Group Chairman, Regent Global
From £100 to building a global education and enterprise ecosystem — driven by character, technology and human potential.
Overview
Professor Selva Pankaj is Group Chairman of Regent Global, a technology-enabled education and enterprise group. He is Rector of Regent European University and President of Regent American University, and speaks and writes on the symbiosis of artificial and natural intelligence in education and society.
Updated 2026-07-20
At 19, in 1990, with just £100 in his pocket, Selva arrived in the United Kingdom from Sri Lanka as a refugee fleeing civil war.
Unable to pursue university due to family circumstances, he enrolled in a chartered accountancy programme and built a distinguished career across Prudential Financial, Fortress Investment Group, Schroders and Grosvenor.
In 1999, while working full-time in investment banking, Selva began offering private tuition for £20 per hour. That initiative led to the founding of Regent Independent College — now part of Regent Global — alongside Dr Tharshiny Pankaj and his late father.
In 2009, Selva left investment banking to lead Regent Global full-time.
Today, Regent Global operates across education, artificial intelligence, innovation, real estate, tourism and investment — united under the "One Regent" model.
Regent Global celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024 and continues to expand internationally as a technology-enabled education and enterprise group. Under Selva's leadership:
Core Mission
Future Enablers
Global Reach
"Prof. Selva Pankaj exemplifies founder-led leadership in British education — building something useful, scaling it with direction, and creating opportunity at every stage."Sir Richard Harpin
Founder & Chair, HomeServe · Entrepreneur & Author
Selva believes in the symbiosis of artificial intelligence and natural intelligence — that technology must amplify human potential, not replace it.
His executive education at London Business School (opens in a new tab), Harvard (opens in a new tab), Oxford (opens in a new tab) and Stanford (opens in a new tab) shaped his inside-out character development philosophy, now embedded across Regent Global institutions. Through a partnership with Stanford Online (opens in a new tab), Regent students and staff gain access to Stanford programmes.
Selva is Honorary Professor of Regent European University (opens in a new tab) and holds four honorary doctorates from institutions in the UK, USA and Mexico. He gifted Public Learn (opens in a new tab), a free education platform, to Sri Lanka.
He continues to contribute to global discussions on education, AI and human potential — including participation in the World Governments Summit (opens in a new tab), writing on AI for Forbes (opens in a new tab), and presenting "Our Changing World" on Sunrise Radio (opens in a new tab).
He is the author of:
How anyone can create success through transformed thinking, habits, and behaviours.
Insights on personal development and family wisdom.
Foundational perspectives on growth and potential.
Published March 2026 — When you understand the science of natural intelligence, you will understand success.
In these sessions, Professor Selva Pankaj addresses one of the defining challenges of our time: how societies, governments, and education systems respond to artificial intelligence, global talent shortages, and the growing gap between educational promise and lived reality. Together, these talks present a coherent perspective on intelligence, trust, and human potential in a rapidly changing world.
World Governments Summit
A strategic exploration of how artificial intelligence must be paired with trust, judgement, and natural intelligence to create sustainable progress in education and society.
World Governments Summit – Session
An examination of the structural talent gap facing nations today, and why education models designed around real lives — not rigid systems — are central to long-term economic resilience.
World Governments Summit – Session
A candid discussion on why traditional education often fails to meet modern expectations, and how rethinking outcomes, character, and capability can close the gap between intent and impact.
Selva has worked with UK government leaders across multiple administrations as part of advisory and leadership groups, contributing to discussions on enterprise, education and economic growth. His engagement has been non-partisan and focused on long-term national development.
He serves as:
Recent recognition includes:
The Burj CEO Awards
He has received four honorary doctorates in the past decade for contributions to education in the UK, USA and Mexico.
Selva and Tharshiny are proud British citizens and global citizens, honoured to hold residencies in the United States, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka and Malta.
Recognised in Asia's 100 to Watch 2025 for leadership in education, innovation and global impact.
A New Initiative
Regent Global has committed $250,000 to celebrate and accelerate the impact of young leaders preventing and resolving conflict around the world.
A new era of conflict is spreading — driven by identity, ignorance, and inequality — while established institutions too often perpetuate its causes rather than solving them. The Pankaj Award recognises young leaders tackling conflict at its roots and creating unity within and between communities torn apart by division.
Regent Global and One Young World will identify ten finalists. An independent expert judging panel — announced at the 2026 Global Unity Dinner hosted by Regent Global on — will select the inaugural winner.
Regent Global is a family business.
Selva and Tharshiny lead the organisation together. Their eldest daughter, Sharanie, leads the next generation Regent Global team, and their youngest daughter, Dharanie, contributes while completing her university studies.
Away from business, Selva's passions are music and cricket — he often draws on cricket as a metaphor for managing business and life.
Their shared belief continues to guide Regent Global:
"The end result of education is character."
Work with purpose. Grow with us.
At Regent Global, our people are at the heart of everything we do. From education and AI to real estate, tourism and investment, we're a global team shaping the future.
Work on projects across the UK, Europe, USA, UAE, and India.
Be part of bold ideas in education, technology and enterprise.
Access learning opportunities like Thinking into Character to support your personal and professional journey.
Join a diverse, collaborative environment where everyone can thrive.
We're always looking for talented, ambitious people to join our team.
Enquire about joining usConcise answers for media, partners and organisers researching Professor Selva Pankaj and Regent Global.
Professor Selva Pankaj is Group Chairman of Regent Global, a technology-enabled education and enterprise group. He is Rector of Regent European University and President of Regent American University, and speaks and writes on the symbiosis of artificial and natural intelligence in education and society.
Regent Global is a technology-enabled education and enterprise group founded in 1999. Under the One Regent model it operates across higher education, schools, artificial intelligence, innovation, real estate, tourism and investment in the UK, UAE, USA, Europe, India and Sri Lanka.
He is Group Chairman of Regent Global, Rector of Regent European University, President of Regent American University, and Honorary Professor at Regent European University. He co-leads the family enterprise with Dr Tharshiny Pankaj.
He completed executive education at London Business School, Harvard, Oxford and Stanford. He holds four honorary doctorates from institutions in the UK, USA and Mexico for contributions to education.
Recent recognition includes Business Person of the Year at the Asian Achievers Awards 2025, Visionary Business Leader of the Year at the British Asians Who’s Who Awards 2025, Forward-Thinking CEO at the Burj CEO Awards 2025, and the WEF New Champion Community Choice Award 2025.
Regent Global has committed $250,000 with One Young World to recognise young leaders preventing and resolving conflict. Applications open 11 April 2026 and close 15 June 2026, with ten finalists and an inaugural winner selected in 2026.
He is the author of Thinking into Character, The Power of Learning from DAD, The Mindset, and The Science of Natural Intelligence (published March 2026). His work centres on character, learning and human potential alongside artificial intelligence.
For consultancy, partnerships or collaboration across the Regent ecosystem, use the contact route on this site to reach Regent Global. You can also follow Professor Pankaj on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook for updates on education, AI and leadership.
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