The people behind Arcadia.

Born in the land of Sindh, Mohan Valrani landed in Dubai in 1966 and 5 years later he partnered with Abdulla Al Shirawi to set up what is today known as the Al Shirawi Group. Under Mohan Valrani's leadership, the Al Shirawi Group has become one of the largest conglomerates in the United Arab Emirates consisting of 34 companies in an array of industries, including Printing & Packaging, Electronics, Logistics, Oil & Gas, Engineering Services, Heavy Equipment and various Steel Processing and Manufacturing Industries.

Today, Mohan Valrani has pursued his passion for education by founding a company to provide K-12 education in the UAE. Under the brand name of Arcadia, Mohan Valrani plans to build a number of schools providing a high quality British education to children within the UAE.

Apart from his business activities, Mohan Valrani is also at the forefront of social activities. He was the founding Chairman and member of the Board of Trustees of the India Club. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees as well as the founding Chairman of the Indian High School, the largest non-profit school in the UAE.

Mohan Valrani is happily married for the last 48 years and has 3 children and 7 grandchildren. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Commerce from Baroda University. He is a generous philanthropist, an avid bridge player, a keen reader and enjoys doing yoga on a daily basis.

Raised in the city of Dubai, Navin Valrani went on to graduate with honours from the Wharton School of Business and then backed it up with a distinction in his MBA at London Business School and a MSc. in Education at the University of Pennsylvania.

Navin today is the CEO of Arcadia Education, the Al Shirawi Group's foray into K-12 education. He also heads up the group's engineering services cluster, consisting of 11 companies, 7 Joint Ventures, and over 5000 employees. Navin sits on the board of the group, which also has interests in Printing, Oil and Gas, Logistics, Electronics, Heavy Equipment and Manufacturing Industries.

Navin served as the Chairman of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Emirates Chapter during the 2014-15 year, having served over five years on the chapter board. In his spare time he enjoys giving back to his alma maters: presently on the Board of Overseers at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education as well as the Wharton Executive Board for Europe, Middle East and Africa; serving as the Chairperson of the UAE Alumni Interviewing Committee for the University of Pennsylvania for the last 25 years; and a member of the International Alumni Council at London Business School from 2013 through to 2018.

In 2014, Navin furthered his commitment to his alma maters by instituting the Monica and Navin Valrani scholarship fund to support female students to attend both schools. Navin was also an integral part of the Campaign Committee at London Business School to successfully raise over £100 million in the school's first ever fund-raising campaign.

Navin has been happily married for the last 23 years and has two sons. His wife, Monica, runs the Ladybird chain of nursery schools in Dubai and has a passion for early years education. Navin also teaches the renowned Junior MBA programme at The Arcadia Preparatory School, a primary school business program that he founded and is extremely passionate about.

Giles Pruett is an educator through and through. After completing his A-Level studies in the UK, he trained and competed as a professional tennis player for five years until moving back into full-time study to complete his Bachelor of Education at Bedford, reading Geography and Sport Science. He immediately returned to his home city of Bath and subsequently started his teaching career as Director of Rugby, Boarding Housemaster and Geography teacher in the independent community of Prior Park College. After completing a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and Management at Bath University in 2012, gaining a distinction level, Giles transferred into the international education community, joining Jumeirah College in Dubai as Vice-Principal, where he remained for four years, before becoming Secondary Principal and Deputy Head of School at GEMS World Academy, helping them to become the highest rated full IB programme school in the city.

Giles is also a qualified corporate coach with a specific interest in building impactful professional learning communities by empowering others. He has developed pastoral structures to support learning and development in three previous leadership positions, ensuring that educational outcomes have been met and exceeded. Giles has experienced and driven inspection outcomes as a Senior Leader within several different frameworks, including Ofsted, HMI, CSCI, DSIB, CIS, BSO, COBIS, working as a Lead Reviewer within the GEMS organization and as Lead Evaluator for the Council of International Schools. His core inspection specialisms fall under the domains of teaching and learning, safeguarding, child protection and leadership and management.

