O'Keeffe Education Consulting

The UAE, GCC and Saudi education sector is one of the region's most significant investment opportunities, and one of the hardest to read without senior, independent judgement. Whether you are investing in an existing school, building a new one, or expanding a group, OEC supports investors, family offices, founders and owners at every stage, from the first feasibility question to a confident opening and beyond.

The work includes

• ·Educational due diligence for acquisitions and investments
• ·Market entry and feasibility studies across the UAE, GCC and Saudi Arabia
• ·New school and nursery establishment, from concept to opening
• ·Educational business planning and financial feasibility
• ·Curriculum selection and educational model design
• ·Academic planning and provision design
• ·Governance, leadership and organisational structure design
• ·Licensing and accreditation: KHDA, SPEA, NEASC and BSO pathways
• ·Regulatory strategy across KHDA, SPEA and GCC frameworks
• ·Leadership structure and recruitment strategy
• ·Portfolio evaluation, growth and expansion planning
• ·Integration planning after acquisition
• ·Site and location feasibility

Delivered as a scoped project, with investment staged against agreed milestones, from due diligence through to opening and first inspection.

Strong governance is the foundation of every high performing school, and among the most underestimated priorities for UAE owners. Having served at the same time as board member, chair of governance and executive director inside major UAE education groups, Janet works alongside founding families and owners as a natural counterpart.

The work includes

• ·Governance structure design and effectiveness reviews
• ·Board and committee design
• ·Independent board advisory
• ·Governance framework and policy development
• ·Accountability and oversight frameworks
• ·Safeguarding and inclusion governance
• ·Risk management and compliance frameworks
• ·Strategic challenge, scrutiny and performance oversight
• ·Group governance across multiple schools and nurseries
• ·Executive coaching and mentoring for principals and senior leaders

Available as a defined project or an ongoing retained partnership for boards and owners.

Early childhood is where Janet's career began, and it remains a field she knows from the inside, from the classroom through to licensing and quality assurance. From the first investor conversation to the KHDA Quality Assurance visit, OEC provides complete support for nurseries and Early Childhood Centres, shaped by direct experience of opening and leading early years settings rather than compliance alone.

The work includes

• ·Inspection ready academic plan design
• ·KHDA ECCE Quality Framework support across all domains
• ·Loughat Al Daad and Arabic implementation planning
• ·Licensing and regulatory pathways: KHDA and SPEA
• ·Learning environment design with pedagogical intent
• ·Policy framework development
• ·Governance and organisational structure design
• ·Leadership recruitment and team design
• ·Operational readiness
• ·KHDA Quality Assurance visit preparation and support

A staged engagement across concept, development and approval, with investment aligned to progress.

For schools, nurseries and groups preparing for KHDA or SPEA inspection under the UAE School Inspection Framework, seeking an honest independent read of where they stand, or working to strengthen how they operate and lead, OEC provides rigorous, evidence based quality assurance and the organisational foundations behind sustained performance.

The work includes

Available as a focused project or an ongoing retained partnership.

01

We start with a conversation

No obligation, no template. An honest discussion about what you need and whether OEC is the right fit for your organisation.

02

Scope is agreed upfront

Engagements are clearly scoped, with milestones and investment stages agreed before work begins. No surprises.

03

The view is always independent

OEC has no affiliation with regulators, inspection bodies or training providers. The only interest is your organisation's success.

04

Impact is measurable

Every engagement is focused on outcomes: a successful licensing decision, an improved inspection judgement, a stronger board.

Governance, Integrity & Board Partnership

Having worked alongside Janet at governance level and observed her leadership first-hand, I have seen her successfully navigate the complex relationship between school owners, governors and educational leaders while maintaining an unwavering focus on what is best for children and families. She is a trusted adviser whose credibility, professionalism and commitment to excellence make her an outstanding partner for school owners, boards and educational organisations.

Strategic Oversight & Organisational Performance

During our time working together, Janet brought exceptional strategic oversight, governance expertise and operational insight to the organisation. Her ability to balance the expectations of owners, governors and school leaders while maintaining a relentless focus on educational quality was invaluable. Janet consistently provided clarity, challenge and support, helping leaders make decisions that strengthened both organisational performance and outcomes for children.

School Improvement & Leadership Support

One of Janet's greatest strengths is her ability to see both the bigger picture and the practical steps needed to get there. During a demanding period of school improvement, she gave our leadership team clear direction, thoughtful challenge and unwavering support — and her impact showed in the real, measurable progress we made together. Her experience, educational insight and commitment to excellence kept our improvement efforts focused and purposeful throughout. Janet brings a rare combination of strategic thinking, professional credibility and genuine care for people, which makes her an invaluable support to schools and leaders alike.

Leadership Development & Coaching

What sets Janet apart is her ability to combine warmth, wisdom and professional challenge. Through her support, coaching and strategic guidance, she helped strengthen leadership practice while always keeping children at the heart of decision-making. Janet brings a depth of experience and credibility that inspires confidence and drives improvement.

What does O'Keeffe Education Consulting do?

OEC is an independent education consultancy supporting investors, founders, owners and boards across the UAE, GCC and Saudi Arabia. It works across four areas: investment, establishment and growth; governance and board effectiveness; early years and nursery establishment; and quality, improvement and inspection readiness.

Who does OEC work with?

Investors, family offices, founders, owners, boards and senior leadership teams of schools, nurseries and education groups.

Which regions does OEC serve?

The UAE, the wider GCC and Saudi Arabia. OEC is based in Dubai and has operated in the UAE education sector since 1995.

What makes OEC independent?

OEC has no affiliation with regulators, inspection bodies or training providers. The only interest is the client's success, which allows an honest, evidence-based view that is difficult to obtain from anyone with a stake in the outcome.

Which regulatory frameworks does OEC know?

KHDA, SPEA, the UAE School Inspection Framework, the ECCE Quality Framework, Loughat Al Daad, NEASC accreditation and BSO accreditation, across British and American curricula.

Who is Janet O'Keeffe?

Janet O'Keeffe is the founder of OEC, with more than 25 years at executive and board level in UAE education as a teacher, school leader, director, board member and chair of governance. She has been based in Dubai since 1995.

How do engagements work?

Every engagement begins with a no-obligation conversation. Scope, milestones and investment stages are agreed before work begins, the view is always independent, and impact is measurable.