Meet Our Trustees and Members

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 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 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.

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.