Giles brings a wealth of experience in coaching, school operations, pastoral care and strategic school leadership and has been instrumental in developing an Apple Distinguished Teaching Programme, Entrepreneurship and Innovation curriculum alongside the design and construction of a new Senior School Learning Centre and Entrepreneurship Hub. He has a keen interest in this strand of education, recently completing a diploma from the Penn Graduate school of Education.

Above all else, Giles is a committed father to three wonderful girls and a husband to Joanna, who is also an educator and former British Olympic Modern Pentathlete. Together they share a passion for working with children, striving to bring learning to life and making a difference.

Andrew Wilson is proud to serve as the Founding Principal of Arcadia Global School (AGS), one of Dubai's fastest-growing and most respected British curriculum schools. Since opening in August 2023, AGS has grown into a vibrant community of more than 3,000 students representing over 80 nationalities, united by a shared commitment to academic excellence, character development and wellbeing.

Under Andrew's leadership, AGS has achieved the largest primary school opening in KHDA history and, within just three years, established itself as one of Dubai's leading schools. The school has earned a 'Good' KHDA rating, a 'Good with Outstanding Features' British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspection, international recognition as an Association for Character Education (ACE) School of Character as one of the top 100 schools in the world for the explicit delivery of character education and has become one of Dubai's highest-rated schools for parent satisfaction.

Andrew believes exceptional schools are built by exceptional people. One of his proudest achievements has been attracting, developing and empowering a dynamic, diverse and highly talented team of teachers, leaders and support staff who create a culture where children, colleagues and families genuinely flourish. Their professionalism, positivity and shared commitment to excellence have helped establish AGS as one of Dubai's happiest and most welcoming school communities.

His educational philosophy combines high academic expectations with outstanding pastoral care, wellbeing, and character education. He believes every child should leave school not only with excellent qualifications, but with the confidence, resilience, integrity, and compassion to make a positive contribution to the world.

Throughout his career, Andrew has developed a reputation for building high-performing teams, nurturing future leaders, and creating school cultures where people are inspired to achieve their very best. Leadership development remains one of his greatest passions, reflected in the significant investment AGS makes in developing teachers and leaders at every stage of their careers.

Before founding AGS, Andrew was Deputy CEO and Vice Principal at Westminster School Sharjah, following senior leadership roles at Jumeirah College, Dubai, and Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in the United Kingdom, where he was recognised nationally as an award-winning teacher. Prior to education, he spent almost a decade with Nestlé, experience that continues to influence his practical, people-centred approach to leadership.

Andrew holds degrees in Geography and Business Management with Marketing, a PGCE, postgraduate qualifications in Educational Leadership, the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), a UAE Educational Leadership License and is a qualified BSO PENTA School Inspector.

While he is immensely proud of AGS's rapid growth, inspections and international recognition, Andrew believes the school's greatest achievement is its people. Every day, more than 300 dedicated colleagues work together to create a school where happiness, ambition, kindness and opportunity are experienced by every child. Together, they bring AGS's values of Integrity, Altruism, Grit, Alacrity and Optimism to life and continue to shape a school community that is ambitious, inclusive and deeply connected.

Away from school, Andrew enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, travelling, supporting Derby County Football Club and the England cricket team, and exploring new ideas in leadership, education and character development.

“Schools are not remembered for the buildings, but for the character they build. My ambition is that every child who walks through the doors of Arcadia Global School leaves as a happier, kinder, braver and a better human being.”

Natasha Hemdev is a globally experienced education professional with over 15 years of leadership in international education policy, admissions, marketing, and strategic development. Natasha joins Forward Thinking as Executive Director and Business Partner. She brings a strong track record of leadership and a passion for student-centered learning, and is especially enthusiastic about working with younger students, supporting their early development and academic growth.

