Members & Directors

Mark is an experienced senior finance professional with a 20-year career in accountancy practice followed by 10 years in industry. Having worked as a lead advisor on many fund raisers, mergers, acquisitions and disposals, he understands what drives value and sometimes what doesn’t. More recently, as chief financial officer of a high-growth business that became a public company in 2013, Mark has gained substantial experience in developing a finance function to meet rapidly changing needs. Over 10 years, the company grew from sales of £12m with 50 employees to £150m with 200 employees across 27 countries. Having taken the decision to take an easier life, Mark is now enjoying working part-time to develop a small residential property rental business with his wife.

Kelly is the Director of Technical Skills & Strategy at the University of Nottingham, where she began her career as a junior medical technician in 1999. She now leads an award-winning programme to enable the strategic and professional development of the University’s 700+ technical staff across the UK and Asia. Kelly has written for the Guardian, Times Higher Education and Nature on the role of university technicians. She has given a number of invited talks in this area, both nationally and internationally, and featured in the Department of Work and Pensions’ #NotJustForBoys campaign, encouraging girls to explore technical careers in STEM. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Registered Scientist (RSci).

Kelly works closely with Midlands Innovation and, in 2015, founded the UK Higher Education Technician Summit (HETS), a biennial, national conference focused on the professional development of the technical community. Alongside her role at Nottingham, Kelly is on secondment with the Science Council where she leads on engagement with the higher education sector to increase visibility and recognition of technicians. She founded and leads the Technician Commitment, a sector-wide initiative to ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for the technical community. Kelly was awarded an MBE in the 2021 New Year Honours for Services to Higher Education.

Having previously been a member of the local governing body at George Spencer Academy, Michelle was asked to join the Spencer Board of Directors in 2010. She is Head of Talent at Dairy Crest, where she manages a team of six professionals. She is responsible for influencing the design and delivery of the people strategy with specific responsibility for learning and development, resourcing and talent acquisition and engagement strategy. Having joined Dairy Crest as a senior HR business partner, Michelle was appointed first to a role as divisional head of HR and group learning and development lead, and then in 2015 to her current role.

Having played a pivotal role as chair of governors at Chetwynd Spencer Academy, Malcolm joined the Board of Directors of Spencer Academies Trust in 2014, accepted the role of Vice Chair in 2019, and took the role of Chair in 2026. With an honours degree in Education and a diploma from the Royal Academy of Music, Malcolm has a lifelong interest in pedagogy. A digital infrastructure and market research specialist, he has been employed by three universities and several sector bodies across the UK. He takes a particular interest in the collection of data and its strategic application to the Trust, and also chairs the Trust Quality & Standards Committee.

James joined the Board in 2015. He has worked in property development and construction for 20 years and is managing director of a regional housebuilding company based in the East Midlands. He brings to the board his experience in property planning, development, investment and law.

Geoff joined the Board in 2010 and serves as chair of the Trust Estates Committee. His association with George Spencer Academy and Spencer Academies Trust spans 40 years; he was the former vice principal at George Spencer Academy and was part of the governance team that secured an outstanding judgement for the school in April 2010 and again in May 2015. He has supported many of the Trust schools with various building and renovation projects and written bids to secure significant funding for several of the trust academies.

Sharon joined the Board in September 2022. Originally from Derby, Sharon qualified as a primary teacher in 1998 at Bishop Grossteste College in Lincoln and started her career at schools in the City of Derby and Derbyshire before moving to Wandsworth in south London and then Oxfordshire. She has taught in a range of school settings, from improving schools in city contexts to small rural schools to a large London school of over 500 pupils. Sharon has experience in leading schools and has been both substantive and interim head teachers in a number of schools since 2013.

In 2017, she became a senior leader of a large diocesan multi-academy trust across Oxfordshire and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, where she led in school improvement across 38 schools. Sharon is currently Chief Executive Officer of a multi-academy trust based in South Leicestershire with 8 schools. Passionate about inclusivity, she firmly believes that every child and young person should be given the very best education and start in life allowing them to develop and achieve their full potential. Outside of work and education. Sharon enjoys family time with her husband and teenage daughters, walking and travel.

Jonathan is the Director for Leadership Development at the University College of London Institute of Education (IOE), where his department offers a wide range of research, consultancy and leadership development services that contribute to education systems reform. His responsibility includes the design and delivery of programmes and qualifications that are delivered online or internationally. He has previously been a director at both the National College for Teaching and Leadership and the National College for School Leadership.

