Central Team

Nitesh Gor OBE

Chief Executive Officer

Nitesh Gor is Chief Executive of Avanti Schools Trust. His previous experience encompasses CEO and director roles across the exploration and investment banking industries and a broad business strategy background gained as a result of working for two leading management consultancies. He is a published author. Nitesh has an MBA from London Business School and an undergraduate degree from the University of London. He is a Deputy Lieutenant with the Greater London Lieutenancy and was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List of 2018 for Services to Education.

Mike Ion

Education Director

Mike Ion is a former secondary headteacher and was Deputy National Director for School Improvement with the Department for Education/National Strategies between 2008 and 2011 when he had responsibility for the National Challenge programme. In April 2011, Mike went to work full time for the Tony Blair Faith Foundation where he helped to establish the Face to Faith schools programme for 12-17-year-olds, which is now active in 19 countries and growing. In May 2014 Mike returned to work for the Department for Education as an Education Adviser where he supported the formation of new academy trusts, assessed free school applications and visited open academies that were underperforming.

Kekshan Salaria

Director of Primary School Improvement

Kekshan Salaria has been a headteacher in the London Boroughs of Brent and Islington. She joined Ofsted in 2004 as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) focussing in particular on school improvement and quality assurance. After 10 years as HMI she joined The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai, as Principal Inspector. Most recently she was the Director of Schools with Athena Education.

Amie Jenkins

Head of HR

Amie studied Early Childhood Studies at Birmingham University and is a qualified Early Years practitioner with First-class honours. Amie has 10 years of combined event and HR experience supporting large, diverse workforces in multiple locations. In the last few years, Amie has returned to working with early years settings and schools combining her love of HR, People and Education. Amie is passionate about creating empowering, productive and exciting environments for all children and staff.

Kirit Patel

Finance Director

Kirit Patel is the Finance Director of the Trust. Kirit is a chartered accountant and also a qualified teacher. He started his teaching career at Waltham Forest College where he spent four years teaching IT and Law. Thereafter, a career move took him into accounting and finance. He joined PwC where he gained extensive financial consulting and audit experience across various sectors and industries. His experience includes establishing corporate finance functions and serving as Head of Finance.

Rebecca Underwood

Head of Professional Learning

Rebecca has been a passionate teacher, Assistant Head Teacher and Co-Head Teacher since qualifying in 2000. She has taught children across the primary phase and has particular interest in the Early Years. Over recent years, she has enjoyed roles such as Lead Associate across a SW Multi- Academy Trust, Central team Hub Teacher and Advisor, SAT Moderator for Bristol, INSET facilitator across the SW and South Wales and passionate educational online enthusiast. Rebecca joined Avanti Schools Trust in 2021 as Assistant Principal at Avanti Gardens, then achieved her role as Head of Professional Learning soon after.

Gopinath Bloch

Organisational Culture Lead

Gopinath has a Master’s Degree in Organisation Development from American University and a degree in Corporate Communication. In the past 10 years, Gopinath has been involved with a range of projects, initiatives, and organisations – from consulting to community and education organisations to working for the United States Department of Justice in Washington, DC. Gopinath is passionate about supporting people through creating engaging spaces for meaningful dialogue. Gopinath’s role will be focussed on helping us all reflect, explore, and grow our personal engagement and collective culture with the Avanti Way.

Andrea Kahn

Lead in Safeguarding and SEND

Andrea is the Lead for Safeguarding and SEND across the Avanti Schools Trust. Andrea has a BA Hons Degree in Comparative Religion from the University of Manchester and is a quaified SENDCO. Prior to joining AST in 2013, Andrea started her career in Marketing before training to be a teacher and has worked in a variety of schools in NW London as a teacher, head of department specialising in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics before developing her expertise in pastoral, Safeguarding, SEND and Inclusion. She has also played a vital role on the Leadership Team at Avanti House secondary.

Bhavini Budhdev

Head of Finance

Description coming soon

Ashutosh Bhardwaj

Head of Estates

Ashutosh Bhardwaj is the Head of Estates for the Trust. He has experience in Schools, Hospitality and Warehouse Management. He also worked in Pricing and Revenue Management and studied Strategic Hospitality Management from Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management, New York. He ensures that all children have a safe environment to experience high-quality education and development. He is also passionate about market analytics, dynamics and leadership development.