Dr. Nadir ​Zafar​

Dr. Nadir Ali Zafar is Chief Experience Officer (CXO) of the Human Capital Leadership Institute (HCLI) and concurrently Director of the Singapore Leaders Network, a national movement managed by HCLI and supported by EDB. He joins HCLI from UAE-based education technology company Alef Education where he was Chief Operating Officer. During his time, the company grew from a start-up to an award-winning organisation that serves several hundred thousand students.

Nadir was one of the founding leaders of Alef Education and set up and oversaw the marketing, finance, human resources, legal, audit, procurement, and business support departments. He also spearheaded the company’s expansion into Asia, set up a healthcare program, and launched a new schools management business that was spun off into an independent entity.

Nadir’s experience spans over 20 years. Prior to Alef Education, he was at GEMS Education, where he reported directly to the Group CEO and served on the senior leadership team. He was then posted to Singapore as Director of Corporate Development, leading admissions and marketing for their Singapore school. In previous roles, Nadir has worked closely with the CEO of one of the largest shipping companies in the world and the CEO of one of the Middle East region’s largest media companies. Nadir has worked in UAE, India, Thailand, and Singapore.

Nadir graduated with a Bachelor of Business Management (Marketing) from the pioneer batch of the Singapore Management University and holds an MBA from INSEAD. He has also completed a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation at New York University. His past and current leadership experience extends to serving on the Board of a London-listed global education company, President of the Singapore Business Council in UAE, alumni leader for both his alma maters, and founder of an EdTech venture. Nadir is Singaporean.