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Meet Our Trustees and Members
Trustees are bound by both charity and company law.
Trustees are responsible for the general control and management of the trust, and in accordance with the provisions set out in the trust’s memorandum and articles of association, and its funding agreement; they are legally accountable for all statutory functions and for the performance of all the schools within the trust.
The board of trustees approves both a written scheme of financial delegation and this scheme of delegation, along with committee terms of reference.
The trust creates information pathways between the trust board, the local governing committees and the senior executive leader so that the LGCs can share with them any concerns (or celebrations) they may have.
I have been involved in school and trust governance for over 20 years. I have chaired school governing bodies and local governing bodies and have been a trustee of a number of different organisations. I have also chaired the local authority’s schools forum, and sit on admission appeal panels and independent review panels.
My knowledge and experience has been enhanced by working for the NGA where over 10 years I built the training and consultancy service, leading and managing a team of consultants who provide specialist, bespoke support and development to all types of boards.
Prior to taking a career break I worked for Marks and Spencer and the civil service, and whilst focusing on raising my four children (all of whom went to local West Sussex schools), I worked for an independent bookseller, probably the best job in the world for someone for whom reading is a central part of their life.
I am committed to ensuring that the MARK Education Trust realises its ambition to provide the best possible education for all its students locally, nationally and globally.
Having been lucky enough to benefit from an excellent education myself I was the first person in my family to attend University and I gained a degree in Maths and Philosophy at Exeter. I then undertook my PGCE at King’s College, London and I have taught maths for the past 36 years in schools in London. I have also been involved in Senior Leadership for over 20 years, including 5 years as a Head. In my final role, my school was a founder member of a small MAT (initially 2 and then 3 schools) and I was involved in planning and implementing that development. I also oversaw all operational aspects of the school, including site, IT, HR, Health and Safety and Risk alongside line management of 2 Core department areas. Throughout all of my various SLT roles, including Headship, I continued to teach and have always enjoyed being in the classroom and ensuring that effective pedagogy remains at the heart of all decision making.
I retired in August 2022 and relocated to East Sussex. I am currently working as a volunteer for the Cinnamon Trust (walking dogs for elderly or ill people) and the Guide Dogs, playing tennis and exploring my new surroundings alongside Gertie the cockapoo!
I am looking forward to joining the MARK Education Trust and helping to contribute to the continued success of all its students.
I am a chartered accountant and specialise in providing corporate finance advice to a variety of institutions, focusing on financial services (banks, insurance and investment management). I have lived in Crowborough since 2000 and am married with 2 children (boy aged 10 and girl aged 8). I came to the UK with my family in 1974 as a refugee from Uganda, initially living in the East End of London where I attended primary school. I went to a comprehensive school in Enfield, North London and then obtained a 1st class degree in Mathematics at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. I have advised many institutions in my professional career (ranging from SMEs to multinationals and also including charities and not for profit organisations) and have worked across the globe, including living in New York for 2 years. I have previously advised a London based Montessori on its strategic plans and also spent 6 months at the Employers Forum for Disability advising them on using the 2012 Olympic Games as a springboard for greater inclusion of people with disabilities (mental and physical) within the workplace.
I was previously appointed as a governor at a local primary school and am keen to continue in a similar role locally and to contribute in some way to the wider community in Crowborough. I have a keen interest in promoting greater social mobility, especially given my own life experiences.
I joined the Board of Trustees in March 2018. I was born and educated in Scotland, I studied for a BSc in maths at Strathclyde University in Glasgow then took a PGCE. I taught maths in Scotland for nine years before moving to Australia. On returning to the UK, I moved to Crowborough in 1989. I became parent governor and chair of St John’s C E Primary where my children attended. I also became chair of the Crowborough Governors’ council and attended the East Sussex Governors’ committee where I represented the views of Crowborough district schools.
I have been involved with the charity Cancer Research UK for over twenty years and I am chair of a local fund-raising committee. This has provided an opportunity to make contacts with businesses and councillors in the local area. In 2000 I joined the staff of Beacon maths department, where I taught mostly sixth form on a part-time basis. Over these years I have seen Beacon develop into an excellent school for the local community. I am keen to further develop the aspirations of students of all abilities. I retired in 2017 and now enjoy having time for my interests including sailing and gardening.
I have lived in Piltdown, Sussex for over 25 years with my wife Harriet having been born and brought up in London. I studied Geography and Land Economy at Cambridge University and went on to become a qualified Chartered Surveyor. Since qualifying I have worked in London as a commercial property valuer valuing large commercial properties such as shopping centres and office buildings both in the UK and across Europe. I have held various managerial positions in my career including Chair of two work based pension funds and latterly was Head of EMEA Valuation and advisory Services for CBRE, which is an international property advisory company. I retired in September 2017.
I have three grown up children and enjoy travelling, gardening and hill walking especially in places like the Lake District. I am also the Chair of Trustees at Chailey Heritage Foundation. Chailey provides for the education and care of people who have physical disabilities and other complex health needs, particularly but not exclusively children and young persons. I became a trustee at Beacon in July 2018.
