Claudia Bickford Smith - Advisor
Claudia brings a wealth of expertise in education, learning design, edtech, assessment development, and school operational management. With extensive Board-level experience, she has worked closely with senior executives, school leaders, Ministries of Education, investors, Regulators, and Awarding Bodies across the globe.
Over the past 15 years, she has led large-scale curriculum and assessment innovations, teacher professional development programs, and fair, valid, and accessible online assessments—impacting schools worldwide. Her passion for inclusive pedagogy, wellbeing-driven education, and sustainable school growth strategies aligns perfectly with Uttama Trust’s mission of enhancing the quality of education and empowering teachers.
Claudia is also actively involved in AI in Education research at the Department of Education, University of Oxford and serves as Chair of Boards of Governors for two schools in the UK, alongside her role as a Governor at a state primary school.
With degrees from the University of Cape Town, the University of Cambridge, and University College London’s Institute of Education, Claudia’s thought leadership in education is widely recognized. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (F.R.S.A.) and a member of the Harvard Graduate School of Education Professional Community.