With a career spanning North America, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, she brings a deeply cross-cultural perspective to her work in global education. Natasha holds a Master's in International Education Policy from Harvard University and a Bachelor's in International Development from McGill University.

Most recently, she served as Regional Manager for a college counseling firm for the MENA, South Asia, and Southeast Asia regions, where she led student enrollment efforts and supported global marketing and business development strategies — developing region-specific outreach plans, expanding institutional partnerships, and strengthening the firm's presence in key international markets.

Prior to that, Natasha was Head of Admissions and Marketing at the Canadian International School in India, where she oversaw enrollment strategy, branding, public relations, and community engagement for the PK–12 school. Earlier in her career, she served as Global Manager at Avenues: The World School (New York), contributing to program design and the successful launch of international campuses, and worked as a Consultant at the World Bank.

Fluent in English, Hindi, and Spanish, Natasha brings a multilingual and globally informed approach to education leadership, reflecting a deep commitment to cross-cultural understanding, strategic innovation, and expanding access to high-quality education worldwide.

Chanè Baasden serves as the General Manager of The Tutoring Center Dubai, a division of Arcadia Education. Leading with a vision centered on student-first education, she fosters collaboration with schools, subject matter experts, and intervention teams to implement mindful study plans that yield measurable progress.

As a proud mom of three, Chanè understands the increasing demands parents face and recognizes that sometimes, even a village isn't enough. With a degree in criminology, she possesses a profound understanding of the impact of education and resources on child outcomes. Leveraging this expertise, she creates an environment where parents, students, and educators can collaborate effectively to achieve common goals.

With over 10 years of experience in the Dubai education sector, Chanè has developed and implemented innovative tutoring strategies that cater to diverse learning needs. Her commitment to high-quality, personalized education ensures that each center is designed to provide tailored support, enabling every student to thrive academically and personally.

Dedicated to inspiring confidence and driving positive change, Chanè ensures that every member of The Tutoring Center Dubai and all its students receive the support they need to succeed. When she's not at one of the centers, you can find her out for a run, juggling family life, and cherishing the little moments that make every day special.

With over 12 years of experience in business and finance and a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Pamela is passionate about shaping the future of organisations and helping them deliver growth. A high-energy, tenacious and goal-driven leader, she has a proven track record of identifying new opportunities, forging long-term strategic alliances, and offering clients real and innovative solutions to their problems.

Today, Pamela is the Director – Strategic Alliances at The Arcadia Preparatory School, where she oversees the complete business development activities and creates long-term value for the institution. Previously, Pamela served as Head of Business Strategy at London Business School (LBS), where she defined, set up and delivered LBS Dubai business development and outreach strategy for the MENA region. Prior to that, she was Head of Customised Solutions at Thomson Reuters, and spent five years at Zawya where she led and managed the Financial Solutions Division content and product teams.

Pamela is also a co-founder, board member and mentor at Reach, a non-profit organisation registered in DIFC that is dedicated to helping young professional women unlock their true potential through structured mentoring and professional support. She holds several certifications from prestigious institutes including the Coach Training Institute (CTI), the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and the Association of International Product Marketing and Management (AIPMM). She has completed a Master's in Economics from University of London, UK, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.

Dileep Yadav graduated in Accounting and Finance in 1999 from the University of Mumbai, India. He is also a certified Investment Advisor and keeps abreast of market movements. After working for six years with renowned companies in Mumbai as Finance Manager, he moved to Dubai in 2006. He joined the Al Shirawi Group as a Senior Auditor and thus began his close association with Mohan Valrani.

Dileep was a key member in developing the Silicon Oasis branch of the Indian High School, playing a major part in the supervision of the school's construction and also served as an honorary adviser to the Board. When Arcadia Education embarked upon its ambitious programme of school building in 2013, Dileep assisted in the negotiation of the construction contracts and subsequent supervision of them.

He is presently overseeing all the aspects of the administration and financial management of Arcadia Education and its related companies.