Governance

During a public sector career spanning over 30 years, I held a variety of substantive senior executive and operational posts within the NHS, Department of Health and Higher Education. Operating at board level, I was responsible for the delivery of complex high-profile infrastructure projects and major business change programmes.

Since retiring from full-time employment, I have spent the last 15 years running her own independent management consultancy. Over this period, I became an accredited government assurance reviewer working through the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury. In this role, I led over 50 major reviews of high-risk/high-cost programmes within a range of government departments across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Before moving to Wadhurst in 2015, I lived in Suffolk where I was Chair of Governors at the local primary school. During this time, with the support of parents and governors, I oversaw the school’s voluntary and successful transition to academy status.

I now spend my time on voluntary activities within the local community, working with Carillon Cottage, the Commemoration Hall and Wadhurst u3a. I enjoy life with my young grandchildren and I am also an enthusiastic member of Uplands Sports Centre.

I am a Senior Lecturer teaching undergraduate law and postgraduate vocational legal practice training (LLB, MA, PGCHE, SFHEA). I am also an Academic Professional Development Fellow and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I am a qualified barrister and solicitor who worked in the area of civil litigation before moving to my academic role. I am also Chair of the Governing Body of a Tunbridge Wells primary school and in this role, I have experience of SEN and Safeguarding.

I am an education professional and have worked in the sector for over 30 years. I was a Preschool/Primary teacher for the majority of this time working in schools both in the UK and abroad (UK schools in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands). My management roles included Head of PE, Head of Literacy, SENCO and member of the SLT.

Latterly, I have worked as a Consultant with the British Council in Colombia, South America, giving support on Bilingualism, Preschool and the implementation of the Cambridge Assessment International Curriculum and IGCSEs and IA Levels. 

I relocated from Hove to Tunbridge Wells in 2020 to support my family and grandchildren and have lived in Wadhurst for the past 3 years. In this role I support Literacy for the LGC.

Now retired, I spent 30 years as a lawyer. I specialised in public law relating to children and adults with special needs. I have lived in Wadhurst for the past 15 years and served the Parish Church as council member, Safeguarding Lead, and until May 2024 as Church Warden. My leisure interests are European travel and allotmenting.

I have long admired the work of school governors and I believe the role of parent governors in particular is vital to bridge the gap between governance and the families who make up the school community. I was a long standing PTA member at my son's primary school as well as taking on group scout leader for 2 years.

My working background as an investigator with extensive safeguarding training and an understanding of child protection is of significant benefit to the LGC and as such I am the safeguarding link governor.

I have worked in education for more than 15 years, of which the last five have been at Uplands as Head of History. Prior to this, I worked in Tonbridge and in Maidstone. I have always worked in the comprehensive sector and I am passionate about high quality, accessible and diverse education for all students. I also run the Uplands Pride group, which supports LGBT+ students and their families.

I live locally and have a young son who inspired me to get more involved in the school to support and encourage learners to be passionate about their learning and their potential.

I have worked in education for over 25 years and I am passionate about supporting children's learning and helping young people to fulfil their dreams. I was a Looked After Child (LAC) for all of my childhood but found that education was the key, gaining an undergraduate diploma in professional education from the University of Sussex and a joint honours degree in education and environmental biology.

My granddaughter attended Uplands Academy and excelled within the school's nurturing environment.

I have worked for over 10 years in the HEI sector, specialising in research finance and project management and am currently supporting academic staff at Imperial College London within the Faculty of Medicine.

I love my job and witnessing the enduring, positive impact the research has on people’s lives is enormously rewarding. To play a small part in that process is a privilege and I hope to contribute similarly towards Uplands and its drive towards excellence for all its students.

I live in a local village with my husband and 2 children, one of whom attends Uplands Academy. We love being outside, either dog walking in our beautiful countryside or attempting to tame our unruly garden.