About the network
We are a community dedicated to supporting South Asian educators across the UK through mentorship, resources, and belonging.
Our mission
The South Asian Educators' Network exists to create a supportive community for South Asian educators at every stage of their career. We believe that representation matters, and that educators from South Asian backgrounds deserve spaces where their experiences are understood and valued.
Despite making significant contributions to education across the UK, South Asian educators often lack access to culturally aware support and mentorship. Our network addresses this gap by providing connections and guidance that acknowledge the unique challenges and strengths of our community.
Our values are rooted in community, equity, and representation. We are committed to creating inclusive spaces where South Asian educators can grow, lead, and support one another.
Our founders
The team behind the South Asian Educators' Network.
Zahara Chowdhury
Founding Member
Zahara has been teaching for over 15 years and was a Head of English and Associate Headteacher. She now leads of diversity, equity and inclusion in Higher Education. She is founder of the blog and podcast, www.schoolshouldbe.com and author of Creating Belonging in the Classroom (Bloomsbury 2025)
Sakina Jafri
Founding Member
Sakina Jafri is a doctoral student at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge and a member of the Cambridge Network for Disability and Education Research (CaNDER) and Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Professional Learning (CPPL). With over a decade of teaching experience in primary schools across New York, California, and London, she brings a strong practitioner lens to her academic work. Her research explores the lived experiences and identity of teachers of South Asian heritage in London primary schools. Grounded in her own practice as an educator, Sakina’s work is driven by a commitment to social justice, inclusive education, the amplification of global majority voices, and the advancement of teacher education.
Yamina Bibi
Founding Member
Yamina Bibi is an award winning former Acting Deputy Headteacher and English Teacher from London. Yamina is currently Education Project Specialist at Chiltern Learning Trust and a Freelance Consultant. Yamina is also author of ‘The Little Guide for Teachers: Thriving in Your First Years of Teaching’ and a contributing writer for ‘Diverse Educators: A Manifesto’ and Sarah Mullin’s ‘What They Don’t Teach Me On My PGCE’.
Sejal Patel
Founding Member
Sejal is a senior tutor, science teacher and Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Lead. She has previous experience as a Deputy Head of Science and has worked across mainstream education and the Independent sector. Sejal is also a school governor.
How we support you
Tangible ways we help South Asian educators thrive.
- CV and promotion guidance tailored for educators
- Mentoring circles connecting early-career educators with experienced leaders
- Workshops on career development and wellbeing
- Resource library with practical tools and templates
- Peer support groups for shared experiences
- Events connecting South Asian educators across the UK