BA in Religious Studies and Education, both from the University of Lancaster.

Geoff Hancock
Director
Education Reform, the Economic Development Board

Geoff is a highly experienced Director and educator with substantial UK and International experience working in both the private and public sector.  Having spent nearly a decade in business development and school improvement, both within the UK and internationally, In 2008, Geoff joined the EDB as Director of Education Reform, taking an instrumental role in the development and implementation of education reform and leading the school improvement programme.  Geoff supports education investment in the private sector at the EDB and works across government in the development of education and training focus across the full range of provision form Early years education through to the Tertiary sector, partnering with the Government’s National Economy team.

Peter Burdon
CEO
Britus Education

Peter Burdon is the Chief Executive Officer of Britus Education, bringing more than 10 years of in-depth knowledge, experience and skills in the education sector. At the heart of his educational philosophy, is a belief that all children can achieve highly with the right opportunities, support and motivation.

He is a known as a global expert in international schools. He has a strong track record in helping improve schools’ educational outcomes and achieving operational excellence. His experience spans almost 100 schools across Europe, China, Middle East and South East Asia.

Prior to this, Peter was the founder of School Improvement Services, a company focusing on working with schools to improve their educational and commercial outcomes, as well as Non-Executive Chairman of High Performance Learning. He worked for the world’s two leading schools organisations.  Peter was Chief Schools Officer of GEMS Education and he also spent six years at Nord Anglia Education serving as its Regional Managing Director – Europe and as its Chief Operating Officer.

Before entering education, Peter was CEO of two retail companies in the U.K. and was with McKinsey & Company for seven years.  He holds an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management, Sydney and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Manchester.

Chinmay Jhaveri
Principal
L.E.K. Consulting

• Chinmay is a Principal at L.E.K. Consulting. He is a founding member and leader of the Education Practice at L.E.K.
• Chinmay is a seasoned education sector specialist – he has 7 years of dedicated experience and has worked on or led over 150 engagements across 30+ countries in five continents
• He is a frequent advisor to school companies, universities and education investors in the Middle East, where he spends majority of his consulting experience. Chinmay has supported numerous education deals on buy- and sell-side diligences, worked closely with leading schools and tertiary institutions on growth strategy, IPO roadmap, business and financial plan development, and more
• Chinmay has led project teams across all education segments including K-12, Higher Education, Early Years, English Language Training, Transnational Education and Education Technology
• Highlights of Chinmay’s recent education experience includes:

– Creation of K-12 Platform strategy and CDD of KSA K-12 asset for a prestigious investment firm in Bahrain

-CDD for the investment of USD 1.5B by a large Private Equity fund in a leading K-12 platform in the GCC region

-Vendor due diligence of schools in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah for a global K-12 operator

-Commercial due diligence of multiple assets based in Kuwait for a top premium K-12 provider

-CDD of a K-12 school in Dubai for a top private equity firm in Saudi Arabia

-Analysis on Dubai’s private school market for a prestigious regulatory body to examine market dynamics and future scope of the sector

• Chinmay holds an MBA from the Indian School of Business. He has previously worked at The Parthenon Group where he held a position of Vice President at the Education Centre of Excellence. Chinmay is a Chartered Accountant

Fatema Kamal
Head of Investment
Britus Education

Fatema Kamal is the Head of Investment at Britus Education and is an Executive Director at GFH Financial Group (“GFH or the Group”), leading on the Group’s education investments.  She has played an instrumental role in the operational transformation of the British School of Bahrain and other education assets in GFH’s portfolio.

Fatema has 18 years of working experience and a strong track record of sourcing, structuring, advising and managing private equity.  She has in depth field experience in the financial sector specializing in investment structuring, strategic and organizational planning, tax structuring oversight, Sharia product structuring, joint venture negotiation, business development and project management.

Prior to joining GFH, Fatema was holding the position of Senior Executive Director of Investment Baking in Global Banking Corporation BSC.  She also worked as an auditor with KPMG Bahrain.

Fatema holds a master’s degree with honors in Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom, and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting with honors from the University of Bahrain.  Fatema is also a qualified and licensed CPA from The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and CIA from The Institute of Internal Auditors.

Munther Al Mudawi
Manager-Education & Healthcare
Economic Development Board