Trustees and Directors

 

Catherine Dampney, Trustee (Chair of Trustees)

Catherine has over 20 years' experience in data and technology in both the Financial sector and NHS.  Over her career she has been involved in the development of regional and national data and digital transformation programmes for the NHS as a CIO and Director of IT.  Catherine is also a founding member of the National Digital Health CIO Network, and current Member of the National CIO Advisory Panel and sits on the Health Data Research workstream of The Elizabeth Blackwell Institute at the University of Bristol.  Catherine started her career as a Primary School Teacher with an interest in using technology in the classroom and her current role focuses on reducing health inequalities.

Mike Taylor, (Vice Chair of Trustees and Chair of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee)

Mike leads the UK Space Agency's strategy and planning function and is based at the Agency's HQ in Swindon. He has broad experience of policy and operational roles across the Civil Service including in the Ministry of Defence, Cabinet Office and Foreign & Commonwealth Office. In the Home Office he established WeProtect, a global coalition of governments, NGOs and technology firms, to prevent crimes against children online.  At the Space Agency he has been responsible for writing the National Space Strategy and supporting the first space launches from the UK. 

Matthew Dixon, Trustee

A Chartered Global Management Accountant by profession. Matt is an experienced finance professional and is currently Head of Finance for a large Telecommunications organisation.  He has experience across a number of industries and has a passion for developing high performing teams. He is looking forward to putting these skills and experience to good use, to help enable young people to reach their potential.

Mark Edwards, Trustee

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Mark is now Head of Packaging for a large corporation, with extensive knowledge of procurement and technical development globally. He has over 18 years’ experience of school governance at both primary and secondary level. A former councillor within Swindon, he has many links with the community including scouts and several other charitable organisations.

 Justin Robbins, Trustee

Justin worked as a communicator in the corporate sector for 20 years before co-founding a communication consultancy in 2015. He now works directly with schools seeking to make a difference to education through communication. He supported the roll-out of the National School Breakfast Program from 2018 to 2020 and has co-authored two books aimed at helping schools to communicate effectively with key audiences. Justin was awarded Fellowship of the Institute of Internal Communications as recognition for his contribution to the profession in 2017. He served on the Local Advisory Board for Lydiard Park Academy for six years, the last two as Chair. He is also a level 3 British Triathlon coach and is passionate about working with both people and organisations to help them to achieve their goals by unlocking the power of communication.

Nick Capstick, Trustee (Chair of Education, Performance and Standards Committee)

A renowned education leader, Nick has been a driving force in the UK's educational landscape. Serving as CEO of The White Horse Federation, a trust that comprised of 31 schools including 6 secondary schools most of which were categorised by Ofsted as ‘good’ schools  from 2012 to 2023. 3 schools were SEMH/SEND schools which were taken from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’, the federation also ran the Swindon Primary PRU and behaviour outreach service for 66 schools and opened 3 special referral units in their Oxford schools.  

Nick has been a National Leader of Education since 2012,  recognised for his contributions, he received the OBE in the 2015 Queen's Honours List. His leadership extended to roles such as Interim CEO of the ATOM Trust (2017-2019) and trustee positions in influential organisations like Avanti Schools Trust and UK Youth Charity. From 2015 to 2018, Nick played a pivotal role on the Board of the Department for Education's Executive Investment Board, SSIF Fund. His commitment to professional development was evident in leading the "Executive Educators Course" at Ambitions Institute during the same period.

Simon James

Simon is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. He has worked in actuarial roles in life insurance, pensions and helped design and launch an internet bank. Simon moved into professional education in 2007 joining BPP Actuarial Education, initially as a tutor. He taught and developed materials for various actuarial subjects including risk management, business finance, investments and communications. He is currently Director of Actuarial Apprenticeships at BPP, leading all aspects of the Level 4 and Level 7 Actuarial professional apprenticeship programmes (rated "Good" by Ofsted). Simon is Treasurer & Trustee for his local village hall and also Treasurer & Trustee for a national disability charity. 

 

Julia Watts, Foundation Trustee

Julia supports Church of England schools and academies and their parish communities to enable them to provide a distinctively Christian education; including encouraging church, school and family relationships through the Church and Schools Partnership Award and through the SIAMS framework. She is also an RE Adviser for all primary, secondary and FE schools, colleges and academies through South Gloucestershire and Swindon SACREs.