Salima Virji

Consultant

Salima is a consultant and certified coach, bringing nearly two decades of experience in fundraising, as well as diversity and inclusion, within some of the UK’s leading educational institutions. She helps Philanthropy Company clients to build their strategic mindset and leadership skills, empowering them to develop and implement their own fundraising strategies, and to successfully lead and grow teams.

Salima trained and qualified as a coach with Barefoot Coaching and is a member of the International Coaching Federation. She works with a range of clients on coaching and consulting projects, such as St Peter’s College, Oxford, Dulwich College, Magdalen College School, Oxford, The London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham, The Brilliant Club and UpRising. Prior to this, she spent nine years at Highgate School, London (Sunday Times London Independent School of the Decade, 2021), seven as Development Director (during which she raised over £8 million) and two as the School’s first Director of Inclusion. As a member of the Senior Team, she was responsible for establishing equality, diversity and inclusion as core strategic priorities for the school.  Before Highgate, she was Head of Development at Magdalen College School, Oxford, after development roles at University College, Oxford, St John’s College, Cambridge, Jesus College, Cambridge and The Perse School.

In her spare time, Salima is a volunteer peer supporter for new mothers with the mental health charity Mind.