Sam brings over 15 years of experience from across education, stakeholder engagement and the charity sector.

A qualified teacher, Sam began her career in secondary education, teaching Food Technology and vocational qualifications before progressing to Head of Department for Food and Care subjects, including Food Technology, Health and Social Care, and Child Development. Working across both academic and vocational pathways gave her valuable insight into supporting students with diverse strengths, aspirations and needs, reinforcing her belief that every young person should have access to opportunities that enable them to thrive.

In 2016, Sam joined UCAS, where she spent ten years in a range of roles spanning operations, customer experience, learning and development, and strategic engagement. Most recently, she led engagement with schools and colleges across the UK developing support programmes and regional networks designed to improve progression opportunities for students During her time at UCAS, she developed strong knowledge of careers education, progression pathways and the wider educational landscape, including developments supporting informed post-16 and post 18 choices.

Throughout her career, Sam has built expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, data-informed decision making and leading teams through change. She has worked extensively with schools, colleges, universities, and the third sector, building collaborative relationships to deliver initiatives that improve experiences and outcomes for students.

Sam now works for Sue Ryder, one of the UK's leading palliative care charities, as a Senior Regional Fundraiser. In this role, she is responsible for developing sustainable income, building partnerships and strengthening community engagement to support the charity's long-term impact and sustainability. Having volunteered with the charity for several years before joining professionally, Sam was motivated by a long-standing personal connection to its work and a desire to contribute to a cause that aligns closely with her values. She is passionate about the role charities play in helping individuals and communities through life's most challenging circumstances.

Having recently engaged with Spencer Academies Trust through leadership events, including speaking at the Trust's inaugural Post-16 Leaders Conference, she has been inspired by the Trust's ambition, values and commitment to improving life chances for young people, and is keen to bring her educational expertise, strategic experience and commitment to the role, supporting strong governance and helping the Trust to continue delivering excellent outcomes for the communities it serves.

Sam remains deeply committed to education, social mobility and improving life chances. She believes education has the power to transform lives and is passionate about ensuring that every young person has access to the support and guidance needed to achieve their potential and find their own "best fit" pathway, whether through further study, training or employment.

I have been CEO of Chorus Education Trust for the past seven years. I started my career in education as a history teacher in Mansfield, and during the last 35 years I have been a School Leader, Headteacher and Executive Headteacher across schools in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire. I am 59 years old and am retiring in August 2026.

My motivation that led me into teaching in the first place has not changed. I have seen first-hand the power of education and the transformational impact a great education can have on children and young people. I have also seen the long-term damage that a poor education can do. I have carried my commitment to improving life chances for children and young people to all the roles that I have held.

I am a strong believer in the Multi-Academy Trust system. As an educational charity we have strong lines of accountability over educational performance, safeguarding, finance and estates. This allows trusts to affect change in a way that was very difficult under a local authority structure. At Chorus we have sponsored four schools that were in special measures and supported them to become stronger for the children and communities they serve. I know that Spencer Academies Trust has had the same impact.

I can add capacity to Spencer Academies Trust in all areas of governance. I am happy to be part of any committees as well as the wider work of trustees such as complaints and the structure of governance itself. I have ensured that the flow of information to members, trustees and governors is appropriate and allows challenge. I have also made sure that everyone is clear on who is responsible and accountable for the work.

As I approach retirement, I am looking forward to having time. I have decided not to take any paid work, but I am interested in using my experience as non-Executive at Spencer Academies Trust. I have been aware of George Spencer throughout my career and have watched with interest as the trust has grown. I have worked with colleagues from Spencer Academies Trust in both the primary and secondary sectors and valued their professionalism and honest reflection.

I am originally from Manchester but came to Nottingham in 1990 to do my PGCE at Nottingham University. I met my wife during this time, so I never made it back over the Pennines to live. We have lived in Heage, near Belper for the past 25 years. We have two grown up children and a grandchild. When I get the chance, I like to run and walk in the hills. We have Manchester United season tickets as a family, which involves lots of trips back ‘home’. I love reading and travelling.   

Richard has a banking finance career spanning 38 years. During that time he has held a wide variety of roles, progressing through the traditional customer-facing branch roles to relationship management supporting the plans of small and medium enterprises.

More recently, he has specialised in delivering and embedding business change, transformation and technology initiatives.

Richard currently undertakes a project management role supporting strategic transformation programmes working closely with stakeholders to deliver organisational change and meet business outcomes.

Away from work Richard is a keen musician playing the trombone with a number of ensembles locally and wider afield.