Directors and Academy Councils

I am a mum of a toddler, a local Croydon resident and a senior HR Professional.  I grew up in South East London and moved to the Croydon area in 2018 with an interest to support the local community. I have been able to do so through being a governor. I joined the governing board of Thornton Heath Nursery school in March 2019, becoming the Chair of Governors there later that year. I joined the Board of Directors at Pegasus Academy Trust late 2019.  Professionally, over the last 10+ years, I have worked across the full spectrum of Human Resources activities in the Retail industry and now in the Wine and Spirits industry. In my current role I am responsible for Talent and Development.”

I spent my entire career working in the finance sector, latterly as a regional director for the south east of England based in Croydon specialising in the SME sector.  I have been a director of the Pegasus Academy Trust since December 2016, and chair the Finance Committee. I am also a qualified business mentor and serve as a governor in the secondary sector.

Jolyon began working in London schools when he graduated in 1989 and since then has worked continuously in the capital in the London Boroughs of Lewisham, Wandsworth and now Croydon.  He joined Whitehorse Manor Junior School as Headteacher in 2004 and was instrumental in setting up the Pegasus Academy Trust in 2011 – the first primary MAT in Croydon – where he became one of the founding Executive Principals.  Jolyon worked for London Challenge as a consultant and as part of this very successful project was able to work with school leaders to improve primary schools all over South London.  He is the primary school leader on the Croydon Headteachers’ Association and has Chaired Croydon School’s Forum for a decade.

Over the past two decades, I’ve worked in marketing and commercial roles ranging from financial services to my current industry transport and logistics, where I lead a broad product portfolio. I’ve also led community-based organisations and charities across the UK with a key focus on education, health and minority ethnic groups.

I’m currently an Advisor to ‘NoTurningBack2020’ – which seeks to increase representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic groups in the marketing and communications industry. I hold a BSc. in International Relations and Economics and two postgraduate degrees in Marketing. I’m currently undertaking a professional doctorate degree in Business Administration.

I graduated from Oxford University in 1980, and spent my working career in the insurance industry in the City of London specialising in the marine sector, and extreme risks.  I now hold a number of non-executive roles in finance, charity, and education. I have been a non-executive director for four years of a company which runs two independent, not for profit, primary schools in London prior to joining the board of Pegasus Academy Trust. I have also resumed my own education, and recently completed a master’s degree in historical studies focusing on seventeenth century English history.