I am delighted to have been invited to become a Trustee in Cirrus Trust. I have recently retired after over forty years in education in a variety of roles. I was a teacher, starting my career in Surrey before becoming a Deputy Head in Berkshire for three years. I then returned to Surrey as the Headteacher of a middle/junior school where I spent ten very enjoyable years growing the school until it was one of the largest in Guildford diocese. I then joined Surrey’s advisory service as County Consultant for Primary Education before becoming Senior Consultant for Schools which encompassed schools for children of all ages. In 2004 I was appointed to Sutton Local Authority as Chief Inspector and Head of School Improvement; later becoming the Chief Officer for Education in the borough and had a spell as Interim Strategic Director of Children’s Services. Taking early retirement in 2012 I started my retirement mission and joined Guildford Diocese Education as Director of School Effectiveness for all schools and Chief Executive of The Good Shepherd Trust (the diocesan multi-academy trust). As founding Chief Executive I had the great privilege of seeing the growth of the trust from one school in 2013 to 10 schools on my retirement in March 2017. I was an Ofsted inspector and registered inspector for Anglican schools.

Date of appointment: 31/03/2020 appointed by trustees

Charlie Cassell is Head of Strategic Planning at The Royal British Legion. She is responsible for running the private office for the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and National President as well as overseeing the development of the organisation’s strategy. Prior to joining The Royal British Legion, Charlie was Director of Operations for a small healthcare consultancy. In the past Charlie has held executive director roles across the healthcare sector, most notably as Executive Director for Governance and Board Secretary for a greenfield hospital site in the Qatar. Charlie has extensive experience in the public and private sector, particularly management consultancy and healthcare. She has established and played an advisory role in implementing several healthcare strategies in the Middle East. She has worked for Ara Darzi Qatar, Deloitte Middle East, and the Department of Health in the UK. Charlie has a Bachelor of Science in Archaeological Sciences and Environmental Sciences from the University of East London and is a member of the Institute of Leadership and Management. Charlie is married with two cats, has recently taken up running and an avid Rugby Union fan. Term of Office. 09/07/2019 - 08/07/2023

Date of appointment: 09/07/2019 appointed by trustees

Alexandra was a Director for SS&C GlobeOp, leading a global department handling middle office processing of complex investment portfolios for institutions and alternative funds. She has specialist experience with OTC derivative processing. Alexandra is a Solicitor by qualifications with a Joint Honours degree in Law and Economics from Cardiff University with circa 20 years experience in the financial markets. Term of Office. 09/07/2019 - 08/07/2023

Date of appointment: 09/07/2019 appointed by trustees

Kapil Lodha is Vice President and Head of Function at a global enterprise with nearly two decades of experience aligned to Banking Financial Services (BFS) industry. His expertise include strategic business growth, digital transformation, GRC (governance, risk/regulatory and control), finance operations, sustainable performance, technology road-map and change management. As a senior leader, Kapil has strong focus on ethos, governance, accountability, stakeholder relationships, financial management and problem solving. Settled in the UK with family, he is an industry speaker, thought leader, guest lecturer at university & college, poetry writer, badminton player and NHS UK fundraiser during Covid-19.

I have recently retired following an extensive career in education. As a qualified teacher I have held a number of senior leadership roles in both mainstream and special schools, including as an associate headteacher. I was then a senior education officer in East Sussex County Council, leading on school improvement. I became a Lead Ofsted inspector for five years, inspecting primary, secondary and special schools in the South East. My most recent post was as a member of the Executive team of The University of Brighton Academies Trust, a large and successful Trust with 15 primary and secondary academies. My specialist expertise is in leadership, school improvement and special education.

Andrew has recently stepped down to a part-time consultancy after 33 years as a partner with CMS a major City law firm, where at various stages during his career he led the global banking and finance group and the infrastructure and project finance team. He was also a board member and chair of the audit and risk committee until last year and has subsequently been appointed as the audit and risk committee’s external member. In addition Andrew has held posts with the Amateur Swimming Association’s Water Polo Committee and been a member of one of the committees of the Major Projects Association.

Wendy was a Sutton Councillor from 2010-18 where roles included Lead Councillor for Children, Families & Education. Wendy, now retired, practised as a solicitor for 12 years handling litigation, family & child protection, and education law, before taking on several voluntary sector roles to fit around family caring prior to election to the council. These included 8 years as a governor at Avenue Primary School 2000-2008; advising parents on a national special needs charity help-line; non- executive board membership of Sutton Housing Partnership, and of the former local Health Authority. Wendy has lived in Sutton since 1996.

Date of appointment: 16/12/2019

Rumu has a professional Arts background and worked in theatre and television as a director and producer for fifteen years. During this period, she was Joint Artistic Director of the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. She worked at the BBC directing and producing television programmes. Rumu currently works as a civil servant.

Date of appointment: 16/05/2015

Ian is the Global Head of Intellectual Property Underwriting at Aon, a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health solutions, with over 50,000 colleagues in 120 countries. He has been involved with the trust from its creation as a Member since June 2015. He was the Chair of Trustees from June 2015 to June 2019 before stepping down due to work commitments.

Date of appointment: 16/05/2015

Andrew has worked in the finance industry for over 45 years and specialises in the fields of compliance and claims.

He has been a school governor since 1984 and has experience across both primary and secondary phases in several Local Authorities and a MAT. He is a former Chair of the London Borough of Sutton’s Education Committee and currently serves thereon as a Diocesan Representative.

He is Chair of Sutton’s Governors Forum and also serves on all types of educational appeals tribunals for schools across South London and Kent.

Andrew also chairs the Boards of several charities including his local Community Transport Association and Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

During her professional life, Angela was the Practice Manager of a local GP surgery and obtained a degree in Public Policy. She served as a Councillor in Carshalton Central for 12 years and was a lead Councillor in Sutton with a remit for Children’s Services, Early Years and Primary Education.

She has now retired, but as a governor in the borough for over 20 years, she has a good current knowledge of Education and schools from Early years through to Key Stage 2 and 3, Ofsted expectations and the current challenges facing schools. In addition, she has a very detailed understanding of safeguarding in school settings and undertakes regular reviews in this area.

Her broad experience means that she is well placed to have insight into and oversight of the Trust, its structures, governance and lines of accountability. She continues to have an active role in the local community and has supported community groups, for example Friends of The Ecology Centre; she also set up a resident’s association and is an active member of local history groups.

She is passionate about her local community and about education.

Date of appointment 16/05/2015
Date of resignation 31/10/2019

Date of appointment 26/03/2018
Date of resignation 07/10/2019

Date of initial appointment 16/05/2015
Date of renewal of term 16/06/2019
Date of resignation 14/07/2020

Carole is a National Leader of Governance and has supported and successfully led governing bodies through amalgamation, federation, OFSTED, looking at MAT options and Head Teacher Recruitment processes. Carole is the managing director of a National Training Provider with a government contract to deliver apprenticeship and other post 16 and adult training. She is a trainer for senior managers in a wide variety of businesses, from small local companies to multi nationals. This includes operational and strategic management, coaching and mentoring. Term of Office. 01/10/2017 - 30/09/2021

Date of appointment: 01/10/2017 appointed by trustees