Trustees

I was appointed as a Trustee in 2013. I qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 1974 and undertook research and teaching posts at  the Universities of Cambridge, Florida and Glasgow where I held the Chair of Veterinary Surgery.   I worked for Mars Incorporated from 1993 to 2003 with my final position being Global Director of Science and Technology Platforms. In 2003 I was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University retiring in 2014. I live in Oakham with my wife Susan and both of my children attended Oakham School.

I joined Oakham School in October 2020 from St Christopher School in Letchworth where I worked as the Bursar and Clerk to the governors for 15 years. I studied History at Trinity College Cambridge, and then spent one year as the CD Broad Exchange Fellow at Rice University in Houston, Texas. My various roles before becoming a Bursar have centred around charity finance and administration and included working at London Business School and as the Chief Executive of a London Almshouse Charity. I am an ISI  inspector, a governor of Christ Church Cathedral School in Oxford and was previously a governor at a prep school in Cambridge. My wife, Christine, and I live on the  Lincolnshire/ Rutland border with numerous animals where we are visited from time to time by our two adult children.

I was appointed a Trustee in 2019. I studied Architecture at the Canterbury School of Architecture and qualified in 1983.  Since then, I have had a long career at GSS Architecture and acted as Senior Partner for the last 10 years before retirement. Having been governor at Witham Hall School for 13 years, I now chair the Oakham School Buildings & Estates Sub-Committee, which monitors the fabric and facilities of the School.  My eldest son attended Oakham School as a boarder from 1999 – 2007 and has since become a doctor.

During my 35-year tenure at Mars, I established myself as a globally recognised expert in research and development and a seasoned business leader. Prior to joining Mars, I worked as a microbiologist at the U.K. Public Health Laboratory service in Slough. I then went on to assume leadership positions in developing markets and newly acquired businesses, living and working in various countries across Europe and North America as I climbed the ranks in several of Mars’ business segments.

I made numerous contributions to the company, including developing novel analytical techniques, establishing global technology and research platforms, and spearheading product and business innovations. Most recently, I led the enhancement of Mars’ approach to food safety and quality.

I was instrumental in developing Mars’ Quality Management Process and establishing the Global Food Safety Centre, a hub of research excellence that focuses on technology breakthroughs and external collaboration.

I also established many fundamental policies that helped guide and shape Mars’ science strategy and highly principled approach to science. I retired from Mars in April 2021 to embark on “career 2.0,” where I intended to focus on impacting the issues of food safety and food security by working with international agencies and businesses.

I established STRIDE Food R&D Consultancy Ltd and I am advising several food start-ups and new venture businesses. Along with this, I also volunteer as the Chair of the Global Food Safety Initiative’s Science and Technology Advisory group.  In 2022 I was appointed to the board of TATA Consumer Products Ltd as an independent director.

I joined HMC in August 2020 after nine years as Head of the King’s School in Macclesfield, where I was also a pupil.

In that time, I led the Foundation’s 2020 vision, which transformed the split-site diamond school into a fully co-educational school operating from a new campus in one of the country’s largest school improvement projects.

After reading history at Christ Church, Oxford, I completed a doctorate on mid-nineteenth century Prussia at the universities of Oxford and Bonn.

Following this, my first permanent post was at Loughborough Grammar School as Head of History before becoming Head of History and Humanities at Oakham School.

I have been Chair of Trustees at the Macclesfield Music Centre and involved in various groups supporting the town’s regeneration.

I have also been a member of HMC’s PD Committee as well as Chair and Secretary of the North West Division. I am a governor and former ISI inspector.

Since joining Nottingham Trent University in 1999, I have worked in a variety of roles within Personnel up to the Head of HR Operations role I currently hold. I have a huge passion for people and getting the very best out of them.

I won a Santander women’s leadership programme in 2014, and went out to UCLA. This year, I received the UHRCUPA Bursary, and have attended an HR conference and study visits to universities in America, looking at diversity and inclusion practices over there.

I am an accountant by trade, qualifying as an ACA in 1979 up to retiring from my full time position.

Once established in Nottingham I became an active member of the local region of the Institute of Directors ultimately becoming chairman for five years in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

I was heavily involved with The Lords Taverners for many years but  my other primary charitable interest now is as trustee of the Nottingham University Hospitals Charitable Trust.

Outside of work, I am happily married to Nicky and we have two children Tom and Katie. Both of my children attended Oakham which provided them with a great foundation for life.

I am a Commercial Lawyer at a managing consultancy firm. I completed my training contract at Bird & Bird LLP.

Prior to qualifying as a Lawyer, I worked in the Project Finance (Energy) team at an international law firm, assisting with legal research, documentation review, drafting and amending documents for multinational transactions, and business development activities.

