Our
Team

Became a Trustee in November 2015, Chair from April 2023. Former teacher, founder and CEO of the Ufton Court Educational Trust in Berkshire until 2016, which aims to inspire and challenge disadvantaged young people through learning outside the classroom. Previously on the Council of Bradfield College and Chair of Governors at the John Madejski Academy and Sulhamstead and Ufton Nervet Primary School. Mary also served as a governor at the Mortimer Schools Federation. She was High Sheriff for the Royal County of Berkshire 2020. She is on the board of the Talbot Village Trust in Bournemouth.

Joined the Trustees in Autumn of 2013 as the Trust’s Education Trustee. Taught History and English at Winchester College from 1976 to 2000, where he was also a Housemaster for 12 years, and was Headmaster of Sherborne School between 2000 and 2010. Has worked as a consultant for the schools’ recruitment company RSAcademics since 2016. A Governor of schools in the UK and Prague, and a Trustee of the British Racing School.

Joined the Trustees after eight years at the Forestry Commission where he was CEO. A member of the Board of NatureScot, and an Honorary Fellow of the James Hutton Institute. His career in both the public and private sectors includes the Planning Inspectorate and HM Treasury, as a management consultant in KPMG and in his own business. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and was Interim Chief Executive of The Ernest Cook Trust 2022 – 2023

Joined the Trustees in April 2017. A Chartered Surveyor with experience across the property landscape, she is formerly a Crown Estate Commissioner and Director of Sales & Lettings at Grosvenor Ltd, and held posts as Chairman of the National Skills Academy for Retail and President of the British Council of Shopping Centres.  Awarded the OBE in 2014 for services to UK Real Estate and for voluntary service to young people. Was previously a Governor at Westonbirt School and continues as  a Non Executive Director and advisor to a number of businesses in the real estate sector.

Trustee since 2004. Lives and farms at West Woodhay in Berkshire. High Sheriff for the Royal County of Berkshire 2008. Was an Investment manager and MD of Cazenove until 2002, retiring as Chairman of Witan Investment Trust plc, as a Trustee of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and as a Director of the Cadogan Settled Estates Ltd in early 2020. Currently Chairman of the Farmington Trust and a Governing Fellow of Harris Manchester College Oxford.

Zainab joined the Trustees in September 2024. With expertise in education and technology, she has managed children’s educational projects across Africa and the Middle East, developed leadership programs for UK higher education institutions, and created portfolios of public digital learning initiatives. Dr Kabba is the founder and CEO of Quotidian Strategies, a reviewer for the Oxford Review of Education, and serves on the Oxford British Muslim Studies Editorial Board. She is also an author, co-author, and peer reviewer of several academic publications.

Became a Trustee in 2023. Rory was Senior Bursar at Trinity College Cambridge until 2021, where he remains a Fellow. He was a Trustee of the College for over 14 years. Rory has a degree in Law from Cambridge University and qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG. He is an experienced investor in public markets, private equity and property. Among other positions, Rory is a member of the Cambridge University Finance Committee and is a member of the Advisory Committee to the Charities Property Fund. He is a Trustee of Schoolreaders, another educational charity.

Joined the Trustees in Autumn 2022, Ian brings a wealth of first-hand farming experience to the board. He founded the UK’s national farm open day – Open Farm Sunday – in 2006, and runs his own charity, The Farmschool. Ian set up a business park for microbusinesses in his own farmyard, and in 2015, was awarded the OBE for his services to agricultural and countryside education. He is a Councillor on the Food Ethics Council.