Our Leadership

David Lees
Principal

David Lees brings over 20 years of educational and senior leadership experience to Citizens School. As Principal, he is passionate about creating a learning environment that is personalised, adaptive, and deeply connected to the real world. David believes education should empower learners to think critically, build confidence, and pursue their potential, and he leads with a clear vision of preparing young people not just for school, but for life beyond it. 

Fareeha Nadkar
Director of Learning & Quality Assurance

Fareeha Nadkar leads teaching, learning, and quality assurance at Citizens School with a firm belief that every learner has limitless potential. With a strong background in inclusion and educational leadership, she ensures high standards across the school while supporting mentors in their professional growth. Fareeha is dedicated to creating learning environments where children feel safe, inspired, and challenged to reach their best. 

Dr. Adil Alzarooni
Chairman and Founder

Dr. Adil Alzarooni, a prominent Emirati leader with over 22 years of executive management experience, holds key directorship positions in diverse sectors, including healthcare, education, finance, logistics, media, technology, FMCG, and real estate.

Operating two family offices and a venture studio, he is not only a seasoned entrepreneur but also a passionate educator and compelling public speaker.

With degrees from the Etisalat College of Engineering, the American University of Sharjah, and the British University in Dubai, Dr. Alzarooni is a co-author and author of “Economic Zones: The Essentials” and “Sustaining Family Businesses: The Essentials,” respectively.

Kabeen Khadar
Parent Governor

Kabeen Khadar, an Executive Director at Euroblast Middle East, holds over two decades of experience managing businesses and projects.

A second-generation entrepreneur with a robust background in oil & gas, hospitality, and IT-visual technology, he has been the driving force behind Euroblast Middle East, specialising in surface preparation and coating for prestigious projects in oil & gas, shipbuilding, repairs, and construction.

Kabeen’s strategic vision and professionalism have not only expanded the group’s portfolio through acquisitions in the UK but also made a lasting impact in the hospitality industry with The Poovar Island Resort alongside his father, Kabeer Khader.

Cheryl Christina Pavitt
Inclusion Governor

Cheryl Pavitt, the Inclusion Governor at Citizens School and an Inclusion Governor for a school in the UK, is deeply committed to creating an educational environment where every student is supported and valued. With over 25 years of experience as a behaviour analyst, school leader, education advisor, and early intervention practitioner, Cheryl has worked with countless schools, hundreds of families, and thousands of children across the UAE and UK.

Her extensive experience and powerful collaborations have established best-practice benchmarks across various inclusive education provisions and intervention models. Cheryl’s work reflects her dedication to ensuring that every child receives the support they need to succeed.

Cheryl’s deep understanding of parenthood challenges, combined with her insight into children’s lives and her expertise, continues to inspire meaningful change, leaving a lasting impact on the communities she serves.

Ismail Zorob
Finance and Operations Governor

Passionate about transforming education through impact and innovation, Ismail brings a rare blend of startup agility, large-scale school operations, and public policy expertise. As Co-Founder of Edways, he is reimagining how families engage with schools, beginning with admissions, to make access to education more transparent and seamless.

Previously, Ismail served as CFO and a founding leader at one of the UAE’s most respected education operators, where he successfully scaled a portfolio of schools and nurseries, while building a robust shared-services model. He also contributed to national public–private partnership initiatives aimed at improving public schools’ performance.

At Citizens, Ismail plays a pivotal role in ensuring strong financial stewardship, efficient operations, and data-driven decision-making. His guidance directly supports the school’s mission to develop entrepreneurship, sustainability, digital literacy, wellbeing, and lifelong learning as core pillars of education.

At Citizens, Ismail plays a pivotal role in ensuring strong financial stewardship, efficient operations, and data-driven decision-making. His guidance directly supports the school’s mission to develop entrepreneurship, sustainability, digital literacy, wellbeing, and lifelong learning as core pillars of education.

Dr. Shaima AlHarmoodi
Emirati Culture and Innovation Governor

Dr. Shaima AlHarmoodi, is a distinguished academic, researcher, and innovator who champions the integration of UAE culture, values, and innovation in education. With over 15 years of experience in higher education, she serves as an Associate Professor at Hamdan bin Mohammed Smart University, where she teaches and leads initiatives in project management, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

As a Certified External Reviewer for the UAE Ministry of Education, Dr. Shaima has contributed to strengthening academic quality across institutions while ensuring alignment with national educational priorities. She has guided hundreds of startups, coordinated nationwide entrepreneurship competitions, and partnered with leading organisations such as the Dubai Future Foundation to nurture young innovators.

Deeply committed to cultural identity and youth empowerment, Dr. Shaima uses her academic and professional expertise to instill pride in Emirati heritage while equipping learners with the creativity, critical thinking, and entrepreneurial skills needed to thrive globally. Her dedication ensures that Citizens School learners not only succeed academically but also grow as culturally grounded, future-ready leaders.