I opted to do a legal work placement year in the financial hub of Tanzania: Dar es Salaam. Whilst working in Dar I was given the opportunity to travel and work in Johannesburg, South Africa. Both experiences were truly life changing where I was able to learn new skills as well as hone my existing ones.

I was able to meet experts in the legal and political field and gained the necessary exposure I desired in relation to understanding the legal and socio-political intricacies that encompass jurisdictions that heavily rely on natural resources.

My experiences and exposure to the legal sector made a significantly positive impact on my decision to join the Trust, with the hope of making a difference and giving back to society.

I am a keen gardener and conservationist who has lived in Rutland for 27 years, however, I have loved it for longer.

From 2016-2017 I became High Sheriff of Rutland where I was keen to use this role to spearhead and publicise the introduction of mental health resilience.

I also introduced CPR training for all 15-year olds in Rutland.

I was appointed as a Trustee in 2023.  I am currently the Chief Development Officer in a Biotech company and have over 20-years’ experience working in the pharmaceutical industry.  I have spent the last 13 years working in the biotech sector in VC-funded start-up companies.  I am based in Rutland with two children who both attend Oakham School. I have a PhD in Neuropsychology from Lancaster University.

I am a senior lawyer specialising in contentious insurance and reinsurance matters at DAC Beachcroft LLP.

I am a qualified Mental Health First Aid Officer, and I volunteer as a tutor through Action Tutoring. Along with this, I am also a member of the Lullaby Trust’s parent advisory panel.

Having developed my early career with the ITT Group and Hagemeyer NV, I joined Caterpillar in 2003, and have held various senior HR roles including Vice President of Global Human Resources for Caterpillar Logistics Services, a subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. I have gained global experience through international assignments in Brussels, Belgium and at Caterpillar’s Global Headquarters in Peoria IL, USA.

Recently, I retired from coordinating and leading Caterpillar’s business interests, government affairs and corporate social responsibilities agenda in the United Kingdom.

I am also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Away from work I am married to Claire, and I live with my family in Northamptonshire. My interests include spending time with my children, golf, and I am a keen supporter of Derby County FC.

I was installed as Dean of Peterborough in January 2018. Prior to taking up this appointment, I was Dean of Newcastle for 14 years.

I have roots in the east of England. I grew up in Norfolk, studied at Cambridge University and served in the diocese of Chelmsford for the first 12 years of my ministry.

My wife and I love Italy and all things Italian whilst I personally am a keen follower of Formula 1 and a long-suffering supporter of Norwich City FC.

I was appointed as Trustee in 2020. After graduating with a Mathematics degree from Durham University, I spent 10 years in the City as a commodity trader. Thereafter, I took my PGCE through The Open University and started my Mathematics teaching career in secondary schools. I taught at Oakham School for 11 years, completing my career as Head of Middle School on the Senior Leadership Team. In recent years, I have been governor at other local schools, teach mathematics online, mentor undergraduates and act as a trustee for a few charities. I was privileged to serve as High Sheriff of Rutland 2019-20

I live near Oakham and enjoy time spent with our two adult children, as well as playing sport, gardening, travel, and theatre.

Born and bred in Leicester, I trained in Nottingham, Cambridge and Pittsburgh before taking Chairs of obstetrics in Nottingham and then Manchester.

I am a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and a Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in both New Zealand and the UK.

Along with this, I am also a Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise for the University of Leicester.

I was appointed as a Trustee in 2021 having been Warden (Head) of St Edward’s Oxford for 10 years. I attended Durham University and have degrees in both Philosophy and Mathematics, as well as a research degree in Philosophy of Mathematics.

I have taught in both the prep and public school sectors and have been a Head of Mathematics (Berkhamsted School), a Housemaster (Radley College), and a Head (Dover College as well as St Edward’s).

I was Chair of the Rugby Group of schools for nine years and Vice-Chair of the HMC Universities Committee for seven; I was a governor at St George’s School, Windsor Castle and am still a governor at Christ Church Cathedral School in Oxford, as well as being Chair of Governors at Beaudesert Park School in Gloucestershire.

Recently I have been working with various educational establishments in China.

I was appointed as a Trustee in July 2020. I am currently Non-Executive Chairman of The Hollywood Bowl Group. I have held similar roles with Thwaites plc, Novus Ltd, Xercise4Less Ltd, Drum Cussac Ltd and The Harley Medical Group.

Prior to my Non-Executive career, I held the position of CEO or Managing Director in a number of successful private equity-backed leisure sector companies including Fitness First UK, Megabowl Group Limited and Maxinutrition Limited.

I have a degree in Economics from De Montfort University and an MBA from Warwick Business School. My three children attended Oakham School from 2004-2015.