Our Governance

Chair of the Board

I joined the Oak Learning Trust as Chair at inception until February 2018 and returned as Chair in January 2022.  

I qualified as a chartered accountant on 1^st May 1988 working for the City of London firm Dixon Wilson. I then moved up to Newcastle and opened a Newcastle office for my fathers South Shields based firm Thoburn & Charlton. In 1991 we acquired the firm of Chapman & Partners and became Thoburn & Chapman. I continued as Managing Partner/Director of that business for the next 27 years. In 2018 I became a Consultant to Your Digital Accountant Ltd. I specialise in advising owner managed businesses and Charities in how to run their affairs more effectively and efficiently. In addition, I was a registered auditor from 1990 until 2018 and I am a Partner in Short Daisies LLP which is a marketing company specialising in financial products.  

I was the longest serving director of Jarrow 700 AD Limited which was a North East Charity that operated the site of Bedes World at Jarrow. Bedes World had an award winning educational program for school children as well as being a visitor attraction comprising a Museum, Saxon village and farm and a café. I joined the Board as the Finance Director in 1993 to oversee a £6m investment in the site by the Tyne & Wear Development Corporation and others. The site was developed on time and on budget. I remained on the Board until 2013 serving a short period as Chair. 

From 2013 - 2018 I was Joint Chief Exec at G & H Security for which was a research company based around dog security.  I have also been a Trustee of Friends of the World of Bede from 2015 – 2018 which is a local charity based around the Bedes World Site.

Chief Executive Officer

I am married to a New Zealander and have two children and two very bouncy dogs. I enjoy being in the outdoors so spend my much free time walking the beaches, hills and woodlands of Northumberland and Durham. I also enjoy my husband’s excellent cooking and sitting in front of the fire, indoors or out, reading.

Before moving into education I had a career as a research scientist and my PhD is in the field of immunopharmacology. Although I very much enjoyed the learning life as a bench scientist was not for me and I moved into primary education in 2001 training to be a teacher via an in school in a Beacon School in Newcastle.The philosophy, ethos and passion for education that I observed and learned from in that school shaped my vision and drive to always provide the best possible fun and engaging education for all children.

I have worked in a number of schools in different local authorities during my teaching career and in each one have learned from excellent colleagues and wonderful children. I began my journey in headship in a fabulous small school in Gateshead where a collegiate atmosphere between the heads in other local schools helped me do the best for the staff and children in my own. This collegiality is one of the things that convinced me of the potential that exists in multi academy trusts where schools can remain individual while benefitting from close collegiate working and sharing of good practice (and tricky situations). I joined George Washington Primary School in 2013 and led the school from being one of the poorest performing schools to one of the top performing schools in Sunderland LA in 2016 (and 2017).

I am delighted to have worked with the Governors of George Washington and John F Kennedy primary school to establish Oak Learning Trust and believe the combination of skilled and committed Trustees and outstanding teachers, staff and leaders will make the Trust an excellent place for any child to be educated.

Vice Chair of the Board

I have two grown up daughters both married and living in the North East and have been involved with school governance for thirty years, firstly as a governor at my daughters’ school then as a governor through my ministry, as well as a support person for what was then children going through the Special Education Needs process.

My previous employment before becoming a Priest was as an Education Social Worker, working in some of the most deprived areas of Stockton, I was also responsible for supporting children seeking asylum to integrate into school have been the Rector of Usworth for three years and have been actively involved in building positive relationships within the community I regularly host services in church for the school and go into school to give talks on RE related subjects.

I am a Middlesbrough FC fan and love music and play several musical instruments badly, I love travel and spending time with my family and friends.

I have always had a deep commitment to ensuring children become the best well rounded individuals they can be and I am looking forward to helping develop the Trust which I believe delivers truly exceptional and well rounded education for all children. I care passionately that every child matters and should have a positive environment in which to grow and learn and become the best they can be. The trust offers this to each child and with my previous experience and in my current position I share the vision of the Trust working alongside an exceptional teaching staff, a strong Executive team, a strong Board of Trustees and governors. I believe we will deliver this vision and provide the children and families we serve with an outstanding level of education and opportunities so that each child can become confident well rounded individuals.

Trustee

I am a certified chartered accountant and am married and have one son who is also a Chartered Certified Accountant. Both my son and I attended John F Kennedy Primary School. Currently I am actively involved with two local charities carrying out treasurer duties for one of them.

My 40 year career has been spent working in senior financial positions in industry and commerce as well as being a member of the senior management team in the various organisations. The turnover of the companies concerned ranged from £5 million to £17 million. Before retiring from full time employment, my last job was Finance Manager at North East Autism Society, a large charity who provide education and care for children and adults with Autism. During my time there I contributed to the Society’s revival and subsequent growth.

