Dr Selva Pankaj

Dr Selva Pankaj, co-founder and CEO of the Regent Group, has transformed the organisation into a global business working in education, impactful investment and economy building. Since his arrival in the UK as a 19-year-old refugee fleeing civil war in Sri Lanka, his journey has been marked by an extraordinary commitment to helping others and expanding education opportunities. Regent Group celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024 and now has headquarters in London, New York, Dubai and India. Regent College London is unique for its inclusive approach, with over half the students aged 31 and above and half coming from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. His groundbreaking Thinking into Character programme explains how anyone can create the success they want by transforming their thinking, habits and behaviours. Dr Pankaj is also in the final stages of creating a state-of-the-art new British university with an emphasis on a mindset shift to unleash human natural intelligence. Beyond education, Dr Pankaj has influenced global technology through projects such as Ride21, a series of innovation hubs. His philanthropy includes his leadership in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the Global Unity Forum and Public Learn, a platform offering free education in Sri Lanka. His vision, innovation and deep commitment to social causes and global unity, continue to elevate Regent Group’s impact on a worldwide scale.