Our people

LAPT Team

LAPT is a British company based in London, with regional leaders across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and East Asia.

Leadership

Dr Desmond Adair

Founder

London, United Kingdom

Dr Desmond Adair is one of the founding figures behind LAPT. His work began with a focus on helping working professionals strengthen their practical skills through professional workshops and vocational learning.

An author of more than 35 publications, Dr Adair brought together professional knowledge, training and assessment with the ambition of developing a model that could extend beyond London. His collaboration with Neeti Raj Singh led to the launch of the London Academy of Professional Training and the development of LAPT’s early vocational qualification and assessment framework.

Dr Adair served as Chairman of LAPT from 2003 to 2010 and remains an important part of the organisation’s founding history.

Barry Richardson

Chief Assessment Director

UK & UAE

Barry Richardson joined LAPT as Chief Assessment Director in 2010 and has played a central role in the development of LAPT’s assessment and certification operations. His work focuses on maintaining the integrity, consistency and professional standards of LAPT assessments as the organisation works with training partners and assessment professionals internationally.

As Chief Assessment Director, Barry is closely involved in assessment governance, examination standards and the quality assurance of LAPT’s certification framework. He represents LAPT in its relationships with assessment partners and plays an important role in ensuring that LAPT qualifications are delivered and assessed to consistent professional standards across markets.

Azzurra Bonaldo

Director, Beauty & Cosmetology

London, United Kingdom

Azzurra Bonaldo serves as Director, Beauty & Cosmetology at LAPT, supporting the organisation’s work within the beauty and cosmetology sector.

Her role forms part of LAPT’s wider commitment to professional and industry-led certification across vocational disciplines. Through its work in beauty and related professional areas, LAPT provides structured qualifications and independent assessment designed to validate practical occupational skills.

Azzurra represents the specialist beauty and cosmetology dimension of LAPT’s professional certification portfolio.

Regional Leaders

Our regional leaders build the LAPT centre network in their regions, lead the growth of LAPT centres and coordinate the trainers and assessors who support them, working with LAPT’s assessment leadership.

Ahmed Rezq Abou Elnaser

Regional Director

LAPT Middle East

Egypt & Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ahmed Rezq Abou Elnaser leads LAPT’s regional development across the Middle East. His work focuses on building and expanding LAPT’s network of partner centres and supporting the growth of professional training and certification opportunities across the region.

Working in coordination with LAPT’s assessment leadership, Ahmed supports the development of the regional centre network and the professionals involved in training and assessment. His role connects LAPT’s international certification framework with training organisations and professional markets across the Middle East.

Dr Jonathan Wellback

Regional Director

LAPT Africa

Accra, Ghana

Dr Jonathan Wellback leads LAPT’s regional development across Africa, with a focus on building the LAPT partner-centre network and expanding access to professional training and certification.

Working with LAPT’s assessment leadership, Jonathan supports the development of centres, trainers and assessors across the region. His role is focused on strengthening LAPT’s presence in African markets while maintaining alignment with the organisation’s professional standards and certification framework.

Neeti Raj Singh

Regional Director

LAPT Asia

Delhi, India

Neeti Raj Singh is an educationalist and entrepreneur who has been associated with LAPT since its early development. He joint-ventured with Dr Desmond Adair to launch the London Academy of Professional Training and subsequently worked with his team to expand LAPT’s training partner network.

His work has been central to LAPT’s international development, particularly across Asia. As Regional Director for LAPT Asia, Neeti leads the growth of the LAPT centre network across the region and works with the organisation’s trainers and assessors to support the delivery of LAPT’s professional certification framework.

Neeti Raj Singh has served as Regional Director since 2005.

Vijay PD

Regional Director

LAPT South India and Sri Lanka

Bangalore, India

Vijay PD leads LAPT’s regional development across South India and Sri Lanka. His role focuses on developing the LAPT partner-centre network and supporting the growth of LAPT’s professional training and certification presence across these markets.

Working with LAPT’s assessment leadership, Vijay supports the regional network of centres, trainers and assessors and contributes to the continued development of LAPT’s international certification activities.

Kanendran Arulrajah

Director, LAPT Malaysia

LAPT East Asia: Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kanendran Arulrajah leads LAPT’s development across East Asia, with responsibility for the organisation’s growing presence in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

His work focuses on developing the LAPT partner-centre network and supporting the growth of professional training and certification across the region. Working in coordination with LAPT’s assessment leadership, Kanendran supports the regional network of trainers and assessors and helps connect local training organisations with LAPT’s international certification framework.