I work as a Chief Technical Officer at a medical devices company. I have worked on R&D projects mainly related to medical image processing for 25 plus years. I studied Electronic and Information Engineering, BEng Hons (1st), hold a PhD and MBA. I am a Certified Information Security Manager and Certified Information Systems Auditor, and a Fellow of the IET. As well as having been exposed to both the academic side of research most of my positions have been commercially orientated. I have completed various other training courses in line with my hobbies including those in sailing and bee keeping. Without a doubt, well-structured and well taught courses presented by enthusiastic teachers are ones I enjoyed and learnt the most from.
I have recently joined the Board of Trustees. I am a professional negligence lawyer, previously working for 8 years in the Professional and Financial Disputes Team at Clyde & Co, before moving to my current role in 2019 as an in-house lawyer within the Quality, Risk and Security Department at Deloitte LLP dealing with complaints, claims and regulatory matters against the firm and its individuals. I moved to Royal Tunbridge Wells in 2020 with my husband, and we recently welcomed a daughter who is now 18 months old. I’m originally from Bradford, in West Yorkshire, however moved away from home 18 years ago to attend the University of East Anglia where I read for my degree in Law with American Law (which also gave me the opportunity to live abroad in the US, in Alabama, for a year). I am also qualified to practice law in the State of New York, and recently gained an accreditation in Data Privacy through my role at Deloitte. I’m also the co-lead singer of a cover band, and can sometimes be found performing top hits from Tina Turner to Coldplay in the 100 Club on Oxford Street in my spare time. I was very fortunate to attend what was then Dixons City Technology College (now Academy), an urban, all ability, school specialising in science, technology and mathematics, and performing arts, and am passionate about ensuring our future generations have the same opportunities to excel in education that I was once given.
I studied a 1st degree in Earth Sciences at Plymouth University and then spent 15 years working at the Environment Agency. I soon progressed into a leadership role, establishing a new team responsible for environmental regulation across Sussex, Hampshire, and Kent. I then moved into a more strategic role on the national leadership team, responsible for 4 different national teams. It was at this point that I started to get curious about what it is that makes teams work well together and collaborate. I have a passion that people are empowered to perform to their full potential and be the best version of themselves.
I left the Environment Agency in 2014 and completed Post Grad Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy to enable me to work in a safe way and at a deep level with teams in organisations. I established a consulting business working across the private, public and charity sector in learning and organisational development.
In 2021 I joined Ofcom as a Talent Manager, where I am currently working on the talent strategy, employee engagement and progression. I am also a qualified Strengths Coach. I am a father of two boys, aged 13 and 18, both of whom are studying at Beacon Academy and I have a daughter who is teaching in Kent.
I am passionate about education and how important this is as a foundation for children’s future lives. When I was at school, I had one particular teacher who not only inspired me, but saw me as an individual and this had a real impact on the direction of my life. I am pleased to say that I have seen this individual tailored approach at Beacon with my own children and I am looking forward to being able to support this going forward as a trustee.
I joined the Board of Trustees in October 2022.
Following completion of my degree in Production Engineering & Management at Loughborough University in the mid-70s which included industrial periods at Mollart Engineering, Hawker Siddeley Aviation and Reed Building Products, I qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. London before spending two years with PMM&Co. in Sydney where I became involved in the Administration of insolvent companies. On my return to PMM&Co. London, I worked for further three years in insolvency until 1985. Between 1985 and 1998, I acted as Chief Financial Officer at several companies involved in media, facilities and animation [Medi Cine], furniture manufacture [Minty], property [Creston] and visual aids [NOBO].
Between 1998 and 2015, I was the CFO of Argent, a specialist in inner city regeneration which was responsible for Brindley place in central Birmingham, three schemes in the central Piccadilly area in Manchester and, most notably, King’s Cross Central in London. Argent also owned half share of the UK’s then largest open cast coal mine near Merthyr Tydfil. Inter alia, my roles encompassed governance, reporting, dealing with a range of stakeholders and negotiating wholesale debt. I retired from working full time at the end of 2015 and then acted as a non-executive director and chaired the audit committees of fully listed Tritax Big Box, Empiric Student Property, Alternative Income REIT and The PRS REIT.
I (mis?)spent my youth rowing at school and sailing extreme dinghies and I now race a Quarter Tonner. More recently, I undertook long Charity bike rides and I have rekindled my enthusiasm for the internal combustion engine, whilst also investing modestly in renewable energy.
I am married to Deirdre and we now live in Lewes. We have three grown up children and, currently, four grandchildren.
I have worked in education for over thirty years. I graduated from Wimbledon School of Art in the 1980s before going on to a career in secondary education, initial teacher education and, since 2004, as one of His Majesty's Inspectors of education (HMI) at Ofsted. I retired from that role in 2023 but during my time as an HMI I carried out a wide range of inspection work, including monitoring schools causing concern. Over my time there I was promoted to the role of Senior HMI, leading a team of inspectors, and in the last five years was Assistant Regional Director for the south-east of England. In this role I was responsible for the operational delivery of all inspections in the Early Years, Schools, Post-16 and Social care sectors.