As past Chair of Governors at John F Kennedy Primary School for 25 years I appreciated seeing the children progress and enjoy a positive ethos during their school life. In addition I got great satisfaction from being involved in the schools continuing success and ensuring it maintained a healthy financial position. During my term of office I gained a good understanding of school governance through practical experience and by attending numerous training courses provided by the Local Education Authority for governors on school /education matters as well as being a member of Sunderland Governors Association.

I am keen to utilise my past experience in order to contribute to the development of the trusts objective to create an excellent learning and teaching environment which will allow every child to realise their full potential.

Trustee

I am married with two grown children, one mad black Labrador,and am awaiting grandchildren to lighten my ‘Victor Meldrew’ moments. I am Cabinet member for Health, Housing and Adult Social care on Sunderland Council and have been a Washington Councillor for 12 years, six of them as Cabinet member. I love my football, rugby, walking the dog, going on holiday with my wife and good times with friends and family.

I thrive on change and challenge and have extensive HR experience from running large departments to my own business and a charity over time. I know money and finance, I understand a balance sheet and that cash is king.

I grew up in Leith, Edinburgh’s port in the 60’s and 70’s when it was a very rough and different area to the lovely location it is now. My parents drove my sister and I to get good educations to enable us to get away from Leith and have a better more fruitful life with greater possibilities than they had, I thank them every day for that focus and love. I want every child regardless of circumstance to be afforded the best education available to them, and our MAT is going to do that for Washington children. That is a legacy worth putting some time and effort into.

Trustee

I am a parent of two girls, age 25 and 16.I have over 30 years experience as a Speech and Language Therapist, completing my career as Head of a local Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Dept. As part of this role I worked at times, within schools, advising staff about how best to support the children. As head of the service, I was pro-active in developing best practice in working with children, parents, and professionals. I maintained a hands-on role with the children throughout my career, as well as working at a managerial level.

I have been on the local governing body of JFK Primary for about 18 years. For many of these years, I was SEN link governor. However, for the last 2 years, I have been EYFS link
governor, enjoying the challenge of increasing my knowledge in this area. Alongside this, I volunteered in nursery for a morning each week for two years. I have embraced retirement, and the freedom it has given me to develop my interests. I volunteer with ‘Guide Dogs’, being a sighted guide for a lady with sight loss, taking her to places she would not get to without my support. I love walking, and regularly walk with local ramblers’ groups. I also enjoy swimming, tap dancing.

Although I have retired from my profession, I am keen to keep my brain active, and feel that being part of the Learning Trust is contributing to this goal! I have enjoyed being an active member of the local governing body of JFK Primary, getting satisfaction from knowing I have contributed to the school moving forward. I wish to continue to use my skills to ensure that the two schools (and any others that join the MAT in the future), give the best education and support for all the children.

I feel that I bring a different angle of expertise to the trust board – that of a knowledgeable professional from outside Education, looking in. My experience and knowledge of services and systems outside Education, helps challenge the schools to ensure they are accessing all avenues of support for those children who may not progress as easily as their peers.

Trustee

I am a Marketing & Communications Manager with strategy, brand and budget experience.  I began my career working in regional corporate communications for a FTSE 250 recruitment firm before undertaking a European marketing role for a global consumer products company.

Having worked voluntarily launching marketing communication strategies for a number of small charities across the UK, I was finalist for Marketer of the Year in the North East Marketing Awards 2019.  Having competed in ice skating when I was younger, I still maintain an interest in the sport and also contribute as a guest blogger for the NE Times Magazine.

Trustee

I live in Newcastle and am married to Jill. My two boys have now fled the nest and are carving their own careers.  My daughter Izzy has partially fled and is at University.

I am a solicitor, but have had a slightly unconventional journey to that position.  I was initially employed in various motor trade roles in Manchester and London. I returned home to the North East and  joined motor trade group Pattersons the Ford Dealers, which had a turnover of £110M pa. In my latter years with Pattersons I was appointed a director.

After a career of 15 years in the motor trade, I decided to pursue a new career in law and attended the University of Northumbria, followed by the Inns of Court School of Law in London. I was called to the bar as a Barrister in October 1997. I converted to become a solicitor in April 2000. The majority of my practice with North East Law firms has been in property litigation, and general commercial litigation. I am currently self-employed and would describe myself as semi-retired, but alert to new opportunities.

I was previously a member of both the Audit Committee, and the Standards Committee of the former Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority. I was Chief Executive of the cancer charity Daft as a Brush. I worked as a volunteer with The Rock Project and through that project taught rock guitar at West Jesmond Primary School in Newcastle.  I am planning to add to my collection of 13 guitars but Jill has other ideas.

Trustee