The Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad appoints new Head of Academy

Dr Jonathan Long has been appointed to lead the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad as Head of Academy from Summer 2019.

Jonathan joins the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad from Woodstock School in Mussoorie, India, where he has served as Principal for the past seven years. Prior to Woodstock, he was Principal of the Mahindra United World College of India in Pune and Head of Aiglon College in Switzerland. He has also served on senior leadership teams of Columba 1400, a social enterprise on Scotland’s Isle of Skye, and The Dragon School, a renowned Prep School in Oxford, UK. Jonathan has spent most of his career working in boarding schools and therefore brings valuable experience in residential education to the Academy. In addition to his strong reputation for being a transformational leader in mission-driven schools, his more than 30 years of experience as an educator and his love of India, Jonathan is an accomplished academic who holds multiple Master’s degrees from universities in the UK and South Africa, as well as a Doctorate from Oxford University’s Department of Educational Studies.

The Aga Khan Academies are a growing network of international schools established by His Highness, the Aga Khan. The aim of the Academies is to develop future leaders with the skills and knowledge to support positive development in their societies. The Academies achieve this by recruiting exceptional young people from all backgrounds and providing them with the highest international standard of education. Admission is means-blind and based on merit. Financial aid is available to ensure access for accepted students regardless of financial circumstances.

The Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School and is the second in the network of Aga Khan Academies established by His Highness the Aga Khan. A day and boarding school, the Academy features state-of-the-art facilities, a multicultural student body, and an experienced team of educators and staff.

On his appointment, Jonathan commented: “I am honoured to be joining the Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad as its next Head and to lead this remarkable community. His Highness the Aga Khan’s vision to develop the potential of young leaders in a global educational community where ethical leadership, pluralism, social conscience, and the pursuit of peace are valued, inspires me! Bringing together exceptional young people in this way, selected on merit, regardless of socio-economic background, race, religion or culture is one which connects with all that I am passionate about in education.”

Society’s work on this assignment was led by Conor Wilson and Kerry Wallace. They looked globally for experienced administrators with strong IB credentials and a close affinity with the mission of the Aga Khan Academies and the wider Aga Khan Development Network.

On working with Society, Jonathan commented: “I’m very appreciative of the support and professionalism of Conor and Kerry at Society and for all that they did to make this fabulous opportunity possible for me! This process in itself has been a rewarding and thoroughly enjoyable experience.”

Dr Graham Ranger, Academic Director at AKA, added: “Society is a values-driven executive search company, giving high quality at value-for-money. I greatly appreciated Society’s desire to know us really well, and to ask intelligently-informed questions that helped us to re-shape the profile of Headship candidates we were seeking. We have found this to be a very healthy partnership and relationship that feels personal as well as professional. This led us to a strong long-list and a very strong but diverse short-list, enabling genuine choices to be made. Not only did we complete a successful search for the Head of Academy, but we also were able to identify several excellent candidates we wish to keep in touch with over the next fiveyears or more. I have worked with many recruiters over the years but will return to Society for future leadership searches.”