Col. Gopal Karunakaran

Col. Gopal Karunakaran is the CEO of Shiv Nadar School. His belief in education being a tool for social transformation had driven him to absorb a rich and diverse experience across all facets of school education, including policy, academic leadership, operations, and business; and has helped him gain important perspectives on the key drivers of the education sector in India. He has been a member of the National Committee of Education of the Confederation of Indian Industries since 2008 and was also a part of the team which formulated draft proposals to the Government on the Right to Education Act.

A graduate of the National Defence Academy, Col. Karunakaran spent 30 years in the Indian Army - 10 of which were in the insurgency region of Kashmir, including the Siachen Glacier. While with the Army, he was chosen for the United Nations Mission in Kuwait in a multicultural environment.

A graduate of the National Defence Academy, Col. Karunakaran spent 30 years in the Indian Army - 10 of which were in the insurgency region of Kashmir, including the Siachen Glacier. While with the Army, he was chosen for the United Nations Mission in Kuwait in a multicultural environment.

Along with an obsessive compulsion to read and write, he is a prolific public speaker and sports fanatic.