Sunny Varkey

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Sunny Varkey is the Founder of GEMS Education, the largest operator of K-12 schools in the world. In 1980 he took over Our Own English High School, a school established by his parents - both teachers - when they moved from India to Dubai in 1959.

Today, GEMS educates over 190,000 students from over 176 countries in 13 countries in schools that are known for their enterprising blend of high standards, innovation and choice.

Guided by his passionate belief that every child deserves a quality education, Mr Varkey founded the Varkey Foundation in 2011. It established the Global Teacher Prize, helping to raise respect for teachers across the world, and the Global Education & Skills Forum, an annual conference that is widely referred to as the “Davos of Education”. The foundation has also launched innovative distance learning programmes for young people in sub-Saharan Africa via a satellite dish, solar power and an interactive live feed. These give children, including in refugee camps, access to a great teacher, whilst also helping to train existing teachers.

In 2015 Mr Varkey signed the Giving Pledge, an initiative founded by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet, where he committed to donate more than half of his wealth to charity to help support teachers across the world. In 2009 Sunny Varkey was honoured by the Government of India for his contributions to Education with the Padmashri Award, one of the country’s highest civilian honours. In 2012, Mr Varkey was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and in 2016 he was appointed a member of Harvard University’s Global Advisory Council.

Mr Varkey continues to be driven by his belief that a dire lack of global education provision is the greatest challenge facing the world today. He believes this holds the key to solving so many of the world’s problems, from poverty and disease to conflict and climate change. Speaking at the Global Education & Skills Forum in 2016, Mr Varkey said “Whatever the question, education is the answer”.