Meet the Adira Council | Adira Academy

The Council

Dr. Bradford Barnhart
Principal, Kodaikanal International School; Expert in Education Psychology
Dr. Bradford Barnhart is an educator and educational psychologist with over two decades of leadership experience in international schools across Africa and Asia.
Dr. Bradford Barnhart
Principal, Kodaikanal International School; Expert in Education Psychology
As Principal of Kodaikanal International School, and previously Vice Principal at Woodstock School in Mussoorie, he has led academic initiatives, faculty development and student wellbeing, drawing on a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Sydney and a master's from Harvard University. Dr. Bradford's work is shaped by a belief in holistic education: alive, character-building, and always evolving.
Devika Mankani
Chief Psychologist, Fortes Education; Managing Director, Regent International School
Devika Singh Mankani is a licensed psychologist and school leader with more than two decades of experience helping children, families and educators build environments where academic achievement and emotional wellbeing grow together.
Devika Mankani
Chief Psychologist, Fortes Education; Managing Director, Regent International School
As Chief Psychologist at Fortes Education and Managing Director of Regent International School, she leads wellbeing and parenting strategy across three schools while continuing her clinical practice with children, adolescents and families. Devika's work is shaped by a belief that wellbeing is not an addition to education, but the foundation it stands on.
Paula Mariwala
Founding Partner, Aureolis Ventures; Founder/President Emeritus, Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs India
Paula Mariwala is an early-stage investor and mentor with fifteen years of experience backing companies working in technology, sustainability, social impact and education.
Paula Mariwala
Founding Partner, Aureolis Ventures; Founder/President Emeritus, Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs India
A physicist by training, she has built a career spanning technology, business, investment and philanthropy, and looks for innovative ventures capable of improving the quality of people's lives at scale. Paula's work is shaped by a commitment to education, gender equality and entrepreneurship as the routes to lasting and sustainable change.
Dr. Miniya Chatterji
CEO, Sustain Labs Paris; Philanthropist
Dr. Miniya Chatterji is a sustainability leader, author and columnist whose career spans finance, global policy and industry across Europe and India.
Dr. Miniya Chatterji
CEO, Sustain Labs Paris; Philanthropist
She has served as Chief Sustainability Officer of the Jindal Steel and Power group, managed the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders community across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, and began her career in finance at Goldman Sachs in London. Dr. Miniya's work is shaped by a commitment to freedom and equality.
Andrew P. Davis
Head of School, Mount Tamalpais School, California
Andrew P. Davis is a school leader with over a decade of experience guiding an independent school community in the United States.
Andrew P. Davis
Head of School, Mount Tamalpais School, California
As Head of School at Mount Tamalpais School, where he has served for eleven years, he works alongside educators, parents and children, and remains closely engaged with the professional networks shaping independent school leadership. Andrew's work is shaped by a belief in helping educators, parents and children fully realise the potential of childhood.
Robin Goldberg
Executive Advisor, Mentor and Coach
Robin Goldberg is an executive advisor, mentor and coach with more than three decades of experience building and growing global organisations from the start-up stage onwards.
Robin Goldberg
Executive Advisor, Mentor and Coach
She has held leadership roles at Minerva, Blurb and Lonely Planet across technology, publishing, consumer goods and education, and serves on boards and advisory groups spanning both private companies and non-profit organisations. Robin's work is shaped by a focus on mentoring the leaders and strengthening the organisations she works alongside.
Dr. Tristha Ramamurthy
Founder, Ekya School | Provost, CMR University
Dr. Tristha Ramamurthy is an education leader, researcher, and architect of learning ecosystems with nearly two decades of experience transforming K-12 and higher education in India.
Dr. Tristha Ramamurthy
Founder, Ekya School | Provost, CMR University
As VP of the CMR Group of Institutions, Founder of Ekya Schools, and Provost of CMR University, she leads large-scale academic and institutional initiatives grounded in research, global insight, and a deep sense of purpose. Dr. Tristha's work is shaped by a belief that education must evolve with clarity of purpose and thoughtful design.
Manu Chopra
CEO, Karya Inc
Manu Chopra is a technologist and social entrepreneur working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and economic opportunity, and has been named among the TIME 100 Most Influential People in AI.
Manu Chopra
CEO, Karya Inc
As CEO of Karya, he creates dignified digital work for economically disadvantaged communities across India, having previously run the Chopra Foundation across more than a thousand villages and studied computer science and artificial intelligence at Stanford University. Manu's work is shaped by a belief that every person has the right to own their financial future through fairly compensated work.