The Bell Foundation has appointed three new Trustees to drive the Foundation forward during an exciting period of growth as it continues to scale its work to support more children and adults who speak English as a second or additional language to overcome exclusion through language education.
Following the launch of the charity’s new five-year strategy, the new Trustees join the Board at a pivotal time for the Foundation, which provides guidance, training, and research to support the 1.77 million schoolchildren who speak English as an Additional Language – over 20% of pupils in English schools – and the 1 million+ adults in England and Wales who report not speaking English well or at all.
The Trustees each bring important experience, further broadening the diversity of perspective and depth of insight across the Board. Devendra Kodwani has been in higher education teaching at universities in India and in the UK for past 35 years and is currently professor at the Open University, with educational expertise in online education. Shahzad Ali brings over 25 years' experience in financial services, specialising in Private Banking, Wealth Management, and Investment Advisory. As a former co-opted member of the Foundation’s Asset Management Committee, Sarah Philips brings expertise in Estate Management and Asset Management.
Diana Sutton, Director of The Bell Foundation, said: “We are delighted to welcome Devendra Kodwani, Sarah Philips, and Shahzad Ali as new Trustees who between them bring a wealth of relevant expertise and lived experience to the Board. We would also like to thank our outgoing Trustees, Jan King and Reshard Auladin, for their outstanding contribution and dedicated service over the past nine years as the Foundation has grown in size, reach and impact.”
Devendra Kodwani, Professor at the Open University, said: “I believe cultural and linguistic diversity helps create harmony and cooperation in society. The Bell Foundation directly contributes to the linguistic diversity and in particular enhances opportunities for speakers of English as other language. I am very pleased and honoured to work as Trustee with the brilliant team at The Bell Foundation."
Shahzad Ali, former CEO in Private Banking and Wealth Management, said: “I was attracted by the Foundation’s mission to use language to integrate both children and adults into our society and subsequently improve their overall outcomes. I am looking forward to working with my fellow Trustees and the Senior Leadership Team to deliver on the objectives of the Foundation."