Shankar Vanavarayar is the Executive Director of Sakthi Auto Motors Limited, a par t of the Sakthi Group located at Coimbatore.

He is also the Correspondent/President of NIA Educational Institutions based in Pollachi in Tamilnadu, South India. Shankar Vanavarayar has a Bachelors Degree in Commerce from PSG Arts and Science College Coimbatore, MBA from the Cardiff University, United Kingdom and a Masters in International Education Management from the University of Leeds,United Kingdom.

Shankar Vanavarayar plays various lead roles in the Sakthi Group that is valued at USD 660 millions. He plays a passionate and dynamic role in the management of NIA Educational institutions which educate more than 12000 students from school to higher education. The 7 institutions including schools, engineering – polytechnic – agriculture colleges are under NIA and all are Not for Profit institutions being located in the rural par ts of Tamilnadu, India. With international exposure in education, he is able to bring a modern outlook into education and is also involved in strategic visioning process for the institutions. His main focus is to bring about a student centered approach in the institutions.
Shankar vanavarayar is passionate about the heritage of the land and works for the cause of preservation through INTACH and also The Vanavarayar Foundation founded by him to work in the areas of history, architecture, culture and heritage.

Shankar Vanavarayar has been a par t of Young Indians for the past 6 years playing various roles from chapter to national
positions of Strategy, Communication and Events. He is passionate about the role of Young Indians in making the India of tomorrow and spends quality time traveling around the country and abroad meeting with young Indians.