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

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

I am a qualified Chartered Management Accountant with considerable experience in Engineering, Construction, Business Services, Pharmaceutical, Publishing, Manufacturing and FMCG sectors.   Having worked mainly in large FTSE100 companies early in my career, I moved 12 years ago to Finance Director roles in SMEs across a variety of industries.  In addition to my financial management expertise, I bring a wide range of other skills and experience, including regulatory compliance and strategic planning.  

I have lived in Hampshire for 15 years and have 2 late teenage children, both of whom attended Thornden.  I was first elected a parent governor at Thornden in 2013 and then community governor in 2016, serving on the Finance and Curriculum committee during this time, before recently moving into the Trustee role on the MAT Board.  I am also a Trustee and ex-Treasurer of the Age UK Southampton charity.  In January 2023 I became a Member for the Trust

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. 

As an energetic, customer centric business leader, I have experience of leading change, innovation and sustainability in a range of customer markets. I decided to become a trustee as I am incredibly passionate about what a strong foundation in education can bring to enriching the lives of young people.  I’m also incredibly excited about developing visions that support future growth and see an opportunity to bring those two things together here at the HISP MAT. With a career rooted in strategic development, communications and value creation, I intend to use my skills to enhance the Trust’s offering to its students and to academy communities, with effective steering and strong governance.

I am married, and a mother of two children, living in the heart of the glorious New Forest, which we all enjoy exploring by foot and bike. I am a keen gardener and enjoy painting in my spare time.

I began my professional life as a secondary school teacher in Reading, progressing to become a local authority education adviser, Ofsted inspector and finally an Education Adviser for the Department for Education, working across the Midlands and South East. After my retirement, I became a governor and then Co-Chair of the Isle of Wight Education Federation (IWEF), stepping down in November 2022.

The focus of my work has always been on school improvement to raise standards, create opportunities and reduce inequality in outcomes. I believe that the best way of achieving this is for schools to work together, sharing their expertise and ambitions, and I see the HISP MAT as a potentially outstanding vehicle for delivering this in schools across the region.

As a retired headteacher, I have been involved, and passionate about, education throughout my professional life.  I believe that all children are entitled to the same high-quality educational experiences to enable them to attain the best possible outcomes.

As a teacher in London, Portsmouth and Southampton, I was involved in many initiatives relating to the teaching of literacy, and I wrote a number of non-fiction titles, for children and teachers.

Since my retirement, I have been a governor in the Thornhill and Weston communities and was instrumental in the development of the Hinkler Academy Trust.  I am currently Chair of Governors of an outstanding primary special school.  I am also a Trustee of the Charity ‘Simon Says’ that works with bereaved children, and I volunteer at CAB.

I joined the Trust Board in September 2023 as a Parent Trustee, with a commitment to playing a strategic role in shaping the direction and policies aimed at advancing education opportunities for young people.

With over 20 years’ experience of Communications and Public Affairs within the intricately regulated Financial Services sector, I have steered teams in executing corporate strategy, facilitating change, and managing issues, all while prioritising impactful stakeholder engagement.  Additionally, I oversee the CEO office, including the governance of the senior executive team.

As a Trustee, I aim to foster collaboration, ensure accountability, and champion initiatives that enhance the education outcomes and well-being of pupils and teachers across the Trust. I’m passionate about leveraging my skills and experiences to make a positive impact on the successful development and long-term sustainability of current and future member 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.