Debbie Andrews (Chair of Trustees)

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 12/07/2016

ROLE WITHIN THE KITE ACADEMY TRUST:
I have been a Trustee since July 2016, and currently hold the position of Chair of Trustees. I was asked to join the Trust Board when Holly Lodge decided to begin the process of joining the Kite Academy Trust. I had been a Governor in the primary and secondary sector locally for over ten years and trained as an Advanced Skills Governor. My experience has been with schools on different journeys including a school that was in special measures. I am a member of the Standards and Monitoring Review Committees, and the Link Trustee for The Ferns Primary Academy.

BUSINESS AND EDUCATION BACKGROUND:
I started my career in Mortgage Finance and House Building. In 1998 I started a property company which I have run since then, specialising in property management and acquisitions, I also manage a pension fund as a Trustee, ensuring that our investment plan will allow us to meet future liabilities. Alongside my business, I Chair the Board of a group of companies; my main role is overseeing the performance of each individual area and strategic direction of the whole group.

OUTSIDE INTERESTS:
When I’m not working I like to spend most of my time planning my next holiday. As a family we love to travel and try to always go somewhere new. I enjoy watching most sport but my favourite is football and I’m lucky enough to have season tickets for my favourite team! As a family we are involved with the charity Guide Dogs and board dogs while they are completing their advanced training.

John Allan

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 01/10/2015

ROLE WITHIN THE KITE ACADEMY TRUST:

• Board Trustee (Vice Chair)
• Trust Member
• Trustee with responsibility for safeguarding
• Chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee.
• Member of the Pay Committee
• Link Trustee for Lakeside Primary Academy
• Governor at The Grove Primary School for 22 years
• Chair of Governors at The Grove Primary School for 10 years

BUSINESS AND EDUCATION BACKGROUND:
I am a retired IT Consultant with managerial, technical and system analysis and design experience across many business areas including manufacturing, finance, human resources & payroll and sales.

OUTSIDE INTERESTS:
Reading, music and walking the dog.

Karen Findlay

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 18/09/2015

ROLE WITHIN THE KITE ACADEMY TRUST:

• Joint Vice Chair of the Trust Board
• Member of the Standards and Pay Committees
• Link Trustee for Cross Farm Infant Academy and Folly Hill Infant Academy

BUSINESS AND EDUCATION BACKGROUND:
I am the owner / Director of a Consultancy business specialising in the Consumer Goods industry. Having spent much of my career working in sales and marketing for blue chip organisations such as Procter & Gamble, I have experience in leading businesses and developing teams. 

OUTSIDE INTERESTS:
I live in Frimley Green with my husband, 3 children and Alfie the dog.  I love being by the sea, baking and the theatre.

Liam Quinn

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 06/11/2017

ROLE WITHIN THE KITE ACADEMY TRUST:
I’m a non-executive Trustee. My focus within the Board is to look at how technology can be best used within the Trust to help it to continue to develop and grow. I’ve helped to create the ICT strategy for the Trust which is built around providing a foundation infrastructure that all the academies can use and will ensure that all Trust business requirements are met and supported. I am a member of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee and the Link Trustee for Holly Lodge Primary Academy.

BUSINESS AND EDUCATION BACKGROUND:
I’m IT Director for Richmond Events who are the pioneers of one-to-one, pre-scheduled business forums which match buyers and sellers to generate new business, learn from each other and network. I’ve held this position for 9 years, although I’ve been at Richmond for 21 years. I studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Bath University and I have an MBA from Aston University.

OUTSIDE INTERESTS:
I’m passionate about the Cloud and how it can improve the way organisations can develop, grow and operate anywhere in the world. My free time is taken up with helping develop young people within Molesey, Surrey. I am Scout Leader for 1st Molesey (Jaguar) Sea Scouts and Treasurer for the Friends of St Albans Primary School.

Mark Ellis

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 25/03/2019

ROLE WITHIN THE KITE ACADEMY TRUST:
I’m a non-executive Trustee. My focus within the Board is teaching and learning, with an interest in science, engineering and the impact of deprivation on learning. I am a member of the Standards, Monitoring Review and Pay Committees, and the Link Trustee for Wyke Primary Academy.

BUSINESS AND EDUCATION BACKGROUND:
I was a science teacher for eleven years in schools and colleges. Since then I have managed a range of largescale, national and international programmes focusing on Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, vocational learning and digital learning content, for charitable and commercial organisations. I studied for a BSc in Biology and an MSc in Applied Toxicology at Portsmouth Polytechnic. I have a Postgraduate Certificate in Education for the University of East Anglia.

OUTSIDE INTERESTS:
My main interests are climbing and mountaineering, gardening and photography. I live in Normandy with my wife and young son.

Phill Elston

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 08/09/2021

ROLE WITHIN THE KITE ACADEMY TRUST:
I am a non-executive Trustee.  This is my first school governance appointment.  I’m passionate about education and the lessons beyond the syllabus.  I am a member of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee and the Link Trustee for The Grove Primary Academy.

BUSINESS AND EDUCATION BACKGROUND:
Currently I’m the Operations Director for Brompton Bicycle.  I started my working life wanting to gain a commission in the Royal Marines and ended up twenty years later making bikes.  In-between I’ve had careers as a self-employed tree surgeon, then trained and worked as a Manufacturing Engineer, before transitioning into leading manufacturing organisations.  I specialise in developing strong capable teams that deliver tangible change.  I am a recent member of the Institute of Directors and for the past two years have worked actively with Inspiring the Future to help students in preparing for adulthood.

OUTSIDE INTERESTS:
I love Rugby and help coach my eldest son’s team at Farnham RFC - I’m always open to watching a game too.  I enjoy cycling (no surprises there), running, being out in nature, camping with the family, is always a great break for us.  We’ve also got two dogs who love a good walk.  I’m a sometime lover of theatre and art, and if I can find a good live gig it makes me pretty happy.

Paul Syson-Harvey

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 16/05/2022

ROLE WITHIN THE KITE ACADEMY TRUST:
I am a non-executive Trustee.  I am a member of the Standards and Monitoring Review Committees and the Link Trustee for Sandringham Infant & Nursery Academy.

BUSINESS AND EDUCATION BACKGROUND:
I have worked in education since finishing my degree in 2004, initially as an Attendance Officer for Norfolk County Council prior to undertaking my PGCE in 2005.  Since then, I have worked for three different local authorities and a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) as a primary school teacher (teaching Reception to Year 3), a Head of School, and more recently the School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) Strategic Lead for my MAT, GLF Schools.  I have always had a keen interest in the development of teachers new to the profession, and this role allows me to work closely with many different schools and the people within them.

OUTSIDE INTERESTS:
I sing in a choir which meets in Guildford and enjoy performing our ever-growing repertoire – sometimes in tune!  I have recently taken up sewing as a hobby and have been pleased to learn how to make items ranging from masks, to bunting, to quilts and bags.  I love to read and can often be found with my nose in a book.  In my spare time, I also volunteer with the National Trust in a Visitor Experience role, and I love the contrast being outdoors gives me from my working life.  I am a keen swimmer and enjoy walking in nature.

Andrew Johnson

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 23/11/2022

Link Trustee for Hale Nursery & Primary Academy