I have lived in Lewes since 1990 and my children were born and educated locally, considering themselves 'Lewesians'; still returning to the town in November to march with their bonfire societies! I benefitted from a great education as did my children. All kids have their moments of course but I am deeply committed to ensuring all our Sussex children get the very best start in life through a system which comprehensively supports and challenges them.
My interests outside of work are in my creative practice, alongside motorcycling and sailing.
I have been a teacher and headteacher in a range of schools in the UK, driving school improvement and improvements to learning outcomes and attendance, recognised by the DFE. I leveraged this experience working as Director of Education for Reach to Teach, a UK based education charity, designing and delivering teaching and leadership programmes across three hundred schools supporting vulnerable communities in remote rural regions in Gujarat. These programmes were adopted by regional and district education ministries.
In the last three years I have worked as Lead Advisor at Education Development Trust. My work in school and system improvement, at scale, has included partnerships with schools and policy makers in the UK, Asia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone and Qatar. As part of this role I designed, contributed to and published research on improving the quality of teaching, learning and education leadership at scale.
The members of the trust are guardians of the governance of the trust and ensure that it carries out its charitable purpose.
There must be at least three members, although the trust aims to have at least five; members are not permitted to be employees of the academy trust and ideally not also trustees.
The members agree the trust’s articles of association, appoint trustees and appoint the trust’s external auditors.
The members receive information about the trust’s business and meet at least annually to receive the annual report and accounts. If they have concerns that the trust is not carrying out its charitable purpose, members may remove trustees that are failing to fulfil this responsibility.
My wife and I have lived in Sussex for the past twenty five years, prior to which we were in London, Africa and America. After doing a degree in agricultural economics, I became a chartered accountant and then spent twenty years working in industry here and overseas. In 2002 I started a business consultancy firm that advises a wide range of clients and have sat on the boards of various public and private companies. My ambition at Beacon is to do all I can to help Anna Robinson and her team take the school from strength to strength and make Beacon a place of which students, staff, alumni and the wider community feel proud.
Outside of work, and of following the careers of my wife and three sons, I enjoy playing sport and doing creative projects. I became a trustee in April 2012 and served as the chair of trustees for 7 years. Although I have now stepped down from the board, I am delighted to retain my link with Beacon as an Academy Member.
I previously served as a Governor at Beacon from 2005 to 2010. During this time, we won a County award for our vision and strategy to become the school of first choice in the area. Some years on, I’m delighted to re-join in the capacity of an Academy Member.
My family has lived in Crowborough for almost 20 years, my wife works in a local primary school and both my children attended Beacon.
Having served a good number of years in the John Lewis Partnership (Group HR, an independent critical role, Project Change Lead) I am presently working as a freelance coach, leadership trainer, workshop facilitator and employee engagement specialist. Much of my focus and passion is around inspiring leaders, teams and individuals to align their behaviours with organisational vision and values; It’s amazing what can be achieved when we have a collective sense of purpose and shared responsibility for delivering outcomes!
I’m a chartered member of the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development, a certified NLP practitioner (how language and thinking affects behaviour), I hold a degree level coaching qualification and am a trained mediator in conflict resolution.
In my spare time I facilitate on a victim awareness and restorative justice programme with offenders in Lewes Prison (seeking to prevent reoffending) and mediate in neighbourhood and family conflict for a local charity. Any remaining time (!) is divided between riding my motorbike, wandering our fabulous forest, making odd noises on the guitar….and (still) dreaming of playing for Liverpool FC.
I have worked in the field of education for over 40 years, beginning my career in Hertfordshire (where I was born) before moving to Kent, living first in Canterbury and now near Tunbridge Wells. I am proud to have been one of the country’s first National Leaders of Education in 2006. Until my ‘first’ retirement in December 2015, I was CEO of a small secondary multi academy trust.
Having undertaken consultancy work in education since 2015, I retired for the second time in 2020. I continue to take a keen interest in education am enjoying being a governor of two schools, one in East Sussex and one in Kent. From April 2020 to August 2022, I was Chair of Governors at Uplands Community College and oversaw the school’s journey to becoming an academy and joining MARK Education Trust. I am delighted to be a Member of the Board and to continue my relationship with both schools in this way.
I am married and have two children, both married, and one grandson. In my spare time, I enjoy walking, foreign travel and spending time with my family.
I joined the Board of Trustees in September 2017, having previously been an associate trustee, whilst employed by East Sussex County Council, throughout 2016-2017. I am now largely retired following a long career in education. I graduated with a BA in Modern Languages and went on to undertake a MA in Education. I started my career in Inner London, before moving to Kent and subsequently to East Sussex in 2004. I was a headteacher for 17 years, leading one school in Kent before moving to East Sussex. I was a National Leader of Education and have been seconded to schools in challenging circumstances twice as well as carrying out school improvement work for the Local Authorities in both Kent and East Sussex.
My other interests are principally based around sport but more now as a spectator rather than as a participant. My aim is to play an active role as a trustee providing both support and challenge to leaders as well as helping the school achieve its ambitions in any way I can.