Dr Kiran Pai is Chairperson of Vidya Nidhi Education Trust, the sponsoring body for a group of not-for-profit educational institutions in Bengaluru. Over the last two decades, her work has focused on strengthening educational quality, institutional development and access to learning across a range of school and higher education settings.
The Trust’s portfolio includes Vidyashilp Academy and Vidyasagar Preschools, both long-established institutions with strong reputations in Bengaluru and nationally. It also includes Vidyashilp Schools, where students are encouraged to engage confidently with innovation, technology and wider opportunities for learning beyond the classroom.
Dr Pai also established the Vidyashilp Community Trust, which supports school improvement across economically disadvantaged communities. Through work in curriculum development, infrastructure and educational provision, the Trust has reached more than 3,000 learners across 21 schools.
In 2018, Dr Pai founded Vidyashilp Education Group (VSEG), which she chairs. VSEG provides strategic and operational oversight across the Trust’s institutions, including administration, finance, infrastructure and organisational development, supporting their continued growth and long-term sustainability.
Dr Pai is also Co-Founder and Pro-Chancellor of Vidyashilp University, an interdisciplinary institution established to bring together students, researchers and faculty around a shared commitment to innovation, scholarship and meaningful contribution to society.
She holds a Doctorate in Education (EdD) in Organisational Change and Leadership from the USC Rossier School of Education, where she received the 2021 Doctoral Distinction Award. Her wider recognition includes the Udyam Shree award and inclusion among the World Congress’s 50 Innovative Leaders.
Alongside her institutional leadership, Dr Pai contributes to wider educational policy and sector development. Her recent work includes collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on policy recommendations developed with senior representatives from government, industry, education and science.
Ms Kalai Selvi has been closely associated with Vidyashilp Academy since its inception, progressing from Founding Teacher to Coordinator, Deputy Principal and now Principal. This breadth of experience has given her a deep understanding of the school, its community and the demands of effective educational leadership.
A highly experienced educator and instructional leader, Ms Selvi is known for combining academic rigour with warmth, empathy and a strong commitment to student wellbeing. Her educational philosophy is closely aligned with Vidyashilp Academy’s values and its aspiration for students to do well and do good.
As Head of School, she brings inclusive leadership, professional expertise and a sustained focus on strengthening the quality of teaching, learning and the wider student experience. She has been recently recognised with the National School Excellence Award for thought leadership in curricular education.
Nina Hunt leads the international development and global partnerships strategy for The King’s School Canterbury, working closely with King’s international schools and partner organisations to ensure that each reflects the standards, values and educational principles associated with a King’s education.
With extensive experience in international education, school development and partnership management, she oversees the strategic growth of the King’s international family across a number of regions, including the development of new schools and long-term institutional partnerships.
At The King’s School Canterbury, Bengaluru, Nina plays a key role in maintaining close alignment with Canterbury, supporting the school’s educational direction and ensuring a strong and enduring connection with the wider King’s community.
John Short-Ring is Director of Education (International) for The King’s School Canterbury. He provides strategic oversight of educational standards, academic frameworks and quality assurance across the King’s international family of schools, helping to ensure that the heritage, values and pastoral traditions of King’s are reflected thoughtfully in each local context.
At The King’s School Canterbury, Bengaluru, John supports academic governance, leadership development and educational quality, helping the school remain closely aligned with Canterbury while developing its own distinctive identity.
Before joining King’s, John served for six years as Deputy Head at King’s College School, Wimbledon, and subsequently as Head of Senior School at Kent College Dubai. He holds a First-Class degree in History from UCL and a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Business School.
Ms Leigh Holmes-Hill joins The King’s School Canterbury, Bengaluru as Founding Head of Prep, bringing more than 25 years of experience in education across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Her career includes over 15 years in senior leadership, with responsibility spanning Early Years to Sixth Form and particular expertise in curriculum, assessment, teaching and learning, and professional development.
Originally trained as a science teacher, Ms Holmes-Hill has remained closely connected to classroom practice throughout her leadership career. Her educational approach combines high expectations with warmth, care and purposeful teaching, underpinned by the belief that children thrive when they are known well, feel secure and are encouraged to develop both confidence and independence.
She holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship and is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. Her wider experience includes supporting educational quality across groups of international schools, giving her a strong understanding of how rigorous educational principles can be applied thoughtfully across different cultural and school contexts.
As Founding Head of Prep, Ms Holmes-Hill is responsible for establishing the educational culture and academic foundations of the school. Her focus is on the quality of teaching and learning, the development of secure foundations in the earliest years, and the creation of an environment in which curiosity, confidence, character and a genuine enjoyment of learning can flourish.
The King’s School Canterbury, Bengaluru brings together two distinguished educational organisations: The King’s School Canterbury, internationally respected for its academic heritage, and Vidyashilp Education Group (VSEG), a trusted name in Indian education. Together, they combine deep experience, shared values and local expertise to create a distinctive educational offering for Bengaluru.
Vidyashilp Education Group has been building schools in India for over four decades. Its flagship institutions have consistently ranked among India's national top schools, demonstrating a singular commitment to academic rigour, student wellbeing, and institutional integrity. VSEG is the operational and cultural foundation on which The King’s School Canterbury, Bengaluru is built.
Managing Director & Trustee
Vidyashilp Education Group
Head of School & College Advisor
Vidyashilp Education Group
Founding Head of Prep
The King’s School Canterbury, Bengaluru
The King’s School, Canterbury brings to Bengaluru a long-standing educational tradition, shared values and a wider King’s community, while Bengaluru gives that heritage a distinctive character of its own.
Managing Director
The King’s School Canterbury International
Director of Education (International)
The King’s School Canterbury International
An education shaped by curiosity, creativity, connection and character, where every child is known, challenged and supported to grow with confidence, independence and purpose.
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The King’s School Canterbury is widely recognised as one of the world’s oldest schools, with a history of continuous education spanning more than fourteen centuries.
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