Meet Our Leadership Team

David Dangoor, CBE – Non-Executive Advisor

David Dangoor, CBE, is a renowned leader in education and business. He has been appointed as the Non-Executive Advisor to the Board at ProEd.

As the honorary president of the Space Science Engineering & Environmental Foundation (SSEF), Dangoor takes great pleasure in supporting ProEd. ProEd’s educational programmes align with SSEF’s charitable initiatives, furthering their shared goals. His philanthropic endeavors and commitment to education have earned him recognition, including the appointment as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2015. With his expertise and dedication, David Dangoor will play a key role in shaping the future of education at ProEd and SSEF.

Marcus du Satouy, OBE. FRS – Non-Executive Advisor

Marcus is the esteemed Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford. Previously a Fellow at All Souls and Wadham Colleges, he now upholds a fellowship at New College. Marcus served as the President of the Mathematical Association, an EPSRC Senior Media Fellow, and a Royal Society University Research Fellow. His scholarship concentrates on group theory and number theory. In 2008, he succeeded Richard Dawkins as the Simonyi Professor, making strides in translating complex scientific concepts for broader public understanding.

Dr Randall S Perry – Chairman

Dr. Randall Perry is the founder and driving force behind ProEd, an innovative education company that specialises in providing passion-driven career exploration opportunities to students. A seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in Earth and planetary sciences, geochemistry, microbiology, and education, Dr. Perry has a distinguished academic background. He is the founder and Honorary Chair of the Space, Science, Environmental, Engineering Foundation (SSEF), a registered UK charity that supports students in UK, EU Middle East and Africa through Space Design Competitions, Environmental Design Challenge and Galactic Challenge.

Dr Perry is also a director of the Global Space Design Challenge. With a background in scientific research, Dr. Perry has held prestigious fellowships at University of Oxford and Imperial College London, where he continues to serve in the department of Earth Sciences and Engineering. He holds a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington and is a certified NASA astrobiologist. His current focus is on education and he has published extensively in his areas of expertise. In his free time, Dr. Perry enjoys adventurous activities like trekking, scuba diving and flying helicopters and aircraft.

His interests have taken him to many of Earth’s extreme habitats, including diving in the deep submersible ‘Alvin’ and sailing across the Atlantic in a small sailboat. With his expertise, experience and vision he has founded ProEd to empower young generation to explore their passion and find the path they want to take in life.

Rafael Peters – Managing Director

As a seasoned professional in the premium education industry, Rafael (Rafi) brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his current role as Managing Director of ProEd. In this role, he is dedicated to providing students from around the world with engaging and meaningful opportunities for career exploration.

Having served as Commercial Director and Director of Short Courses at Oxford International College, one of the UK’s leading independent schools, Rafi has had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the brightest minds in education and has played a key role in achieving outstanding academic results and university placements for students. With a passion for innovative approaches to learning, Rafi is particularly interested in the benefits of project-based learning and its ability to foster professional and personal development.

In his free time, Rafi, who is a former semi-professional tennis player, enjoys staying active and focusing on health and well-being. Rafi also serves as Chair of the board for the SSEF charity (Space Science and Engineering Foundation), where he brings his skills and experience to support the charity’s mission to promote education in the fields of space science and engineering.

Mehrnaz Ghiasi – Director of Administration & Operations

Mehrnaz is an experienced operations manager with a background in the education industry. As the current Operations Manager at ProEd, she has extensive expertise in managing educational programmes and operations to the team. Mehrnaz’s education experience began as an academic coordinator at a top UK boarding school, where she was responsible for overseeing academic affairs and the development of new programmes. She also worked closely with students, faculty, and staff to ensure a positive and productive learning environment. In this role, Mehrnaz was a core team member responsible for managing the university application process for students applying to top schools.

Mehrnaz also has experience in the hospitality industry working with some of the most prestigious hotels. This experience has provided her with strong operational and customer service skills, which are vital for delivering high-quality educational experiences. At ProEd, Mehrnaz manages the day-to-day operations of the company, making sure that the programmes run smoothly, and that students, faculty, and staff have the resources they need to be successful. Mehrnaz is dedicated to providing an excellent educational experience and is an invaluable asset to the ProEd team.

Yasmin Sarwar – Academic Advisor

Yasmin Sarwar is a highly accomplished and respected figure in the education industry, with over 20 years of experience as a founder and leader of two top schools in the UK. With her extensive knowledge and expertise, she has developed a reputation for helping students achieve their academic goals and excel in their chosen careers.

Ms Sarwar’s commitment to excellence is evident in her impressive track record of sending over 600 students to medical schools and more than 500 to world-class institutions, including Oxford, Cambridge, London School of Economics, Imperial College London, Harvard, Hong Kong University and other top Ivy League schools. Her ability to guide and support students from diverse backgrounds, including international students, has made her a sought-after expert in the industry.

Ms Sarwar’s role on the interview panel for Medicine at several top Russell Group Universities has enabled her to design successful personalised academic and career plans for students. Her insight and understanding of the university admission process have proved invaluable in securing placements for her students at some of the most prestigious institutions in the world.

Ms Sarwar’s dedication to education and her passion for helping students succeed are hallmarks of her career. She continues to inspire confidence in prospective customers through her exceptional leadership, unparalleled expertise, and commitment to excellence.

Dr Mario Peters – Non-Executive Advisor

Mario holds a Doctorate in the field of Space Technology from the University of Oxford. Over the past 25 years Mario has founded seven education companies including Oxford International College (OIC) and six schools in China and Switzerland. According to the Times League Tables OIC is currently the #5 ranked school in the UK for A-level results, and has previously held the #1 ranking for 3 consecutive years . In 2021 OIC became part of the Nord Anglia Education Group.

Alison Ahearn – Curriculum Development Advisor

As an Advisor of Curriculum Development for Pro Ed et al, Alison Ahearn brings a wealth of expertise in both engineering and education to her role. She has degrees in civil engineering and law and has had a distinguished career as a Principal Teaching Fellow at Imperial College London, teaching undergraduates and postgraduates in civil engineering law and management. At the college level, she worked with the Educational Development Unit on teacher development and the formalising of systems for recognising the learning achieved by students outside the classroom. Alison continues to teach on two undergraduate modules including the award-winning Constructionarium fieldcourse, which she created, with industry partners, in 2003. Her focus now is on encouraging children into STEMM via confidence-building activities.

In addition to her role at Pro Ed, Alison is the chair of the advisory committee to the Space Science Engineering & Environmental Foundation (SSEF) charity’s board where she served as a trustee from 2010 to 2022. She now works directly for SSEF’s management team as an educational developer and lecturer, promoting and delivering STEMM learning. She has also served as the Chair of the Zebra Housing charity (student accommodation) for 10 years, bringing valuable boardroom experience to her role. Her focus on challenge-based learning (where students use project management to collaborate effectively on STEMM design tasks for a fictional client in the UK, Europe, ME and Africa Space Design competitions) builds upon her long experience with students at such a specialist STEMM institution. Alison also has been a part of UKSDC since its first London final, utilising her expertise and experience to support the organisation’s mission.