Paul Derek Hetherington
Executive Head – Middle & International Programmes
Paul Hetherington is the Executive Head – Middle & International Programmes at Shiv Nadar School. As a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) Paul has worked with many schools to coach and mentor school leaders. He has over 25 years of teaching and leadership experience.
Paul has completed the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) and National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) qualifications. His leadership roles include six years as a Head of Department, eight years as an Assistant Head, and four years as a Head Teacher.
As a classroom teacher, he taught GCSE and A-Level Chemistry. He designed and delivered training courses for Middle Leaders as a Lead Practitioner for the local authority. As an accredited Cambridge Programme Leader, Paul designs and delivers Cambridge Professional Development Qualifications in Teaching and Learning, and Educational Leadership.
Working for AQA, Paul designed and delivered national training courses for teaching outstanding lessons. During his twelve years as a Senior Assessor for OCR and AQA, Paul developed considerable expertise in assessment and completed a post-graduate course on the Principles and Practice of Assessment at Cambridge University. Paul also assesses national professional development qualifications for Head Teachers in the UK.
Nitina Dua
Executive Head - Career Guidance Centre
A founding member of Shiv Nadar School, Nitina has been instrumental in establishing the Career Guidance Centre (CGC) and helping students across curricula in gaining admission to leading global universities, securing scholarships, and accessing valuable mentorships. As the Head of the CGC at Shiv Nadar School, Noida, she played a pivotal role in achieving these goals.
Nitina, with over 15 years of experience and prestigious certifications from Columbia University and UCLA, is dedicated to lifelong learning and staying at the forefront of education and career counseling. Her diverse background includes valuable experience in education, technology, and recruitment, gained through her work with Career Launcher, Brainlab (a German multinational), and Elixir Consulting before joining Shiv Nadar School in 2012.
Beyond her work at Shiv Nadar School, Nitina is an active speaker and thought leader on career readiness and education. She has contributed to conferences and panels on the subject and played a key role in developing the Electoral Literacy curriculum with the Election Commission of India. Her work has been featured in esteemed publications such as Business World, The Pioneer, and India Today. Additionally, she is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). Nitina’s contributions have been recognized with the Chairman Award at Shiv Nadar School, and she has been nominated twice for the IC3 Counselor of the Year Award. In 2022, Shiv Nadar School was honored with the School for Transformative Counseling Award.
In this role, Nitina collaborates closely with our leadership team and oversees and leads career development initiatives, providing strategic guidance to CGC teams at our campuses as they navigate the evolving landscape of higher education, and expanding opportunities for mentorship and scholarships. Additionally, she contributes to the development of comprehensive frameworks for student success and establish strong partnerships with parents and educational institutions globally.
Sandeep Singh
Director – Administration & Operations
Lt Col Sandeep Singh (Retired) holds the position of Director – Administration & Operations, Shiv Nadar School. He is responsible for providing administrative leadership and overseeing the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of all campuses centrally which includes verticals such as infrastructure & facilities management, school operations management, regulatory and statutory compliances, legal and new projects.
A veteran officer, he joined the Shiv Nadar School Gurgaon leadership team in 2021 as the Head - Administration & Operations, with a classical operational and administrative background after a military career spanning twenty-two years.
Col Sandeep has been an educator par excellence and has taught officers of foreign armies at Military Intelligence School, Pune. He considers his tenure as an educator as the singular high point of his career. During his tenure in the Indian Armed forces, he performed challenging assignments at high altitude and on an active line of control. According to Col Sandeep, his last assignment as ‘Director Operations & Admin’ Delhi Cantonment was arguably the most challenging one, where he oversaw several big-ticket infrastructure projects.
A business management postgraduate and an avid reader, Col Sandeep is also a keen traveller and a Formula 1 enthusiast. Equally at ease while discussing equities, spirituality, and realpolitik, he hopes to find his ‘AHA’ at Shiv Nadar School amongst creative minds.
ARTI DAWAR
CEO - Shiv Nadar School
Arti has been an integral part of Shiv Nadar School’s journey since inception, with an incredible journey of growth and leadership within the Shiv Nadar School. Over the years, she has exemplified a deep commitment to nurturing and fostering a progressive educational environment and driving organizational growth.
With a degree in Commerce from Delhi University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management and Computer Applications, Arti began her career in advertising before finding her AHA! in the world of Human Resources. She had exciting stints at Ogilvy and Mather, NIIT Ltd. and Motherson Sumi Infotech & Designs Ltd.
Arti, a versatile professional, joined HCL Technologies in 2007 and later founded the People & Culture team at Shiv Nadar School in 2011. Over the past 12 years, she has led team building, onboarding, and middle leadership development, contributing to exceptional processes, a positive work culture, and assembled a team of over 1,100 committed educators. Her team’s sustained efforts led to Shiv Nadar School’s recognition as a Great Place to Work (GPTW) for five consecutive years.
From 2019 to 2024, as COO, she played a vital role in organizational development, school operations, and strategic growth, ensuring seamless governance across all campuses. In January 2024, she took on the role of Deputy CEO, working closely with central and school leadership, gaining a deep understanding of our schools' aspirations and strengths while preparing for this transition.
With her deep-rooted experience of over 25 years and long-standing association with Shiv Nadar School, Arti as the CEO brings continuity and a strong commitment of our values and vision of ‘Education for Life’.
Known for her infectious joie de vivre and energy, her mantra in life is that excellence is not an act but a habit. She enjoys travelling and exploring new places with her husband and daughter in her spare time.
ANJU WAL
Director of Education - Shiv Nadar School
With over 30 years of experience in education, Mrs. Wal has been a visionary leader and a passionate advocate for progressive learning. As the Founding Principal of Shiv Nadar School Faridabad, Mrs. Wal has been instrumental in establishing the school as a beacon of academic excellence and holistic education. She played a key role in setting up the school's operational and academic frameworks, introducing robust processes to ensure quality teaching and learning. Her strategic vision led to the successful implementation of progressive curriculums enriching the academic journey for students. Under her stewardship, the Faridabad campus has consistently achieved outstanding results, built strong parent and community partnerships, and fostered a culture of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity.
In recognition of her exceptional leadership, Mrs. Wal was recently honored with the Pearson International School Leader of the Year 2024 Award for the Asia Region, further cementing her reputation as a trailblazer in education. Her unwavering dedication and inspiring leadership have created a thriving learning ecosystem, leaving an indelible mark on the Shiv Nadar School community.
As the Director of Education, she leads the academic and education vertical of Shiv Nadar School and oversees the academic strategy, pedagogical framework, and holistic development initiatives across all Shiv Nadar School campuses, driving excellence in education and shaping the future of learning at our institutions.