Trustees

I began my teaching career at Ashmole School in North London in 1991, having graduated from the University of Surrey where I studied History and English, followed by teacher training in Sussex. In 1998 I moved to a secondary school in Stevenage where I became Head of History and then, simultaneously with this post, Head of Year and PSHE / Citizenship Co-ordinator. From here, I took up the post of Assistant Headteacher, then Deputy Headteacher at Sawston Village College before becoming Principal of the school in 2010. In 2018, I became Chief Executive Officer of Anglian Learning.
I am a representative on the Cambridgeshire Schools Forum and a member of the CEOs network in the local area, and I have also been Chair of the East and South Cambridgeshire Inclusion Partnership. I am a National Leader of Education and have been an Ofsted Inspector.
I am passionate about the mission of Anglian Learning which is to ensure the best possible educational outcomes and experiences for all pupils, for their families and their communities through self-sustaining, innovative and outward facing schools, able to support and challenge each other to achieve excellence.

I have a life-long interest and involvement in education, initially as a teacher, followed by 10 years as a primary Headteacher, I worked as an Ofsted Inspector and a Local Authority adviser, before retiring from my position of Head of School Improvement (Primary) in Cambridgeshire in 2008. Since then I have worked as a Senior Adviser with the Primary National Strategy, as a School Improvement Partner for many local schools and as an independent School Improvement Consultant, maintaining my active involvement in schools and learning. I have a deep understanding of the rewards and challenges involved in Primary education and of the many facets of school improvement. Other members of my family are also involved in education, including roles as governors, a teacher, and grandchildren moving through the different tiers of the education system. Since retirement I have been able to travel more widely, and to pursue my creative hobbies of tapestry and cross-stitch.

After 10 years in the IT industry as a software engineer, I I spent most of my career with BP working across the oil, gas, chemicals and alternative energy divisions. I was involved in initiating, negotiating, establishing and leading new businesses, optimising and improving existing businesses and I lived and worked in China for over 10 years. I was a director and Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and a director and Vice Chair of the China Britain Business Council supporting British companies doing business in China. I was a school governor of Dulwich College Beijing which my children attended and am currently an Associate at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge supporting its Bridge initiative to strengthen the links between academia and industry. I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to Anglian Learning and support its mission to offer an outstanding education to all its students.

Schooled in Saffron Walden and Cambridge, I live in Cambridge and am a father of one teenage son. I work for a subsidiary of Standard Chartered Bank in the digital assets field. Before returning to England in 2020, I spent about 25 years working in investment banking based in Tokyo and Hong Kong. As a strong believer in lifelong learning, I am enrolled as a part-time Masters student of entrepreneurship at Cambridge University and in my spare time enjoy supporting Cambridge United football club.

I have been an NHS Consultant Psychiatrist, working locally for CPFT, for more than 20 years. I have considerable management experience at local, regional, and national levels in the health service and was Associate Medical Director at NHS East of England for several years and Acting Medical Director in 2012. I have also worked in medical education as Associate Postgraduate Dean for 8 years. Throughout my career I have always worked clinically as well as holding other posts in the health service. I have a longstanding interest in education at all levels and am married with three grown up sons.

I am the CEO of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), (RSC), a professional body and scientific publisher with over 500 staff based in Cambridge. During my career, I have led many of the RSC’s strategic functions including Education and Professional Practice, Science and Communities, Membership and RSC China. I am also Chair of the Science Council, a UK charity for the advancement of the Science profession, and chair of the Technicians’ Commitment Steering Board. Having completed a degree and PhD in Chemistry, I am a Chartered Chemist and a Chartered Scientist. Prior to becoming a Trustee of Anglian Learning, I was elected as a Parent Governor at Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport (JFAN) in 2012 and became Chair of the then single academy trust in 2016. I stepped down from this role when JFAN joined Anglian Learning on 1 January 2020. I am passionate about science and ensuring every child has an opportunity to reach their potential.

After gaining a degree in Physics with Computing I have worked in computer software development for more than 40 years, specialising in Information Security and Messaging. Since 2000 I have been Managing Director of Metanate Ltd, a Software consultancy based in Great Shelford. After becoming involved in education as parent helper when my daughters attended the local primary school I became a school governor at Sawston Village College, and whilst being Chair of the Governing Body I steered the school through Academy Conversion. I joined the Board of Anglian Learning when it formed in 2016.

I spent most of my working life in the city of London, initially working for a large fund management group and then 25 years ago I set up a wealth management business with another partner. Having developed the business it merged with another firm in 2003, and then the merged business was sold to a large city bank in 2007. At the time of sale the business employed 150 people and managed over £4.5 billion in assets. Having been with the business from the start to the size when sold in 2007, I have been involved in most areas of business management, including HR, financial controls and compliance. I decided to retire after the sale, and now manage my own property company. I also occasionally help out with a local Riding for the Disabled group. I have been Chair of Governors at Bassingbourn Village College. I led the successful conversion process to an Academy in 2011 and was involved in the successful bidding process and implementation for two large building projects at the college for a total of £1.5 million. I was also the child protection and SEN Governor. I am married and have two children at university.

I was fortunate to enjoy a wonderful education at school in London, before University at Southampton and then Cambridge where I completed a PhD in medieval history. My journey in education continued as I became a mother of three children, a governor of their primary school and a passionate history teacher.
I became Principal of Soham Village College in 2006, determined to bring high quality education and rich experiences to all young people, particularly those who were not otherwise advantaged. As an active member of Cambridgeshire Secondary Heads for many years, I chaired the Inclusion group and, as part of Cambridgeshire Children’s Trust, the multi-agency East Cambs and Fenland Area Partnership.
In 2012 I led the creation of a small multi academy trust in East Cambridgeshire. Kennett Primary School joined Soham Village College and, in September 2013, we opened The Shade Primary School in Soham. The Weatheralls Primary School joined the Staploe Education Trust in 2017 and since then I have led, as Executive Headteacher (CEO), a small Trust of four very different schools which share a common purpose in the service of our community.
Throughout my career I have worked and learned alongside some tremendous professionals. I am pleased to continue my journey as a trustee of Anglian Learning in support of the Trust’s ambitious vision for every learner in our schools.

I worked for three decades for Cambridge Education / Mott MacDonald, one one of the largest employee-owned companies in the UK. I started as an education planning adviser, spent ten years as a Team Leader on two major education projects in rural China and then, for the last 13 years, was Managing Director of Cambridge Education. In that role I was responsible for a staff of 270 working across 18 countries in Asia and Africa implementing multi-million-pound projects in partnership with national governments and donor organisations like FCDO and the World Bank.
I have work and management experience in more than 23 countries ranging from Nigeria to Pakistan to South Sudan and care deeply about creating education opportunity for all children. Strong leadership, clear vision and high-quality teaching delivers that opportunity. So, I am excited to join Anglian Learning as a Trustee and hope my varied experience can contribute to supporting all schools in the Trust to deliver the best education for their children.