Our Trustees

Chair of Trustees Jay Bhutani has a background in institutional fund management for over 15 years, most recently as Managing Director of the Wellington Management Company. Now retired, Jay has a strong interest in education and brings considerable analytical skills and experience in working with private sector boards, auditors and regulators around the globe to our Board.

Dr Martin Coles is an experienced Board Trustee with a successful career in education leadership, including roles at the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) and The British School in the Netherlands. A skilled business development professional with a doctorate from The University of Nottingham, Martin has also published 19 books and over 50 articles on literacy, school leadership and school improvement.

Sonal Desai is a passionate and experienced leader in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). With over 18 years in education and experience working in local authorities, she is committed to fostering inclusive practices that ensure the best outcomes for SEND students. Sonal is the Board's Inclusion Champion, providing strategic oversight of our work in this important area - collaborating with the Board and Executive Team to monitor SEND provision, challenge policies, and support school visits.

Currently Director of Education at ACT multi-academy trust, Bridget Harrison started out as a teaching assistant and has since worked as a SENDCo, deputy head, and headteacher across schools in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Previously an HMI, Bridget has conducted inspections and contributed to national work on school improvement. She is passionate about inclusive, high-quality education and is particularly focused on leadership development and raising outcomes for all students.

Troels Henriksen has a strong background as a Chief Financial Officer in private equity-backed and corporate entities and Chartered Accountancy. He is highly dedicated to his charity work, which includes volunteering with The Newman Holiday Trust - a charity that each year provides holidays for over 120 children and young people with complex behaviours and special needs.

Molly Henson is Director of Customer Impact at Edurio, and has held roles across a variety of Education Technology businesses. She is passionate about accessibility for young people and ensuring that all skills, academic or otherwise, are recognised and nurtured. Molly is chair and secretary of Kirby Muxloe Ladies Football Club, where she also plays football. She brings a people-centric approach and a strong commitment to helping every young person thrive to her role as Trustee.

Mark Kamlow is a Senior Lawyer at the Solicitors Regulation Authority, providing strategic advice on a wide range of regulatory policy development projects. He is also a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Law and an Associate Hospital Manager for Derbyshire NHS Trust, reviewing the detention and treatment of patients under the Mental Health Act. Mark previously spent over a decade in local government advising on adult and child social care, and brings extensive experience in safeguarding and child protection to the Board.

Alison Macleod is an experienced non-executive director with roles in the commercial and not-for-profit/voluntary sectors, who applies her extensive business and HR expertise to enhance Board performance.  Alison was for many years a governor at St Paul’s School in Barnes, London, with responsibilities in the areas of safeguarding and reward.  She is a Member of Education Development Trust and has recently been appointed a Member of the School Teachers Review Body. She has an interest in careers education developed as a senior executive at City & Guilds where the focus is on vocational education and apprenticeships.

Celine Spencer works as an Investment Manager for August Equity. She also holds non-executive director roles at two education companies, Family First, a children's nurseries business, and Impact Futures, a provider of apprenticeships and training into the healthcare and education markets. Celine is incredibly passionate about supporting organisations that promote inclusive and accessible education for all, at every stage of the learning journey.

Sal Wilson has 30 years' experience working in education in both executive and non-executive roles for all phases - primary to tertiary. Sal's board experience covers public, private and the third sector. Her early career involved therapeutic work and residential care of looked-after young people. Sal is currently running a vineyard and winery near her home in Sussex.