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Team
Nimesh Patel | CEO, Founder
Nimesh is a seasoned technology entrepreneur with a rich background in property and technology, boasting over 25 years of experience as a founding CEO for innovative companies. He has served as a board member for various public and private organisations, as well as charities in the UK, Canada, and Australia.
Nimesh has successfully completed two public listings, raising over $50 million for multiple projects. Currently, he leads Kabuni, a privately-held UK company with an ambitious mission: to unlock the design potential within every individual and elevate their lives. Kabuni aims to create an unprecedented immersive platform, driving evidence-based micro-learning to enhance curricula and shape the future of work.
As part of a family of entrepreneurs deeply passionate about leaving a lasting legacy, Nimesh's four children are actively involved in both Kabuni and their own entrepreneurial endeavours.
Though Nimesh acknowledges having made mistakes as a person and entrepreneur, his unwavering curiosity and dedication to leaving the planet better for future generations continue to fuel his pursuits.
John Hayduk | Chief Operating Officer
John currently lives in New Jersey with his twin boys and wife of 21 years, Roxanne. He has over 30 years’ experience in the software and telecommunications industry and began his career at Bell Communications Research as a Senior Software Engineer.
John then took his expertise to Telcordia Technologies, where he spent the next decade in various senior management positions. He led large scale software development teams focused on development of high volume, real time transaction processing systems and operations support systems for telecommunications service providers. He also ran a new business unit for Telcordia Technologies specifically focused on operations software for new service introduction and service assurance solutions targeted at wireless service providers.
Most recently, John was the Chief Operations Officer at Tata Communications (12 years) - part of the $100+ billion Tata group of companies. He was responsible for the company’s operations and IT capability managing a team of over 2,100 staff in more than a dozen countries worldwide.
Stefan Muelheim | Chief Investment Officer
Stefan is a German citizen and father of two daughters has 35 years investment banking experience. After a trainee program at Deutsche Bank in 1987 he worked for over 10 years in the City of London in Research and Sales functions.
He established Citi’s Institutional business in Germany from 1998 to 2010 as a country head and board member, generating $250m in revenue.
Since then he established himself in the Family Office world by running a single-family office in London and a Family Office advisory business out of Zug, Switzerland.
Stefan has been in management positions, successfully establishing and managing teams since 1994.
Nina Jane Patel | President Of Research
Considered cutting-edge in her field and a thought leader on the implications of safety, psychology and physiology of human interaction in the Metaverse. Patel is also a psychotherapist and doctoral scholar, awarded the Wilkie Calvert Scholarship - “Unlocking the Potential of Immersive Experiences for the Future of Human Society: Investigating the physiological and psychological impact of the Metaverse". Dedicating her career to investigating the intersection of culture, mental health and technology, Nina is an advocate for technology as a tool for innovation, creativity, education and mental health. In 2020 and 2022, Nina was commissioned by the Canada Council for new research investigating human interaction in the Metaverse.
As an award-winning entrepreneur, and psychotherapist, Nina is invited to stages around the world to share her signature talks offering soul-stirring call-to-action to contribute to shaping the future of the Metaverse.
Nina is a wife and mother to four children and one fur baby, Duncan. Being both Canadian and British, she is lucky to call both countries home.
Akasha Rose | Community Lead
With a distinguished academic foundation in International Human Rights Law, Akasha Rose has been a formidable force in the realm of digital transformation for over two decades. Her pioneering spirit led her to coordinate some of the world's earliest online festivals and youth engagement platforms in the early 2000s.
Beyond the digital sphere, Akasha has been a pillar in homeschooling communities, championing the blend of traditional education with modern tech through initiatives like a community-led campaign for a local high-tech forest school. Her vision and drive have always been focused on fostering communities that promote innovative learning experiences.
Stepping into the world of Web3 in 2017, Akasha seamlessly transitioned her vast community-building experience to this burgeoning space. As a seasoned community leader and marketing and communications executive, she has launched tokens, managed DAOs, provided blockchain education, and unveiled groundbreaking NFTs.
Today, she's channeling her vast expertise and passion towards spearheading the global user adoption of the Kabuni platform. Akasha's overarching mission remains clear: to usher in a new era of decentralized, immersive, and inclusive education that harnesses the full potential of technology.
Akasha also has an Hons in Creative Writing, a Grad Cert in Biodiversity, and is a qualified Kids Yoga Teachers (YTT 200) and Mindfulness in Schools facilitator.
Ron Davis | VP of SPACE
Ron Davis boasts three decades of expertise, combining his vast property knowledge and commercial acumen from esteemed roles in the property services sector, including stints at Halifax, Haarts, Woolwich Property Services, and various independent agencies. His career also encompasses the successful revitalization of struggling independent estate agents and two decades of running his ventures, Madisons and Abode London, in South East and Southwest London. Ron's proficiency extends to proficiently managing the complexities arising from diverse external and internal sources, emphasizing the importance of effective relationship management.
