Raffles World Academy's Governance structure comprises the Board of Directors (Board) and an Advisory Council. The Board includes the owners and an independent member. It is involved in all strategic areas including the school’s philosophy and objectives, policies, appointment and review of the leadership team, managing key relationships, ensuring quality infrastructure, resources and financial stability.
The Advisory Council comprises all stakeholders including parents, professionals, Innoventures Education group management and a Board Director. It meets three to four times a year and provides regular inputs to the Board.
The Advisory Council’s role is to support continuous improvement, guide development and hold the school leadership accountable for the quality of education delivered. Its significant contribution to school governance has been recognized by the KHDA inspection team and the joint accreditation team from Council of International Schools (CIS) and International Baccalaureate (IB).
ABDULLA MAJED AL GHURAIR - Chairman
Abdulla is an UAE national and a third generation member of a prominent business family. He brings an acute understanding of local culture and business acumen to organizations. His interests span marketing services, education, contracting, building materials, retailing and ceramic tiles manufacturing. Abdulla also serves on the boards of Majid Al Futtaim Real Estate and is the Chairman of BPG Group, a leading marketing solutions provider in the MENA region.
H.E. DR. ANWAR GARGASH - Director
His Excellency Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash is the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Federal National Council Affairs of the UAE. Having taught political science for over a decade at the UAE University, he has a long and rich background in academics. He is also a member of several government and advisory boards. He was, until recently, the Executive Director of Gargash Enterprises, the authorised dealers for Mercedes-Benz in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Earlier in his career, Dr. Gargash studied political science at the George Washington University in Washington DC, USA and got his doctorate from King's College, Cambridge University, UK.
TOBY HOARE - Director
Toby has spent over 20 years in the international advertising business based in London. Fourteen years at Young and Rubicam, 7 as CEO, were followed by a short spell with them in New York, before joining Cordiant as Group Chairman of Bates Europe, Middle East, India and Africa. Since it was acquired by WPP in August 2003, Toby is the only member of its Executive Committee to have remained as now Global Client Leader and CEO of Team HSBC, and CEO JWT Europe. Toby enjoys both tennis and golf. He is also a Governor of Harrow School.
AVISHESHA BHOJANI - Managing Director
Avi's 35+ year career spans Marketing Services, Media, Education, Private Equity, Real Estate Direct Investments and Government sectors. At the helm of the BPG Group (www.bpggroup.com) since 1991, Avi consolidates the Group's interests across advertising, public relations, design, activation, media asset management and digital verticals, in the Middle East and North Africa region. Avi has also assisted in the conceptualization and execution of a number of strategic Dubai initiatives (Dubai Quality Award, Dubai Shopping Festival etc.) and has served the Government of Dubai while assisting with the development of Knowledge Economy hubs in Dubai (Internet, Media and Ideas). An Alumnus of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and The Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, Avi is the Managing Director of Innoventures Education; General Partner of Montana Capital Ltd, the holding company of Ramusake and Copper Dog in Dubai, AMEA Ventures Ltd, Partner Director of HTMi Switzerland Dubai LLC, and Chairman of International Management Ventures FZ LLC. He is also on the Board of Governors of The International Institute of Tolerance by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the VP/ PM of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Avi is widely recognized as one of the most influential expats in the GCC, and has been honoured by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his contribution to the evolution of Dubai Shopping Festival. Avi has also been recognized by leading media such as Forbes Middle East and Arabian Business, both as an Entrepreneur of the Year as well as a Chief Executive of a Media company.
AVISHESHA BHOJANI
Avi's 35+ year career spans Marketing Services, Media, Education, Private Equity, Real Estate Direct Investments and Government sectors. At the helm of the BPG Group (www.bpggroup.com) since 1991, Avi consolidates the Group's interests across advertising, public relations, design, activation, media asset management and digital verticals, in the Middle East and North Africa region. Avi has also assisted in the conceptualization and execution of a number of strategic Dubai initiatives (Dubai Quality Award, Dubai Shopping Festival etc.) and has served the Government of Dubai while assisting with the development of Knowledge Economy hubs in Dubai (Internet, Media and Ideas). An Alumnus of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and The Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, Avi is the Managing Director of Innoventures Education; General Partner of Montana Capital Ltd, the holding company of Ramusake and Copper Dog in Dubai, AMEA Ventures Ltd, Partner Director of HTMi Switzerland Dubai LLC, and Chairman of International Management Ventures FZ LLC. He is also on the Board of Governors of The International Institute of Tolerance by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the VP/ PM of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Avi is widely recognized as one of the most influential expats in the GCC, and has been honoured by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his contribution to the evolution of Dubai Shopping Festival. Avi has also been recognized by leading media such as Forbes Middle East and Arabian Business, both as an Entrepreneur of the Year as well as a Chief Executive of a Media company.
HAMDI OSMAN
Hamdi is the Chairman of Solitaire IGT. He graduated in physical education from Helwan University, Cairo, in 1976. He then moved to the US to pursue his interest in professional soccer and in 1978 joined FedEx, an organization he served for 33 years. He is on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Freights and Logistics, the American Business Council and the Supply Chain & Logistics Group (SCLG) of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He was also a member of the International Advisory Council and the School of Business and Management, American University of Sharjah from 2002 to 2005, and on the Board of Trustees of the American School of Dubai between 1998 and 2006. He is a former CEO of FedEx for the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa.
POONAM BHOJANI
Poonam is an Economics Honours Graduate with an MBA from India's premier business school, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. Prior to envisioning and cofounding Dubai International Academy, Poonam has had significant industry experience working on leading edge technology solutions with a range of organizations across India, Hong Kong, USA, Belgium, Sweden, The Netherlands, Oman and UAE. She is the CEO of Innoventures Education and has served as the President of the Middle East IB Association of Schools and is the Secretary of the Dubai Private Schools Group.
DR. SEHAMUDDIN GALADARI
Dr. Galadari graduated with Ph.D. from Imperial College, London. He is a visiting Professor at Harvard Medical School and Senior Vice Provost of Research Outreach, and Managing Director of the NYUAD Research Institute. He joined the UAE University in 1991. He has served as Vice Provost for Research & Graduate Studies and on the Advisory Boards of Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research, Emirates Foundation, Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Medical Research Grant Committee of Sheikh Hamdan Award for Medical Sciences. He has been a visiting Professor at Imperial College, University of Glasgow, Duke University Medical Centre, Medical University of South Carolina and POSTECH in South Korea.
ABDULLATIF ALMULLA
Abdullatif AlMulla holds a Master's in Economic & Social Development, and Public Administration, from the University of Pittsburgh, besides a PG degree in Corporate Communication from the Duquesne University. He is the Group CEO of Dubai Properties Group and CEO, SmartCity. Prior to that he served at the Group CEO of TECOM, General Manager of Microsoft South Gulf and led the growth of Microsoft subsidiaries in the Gulf. During his 9-year stint, he played an instrumental role in driving Microsoft's growth in the region successfully. AlMulla serves as a Board member in many companies and is highly regarded as an industry leader for his consistent delivery of results and endorsement of creativity, strong values and ethics.
MICHAEL STEPHEN
Michael is the Director, Finance & Administration at Innoventures Education. He is a Chartered Accountant and has a Diploma in Portfolio Management with over 20 years' experience in consulting and industry. He was part of the core team of Innoventures Education that set up Dubai International Academy in 2005. Michael started his career in an accounting firm focused on audit, tax, corporate law, and business and investment advisory services. He is a Fellow of the Association of International Accountants, UK and has been on the faculty of a business school in Dubai.