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The People Who Put the ‘Nurture’ in Nursery
Dr. Vandana Gandhi
FOUNDER AND CEO, BRITISH ORCHARD NURSERY

Dr. Vandana Gandhi is the visionary behind British Orchard Nursery (BON) – the UAE’s homegrown success story and the only nursery chain in the Middle East certified with ISO 9001, 14001, and 18001 (2015 standards). Born and raised in the UAE, she has dedicated her life to reimagining early childhood education for future generations.
Her academic journey reflects her passion for lifelong learning: a Mathematics Honours degree, a Post Graduate Diploma in International Business, a Master’s in Education (with Distinction) from the UK, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Birmingham.Recognized globally, Dr. Gandhi has received 20+ international and national awards, including the Emirates Woman Award, GR8 Women Award, and the European Quality Award (Oxford, UK). She has also been celebrated at the WIL Economic Forum for creating one of the region’s most women-friendly workplaces. Under her leadership, BON has grown into the UAE’s most awarded nursery chain, winning prestigious honours such as the Arabia CSR Award, MRM Award, DQAA, DHDAA, and SKEA Gold Award.
In 2025 and beyond, Dr. Gandhi continues to drive BON’s mission: blending academic excellence with holistic development to prepare children not just for school, but for life.

Trust your instincts, Be confident and passionate, Lead the way and make learning a necessity, Be socially responsible, Innovative.
Partners from day one

Emma Rumsby
Emma Rumsby has been a key employee of BON since the year 2009. She started her career at BON as a Foundation years teacher and has worked her way up through the company to become a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT). She is currently employed within BON as a Business Support Manager and provides her expertise in policy & procedure to support the branches. Her leadership capabilities allow work in close liaison with MOE/KHDA and ensure BON is fully compliant with all requirements.Ms. Emma has a BA Degree in English Literature and gained her Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of Sunderland.

Julie Kutepova
Julie Kutepova has been employed at BON since its inception in 2007. She started her career at BON as a teacher and has since been promoted several times to become a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT). Julie is currently employed within BON as a Business Support Manager and works with a number of branches in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. She provides her analytical expertise in Strategy and Quality Assurance and has spearheaded the Balanced Score Card and the BON-Q internal audit practices. Julie has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and has also completed CACHE Level 3 & 4 to further her expertise in Early Years Practice.