Additionally, Ron has adeptly undertaken the role of project manager for numerous developments, both for himself and external clients, guiding them from project inception to completion. He takes pride in providing unwavering support to clients throughout the entire process.
Ron's prominence in the property domain is further highlighted by his appearances on over 40 episodes of BBC1's "Homes under the Hammer" as a local agent for Southeast and Southwest London. He even ventured into auditioning for a presenter's role on the show. Beyond television, Ron has shared his insights through talks with the Progressive Property Network, where he demystifies the intricacies of property development and investment.
Notably, Ron holds level 2 and 3 City and Guild certifications in Electrical Installation and Design.
Mark Spelman | Corporate Board Chair
Mark has over 20 years experience at Board level; his roles cover business, sport and the charity sectors. He is passionate about strategy, people and the role of technology to improve working lives. He is a Non Executive Director of the global engineering consultancy Buro Happold, where he chairs the Investment committee; he sits on the Advisory Board of Newdea, an open source trade and investment platform focussed on Africa; he is a member of Chatham House's finance committee; and is Chair of Leap, an award winning UK charity specialising in helping young people understand the causes and consequences of conflict.
In his former executive career, Mark was Global Head of Strategy at Accenture, and ran Accenture’s global macro-economic think-tank, the Accenture Institute for High Performance.
He has worked closely with the Executive Chair of the World Economic Forum (WEF) over the past fifteen years; most recently on their Digital Economy global challenge, examining issues of responsible digital transformation, digital identity, and new digital business models.
Mark is a keen sportsman; his previous board roles have been as a Non Executive Director at Sport England and Harlequins Rugby. He has an MA in Economics from Cambridge; an MBA from INSEAD and is married to Caroline, a former UK Conservative MP and Environment Minister.
Prof Dr Ger Graus OBE | Advisory Board Chair
“Children can only aspire to what they know exist.”
Ger Graus is a renowned figure in the field of education. He was KidZania’s first Global Education Director and founding CEO of the Children’s University.
In the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours List Ger Graus was made an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to children. In his book ‘Natural Born Learners’, Alex Beard says: “In learning terms, Ger Graus is Jean-Jacques Rousseau meets Willy Wonka.”
In 2019, Ger became a Visiting Professor at the National Research University, Moscow, Russia. He advises a range of start-ups, NGOs and school groups globally. Ger is also a Board Director and chairs a number of advisory boards. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1983 where he began his teaching career, later becoming a Senior Inspector, and Education Director.
Ger is a member of Bett’s Global Education Council; DIDAC India’s Advisory Board; Junior Achievement’s Worldwide Global Council; advises the Fondazione Reggio Children, Italy; and has been invited to help shape the future of education in Dubai as a member of the Dubai Future Councils.
Lee Atkins | VP of Partnerships
Lee started his entrepreneurial business career running the commercial department of The Professional Cricketers Association, managing the commercial sponsorships for the 400 players in England and Wales and Team England. Since then he has established himself as an experienced Founder and accomplished and highly experienced Sponsorship, Partnership and Activation Officer, with 20 years extensive experience in managing strategic & tactical partnerships both brand and agency side. He has lead contract negotiations and renewals and highly effective brand marketing activation campaigns linked to partnerships driving growth through cut-through and innovative business development strategies. He has an eye for growth opportunities and an engaging, motivating leadership style, designed to establish and leverage synergy both in his team and the business at large.
Lee is Entrepreneurial, energetic and driven, with extensive experience of developing and managing high-performing teams, high-value clients and strategic partnerships as well as having an unparalleled network of influencers, thought leaders, HNW’s and global business owners. He has a passion for new technologies and is very excited to be working with such a great team of inspiring people to create the KABUNI movement.
“The Way of success is the way of continuous pursuit of knowledge”
Daniel Japiassu | VP of Content
Daniel Japiassu is an accomplished entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience leading innovative technology companies. He is an award-winning producer of digital content and immersive storytelling and a renowned evangelist for Virtual and Augmented Reality.
Daniel has led the listing of YDX in the TSX-V and co-founded YDreams Global, a leader in experiential technologies that delivered thousands of projects worldwide for several Fortune 100 companies, such as Coca-Cola, Cisco, Qualcomm, Audi, McDonald's, Nike, NBA, and Disney.
His background includes the experience to bring complex projects from concept to execution, and a passion for combining innovation and technology to improve people’s life, educate and entertain.
Born in Brazil and currently living in Vancouver, “DJ” , as he is known, is a husband and father to two teenage boys. Avid consumer of tv series, movies, and videogames, he tries to keep a balance with non-tech activities such as reading graphic novels and woodworking.
Last modified 2mo ago