Fatima Koumbarji

Partner and Chair, Education Practice London

Fatima Koumbarji is the Partner and Chair of Odgers Berndtson UK's Education Practice and is based in London.

She is an experienced search consultant delivering senior appointments for both national and international clients across a breadth of educational, scientific, and training & skills providers. She leads on the recruitment of both executive and non-executive roles, working closely with Boards and their senior leadership teams across a diverse range of institutions and organisations which operate within the public, private and not for profit sectors.
She has successfully appointed to a wide range of senior-level positions in the higher education sector, including the appointment of university Vice-Chancellors/Presidents, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and other senior leadership roles - both academic and professional services. At board-level, she has appointed Chairs of University Councils & Governors, as well as university Chancellors. In the broader education landscape, Fatima has appointed CEOs and other senior executives of awarding & assessment bodies, training and apprenticeships providers – including private investor backed organisations. Fatima has also worked with local and national governments on high profile leadership positions holding scientific and education portfolios. Her appointments include the current Government Chief Scientific Adviser, as well as the previous Permanent Secretary for Education.

Prior to her career in executive search, she spent 15 years in the public sector where she held a number of different roles, ranging from being a Secondary School teacher in London to heading up the Public Affairs Department for the first elected Mayor of London. She is an experienced facilitator and through her numerous assignments has developed and delivered a range of stakeholder activities for senior appointments such as university Vice Chancellors.

Fatima has also served as a Governor of a School, as a Non-Executive Director of a hospital trust in London, and a Trustee of a youth charity. Fatima has a BSc (Econ) from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and a PGCE from the University of London.