Appointed by original (signatory) members from 02/01/2020

Appointed by original (signatory) members from 02/01/2020

Appointed by members on 13/05/2024

Appointed by Members on 23.3.2026

I am a former journalist, editor and senior manager at BBC News, now working as an executive coach, mediator and leadership consultant.  I am also a media industry expert in mental health and trauma and was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours in 2020 for services to mental health and journalism. 

At the BBC, I developed a lot of experience of leading teams, working collaboratively and inclusively, developing talent and implementing change.  In 2014, alongside my BBC career, I joined Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in Islington, London, first as a Governor and then, from 2016, as Chair of Governors. Over the next three years, I led EGA into a federation with 3 other schools in Islington to create Islington Futures Federation.   This change was based on an understanding that schools are stronger when they work together and, together, in partnership, they can offer the best life changes and outcomes for all the young people in the schools. 

I now live in Lymington and I am looking forward to bringing my professional and volunteer experience to the HISP MAT and to supporting its exciting vision for its schools.    

I am originally a research scientist, but subsequently retrained as a secondary school science teacher, teaching at schools in Southampton and Hampshire. Since 2009, I have been at the University of Southampton, in the Southampton Education School, leading a programme called ‘LifeLab’. One of the main aims of LifeLab is to engage children and teenagers with understanding the science behind the health messages, giving them the opportunities to understand why the choices they make at a young age can impact their future health. I am also a passionate advocate for opening up the world of science to school students, giving them opportunities to learn about the wide range of possibilities for using science in their future careers.

Previously, I was a parent governor at a local infant school, and am currently a co-opted governor at a Junior School in Southampton and will bring this experience, along with my experience of working across the education communities in Southampton, Portsmouth and Hampshire to this role as parent trustee to support HISP MAT in providing the best possible educational experience for it’s children and young people.

Appointed on 23.3.2026

Appointed on 23.3.2026

I joined the Trust Board in November 2020, and I am chair of the Audit & Risk Committee. I am a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience leading Finance and Risk Management teams across the Banking and Energy sectors. I am passionate about leveraging this experience to support the Trust in achieving its objectives, to the benefit of current and future pupils. 

I’m an authentic leader with a strong background in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) and change management gained with BT Group and more recently, at one of Britain’s best loved charities, Macmillan Cancer Support.  Both roles have been a fantastic opportunity for me to gain a deeper understanding of the intersectional EDI arena in different sectors. I lead with warmth and integrity, to empower teams to think about diversity, promote inclusion and to create sustainable solutions in psychologically safe environments, to achieve cultural change and belonging.

My skills are transferable and I’m really looking forward to utilising them to ensure that we’re set up for success and equipping all colleagues and students with the tools and techniques they need to thrive whilst also ensuring that HISP MAT is representative of the communities we serve.   

I’ve previously held several roles as part of the Governing body at The Hamble School from November 2009 – September 2018;

Parent Governor 2009 – 2015

Vice Chair of Governor 2014 - 2018

Chair of Learning and Achievement Committee 2011 – 2018

I live in Netley Abbey with my husband, my two children (aged 28 and 25) and our two dogs. I’m really looking forward to leveraging my lived experience to benefit HISP MAT and further support realisation of its vision.

Appointed on 23.3.2026

Appointed on 14.6.2026