Nick Jones had a successful career in catering management before co-founding ‘Restaurants at Work’, a major UK contract catering company. He has extensive experience of setting up new businesses and is currently Chair of Maiden Erlegh Trust. Nick is a founding member and Director of the Maiden Erlegh Trust and has been a governor for 18 years.

Jonathon is the Chief Executive Officer at Maiden Erlegh Trust and was appointed as a Trustee by Members from 1 September 2022.

Maia is the Company Secretary and Clerk to the Trust Board. She is an experienced clerk who has been supporting schools within Maiden Erlegh Trust since November 2020. 

Mike graduated from London University and also qualified and worked as a teacher. He then worked in the NHS for over 30 years, 18 of these as a CEO, then ran a consultancy. He has non executive experience having been Vice Chairman of two University Boards and has also been on three NHS Boards. He is a Trustee of three other charities.

Having attended Edinburgh University, Matt retrained in Law and became a Barrister. After successfully practicing for 13 years in both London and Manchester he gave up life at the Bar and did an MBA. This lead to teaching as a professor at a business school, across all areas of executive education, over a 5 year period. Another shift in career saw Matt move back to the commercial side of life, where he eventually became Senior Vice President and Global Head of Sales for EF Education First, Hult & Ashridge Executive Education, where he helped to substantially grow the business and integrate all three companies.

Matt is also a volunteer Shout Crisis Counsellor, where he supports many people young and old, at the times in their lives when they need help most.

Matt believes that all young people deserve an excellent education and anything he can do to help the Trust achieve this, for the young people of Maiden Erlegh, is the reason he has joined the Trust.

Tara, born and educated in Reading and now living in close proximity to Maiden Erlegh Trust schools, has been in education since the 1990s when she trained as an English teacher; she is now a deputy head in Surrey. Her career path, which started in West London before moving to Berkshire and Surrey (in all cases, working in challenging comprehensives and independent sector schools) is one which reflects her deliberate choices to develop across the diverse array of institutions which constitute the British education system. Her experience encompasses all ability groups, single sex and mixed cohorts, the independent and maintained sectors and has included senior pastoral and academic roles as well as staff training and development. Alongside this, Tara has a keen interest in educational theory and research (she has an MA and will start a PhD in 2020) and in the growth of educational networks and organisations (notably @WomenEd in recent years). Tara has a strong belief that all young people, irrespective of perceived privilege or disadvantage, deserve an excellent education which enables them to achieve beyond what they ever thought their potential could be.  Tara joined the Maiden Erlegh Trust Board May 2019.

John joined the Trust in December 2017. He studied at Durham University, gaining a degree in Geography. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development. He has worked for 30 years in Human Resources, latterly in the IT support services sector, as an HR Director, where he was responsible for businesses in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

Christine joined the Trust Board as SEND Trustee in October 2022. She has an extensive range of experience in both education and local authorities and brings with her detailed knowledge, experience and understanding of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, and the extensive legislative framework and guidance around it. 

Christine retired last year but previous to this, she was the Special Educational Needs Service Manager for Hampshire County Council for 12 years, following on from the role as Assistant Director Children's Services at Wokingham Borough Council. Previous to this she held a number of teaching roles and was Headteacher of a local primary school 2000-2005.

Bob Kenwrick spent 38 years in the Police Force and prior to retiring was Chief Inspector with British Transport Police. On retiring, he returned to British Transport Police for 7 years as their well-being manager with responsibility for Health and Safety and Occupational Health. Bob has been a governor for 12 years; he was Chair of Governors at a local primary school and is currently Chair of Governors at a local secondary school. He has been a governor at Maiden Erlegh School for four years and is a Director of the Maiden Erlegh Trust.

Alastair Starnes is a chartered surveyor and an associate of one of the top design and construction companies in the UK – Ridge and Partners LLP and is a Director of the Maiden Erlegh Trust. He has two children who attend Maiden Erlegh School. Alastair has used his expertise to support the Trust in the building of our new school Maiden Erlegh School in Reading.