Team

Dr Selva Pankaj is an educator, knowing vs doing gap researcher and an educational leader. He co-founded Regent College London (RCL) with his life and business partner Tharshiny Pankaj in 2000, by providing private tuition for £20. In 1990, he started his life in the UK at the age of 19, growing up in war-torn Sri Lanka and coming to the UK with just £100 given to him by his father. 

He qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant and then achieved his MBA, when he was with Prudential Financial, Inc. for a decade since 1994. He spent the next five years in the real estate investment management sector and worked for Schroder, Grosvenor and Fortress Investment Group until 2008. In 2009, he became the CEO of Regent Global, a global technology-enabled education, real estate investment and management organisation. The group is celebrating 20 years of valuable service to its consumers. 

He had the great fortune to be the student of the late Professor Clayton Christensen at Harvard Business School in 2015, which changed his life completely in the quest to understand the meaning of natural laws, compared to manmade laws. He is spearheading RCL’s rapid and ground-breaking transformative evolution into a new British university, with the mission of creating a society with a growth mindset, instilling the belief that the end result of education is character and championing the lifelong learning habit. The entire project is indeed a paradigm shift.

As Group CEO of Regent Global, Tharshiny Pankaj exemplifies the values of determination, resilience and hard work. Her leadership is a testament to her commitment to excellence and innovation.  

From humble beginnings, Tharshiny navigated cultural shifts and educational challenges to pursue her passion for computer science at Brunel University. Together with her husband, Selva, Tharshiny founded Regent Global in 2000, beginning with private tuition and expanding into independent schools. Their dedication to fostering growth led to the creation of RCL.   

With a keen focus on harnessing the power of technology, Tharshiny spearheaded the first VR classroom in central London, setting a new standard for immersive learning experiences.   

Under Tharshiny’s guidance, Regent Global and RCL have become beacons of educational excellence, recognised by numerous awards and accolades. Her strategic vision is to make quality education globally accessible and affordable, empowering individuals for success. Through her dedication, Tharshiny is transforming education into a pathway for opportunity and growth. 

As Group Chief Commercial Officer at Regent Global, Carol-Ann Maxworth combines exceptional communication and leadership skills with strong administrative and time management abilities. She is a top-performing executive with 10 years of experience and achievements in administration and customer service.   

Prior to joining RCL in 2019, Carol-Ann served as Academic Administrator at London School of Commerce. In this previous role, she served as a Course Administrator for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, leading the registration team to manage six student intakes annually.   

Carol-Ann also conducted presentations and induction sessions for new students, addressed queries from students and staff, and monitored attendance and visa compliance. Her responsibilities included guiding students through their academic journey by releasing results, explaining progression pathways and assisting with compliance meetings to reinforce college regulations.  

Additionally, she supported the exams department by uploading results and attending examination boards with partner universities. She contributed to academic and progression boards by taking detailed meeting notes and undertook various administrative tasks such as managing mail, maintaining student records and operating a busy switchboard.

As Head of Academic Operations at RCL, Victor Torres is most inspired by cross-departmental collaboration. Working with colleagues from diverse functions equips Victor with different perspectives, which enables him to better understand each department’s needs, and ultimately, contribute more effectively to the RCL team’s collective mission.   

Prior to joining RCL, Victor worked in the fashion industry. During this time, he developed important skills such as organisation, problem-solving and collaboration. This professional background allows Victor to bring a fresh, adaptable perspective to his current role, enhancing his ability to drive effective outcomes and innovative strategies across every department.

As Group Commercial Operations Manager for Regent Global, Alka Tailor has been an important part of the RCL community for over 16 years, bringing extensive experience to various positions.  

Throughout her tenure, Alka has played a key role in shaping the organisation’s operational strategy and commercial direction. Her expertise spans project management, business development and operational efficiency, making her a pivotal figure in RCL’s growth and success.   

Equipped with a deep understanding of both the educational sector and commercial operations, Alka continues to drive innovation and optimise processes, ensuring Regent Global delivers the highest standards of service and value.