Chiltern Hills Academy Governor Profiles (October 2020)

Home , Chesham Grammar School, Chiltern Hills, Chiltern Hills Academy

Chandra Adams Chandra Adams is a local resident, who became a governor at Chiltern Hills in July 2014. Previously she had been a governor at a local primary school for eight years as well as Chairperson of Northend Playgroup. Prior to having her three children, she graduated with a degree in Chemistry and Biological Sciences and worked in the media and Public Relations industry. Chandra has a child at Chiltern Hills Academy. She is working at Chesham Grammar School.

Steven Adams Steven works for the London Fire Brigade and is Chief of Staff for the National Fire Chiefs Council. For both organisations, Steven manages policy and change programmes, supporting the fire and resilience sector to engage with government. Before working in the emergency services, Steven was a director with a local publishing company. He has been a governor of a number of local schools, and of the Chiltern Hills Academy (and its predecessor school) since 2005.

Andrew Brown Andrew has been a governor at Chiltern Hills and the predecessor school since 2006 and was Chairman in 2011 leading up to the transition to Academy status. He has been Chairman of the Academy Governing Body since 2012. Previously he was a governor of a local primary school. Andrew’s degree is in Computer Science, and initially he worked in the design and development of computer systems mainly for the banking industry. Andrew changed in the mid-90s to marketing, but still in the software industry and he has undertaken a wide range of business marketing roles. Until his retirement in December 2018 he was Marketing Director for the payments business within NCR.

Nick Brown Nick Brown, a qualified chartered accountant, is a Diocesan-appointed governor at Chiltern Hills since May 2019. Nick and his family have lived opposite the school since 2007, moving to Chesham after many years living and working abroad in Russia, Turkey, Central Asia and Nigeria. Nick graduated in Russian at the University of London, became a chartered accountant in the UK before joining Ernst & Young’s fledgling Moscow practice in 1992. More recently he worked for The Coca-Cola Company and Xerox. Leaving the commercial world after thirty years, Nick joined the Royal Air Force Museum in 2019 where he works as Head of Finance. Nick is an active member of St. Mary’s Church, currently serving as a Deputy Warden and also on the District Church Council. He is also Treasurer (and plays the occasional game) for Chesham Rugby Club, which is based at CHA.

Gurvinder Chahal Gurvinder is Second in charge in the Science department and has been teaching since 1994 after completing a PGCE with the Open University. Gurvinder has a PhD in Inorganic Silicates from the University of Greenwich and worked in research before starting to teach. She started working at Chiltern Hills Academy in September 2012 and is part of the Teaching and Learning group as well as Writing across the Curriculum working party. Gurvinder has also been running the Family Learning sessions in the Science department.

Qaser Chaudhry Qaser Chaudhry is a Councillor for the local ward of Newtown in Chesham. He has also served as Deputy Mayor (2018-2019) and Mayor (2019-2020). He has been working in the Chesham Council for more than 6 years and has been a member of many different committees, for example; finance, planning, staffing (as Vice Chair) and Chiltern Transport Committee (as Vice Chair). His BA (Hons) degree is in Business and Management. He currently has two children who attend Chiltern Hills Academy; one in Year 8 and the other in Year 10. His eldest daughter also attended Chiltern Hills Academy from Year 7 to 11. As well as English, he speaks Urdu, Punjabi and French. Qasar is currently a project manager in property development.

Mary Crawford Mary qualified and worked as an Occupational Therapist in New Zealand. Since arriving in the UK has worked in England and Scotland in the NHS and Social Services. After a period of clinical work, Mary moved into management of mental health services and then as a commissioner of community, disability and mental health services across the NHS and Local Authority. During a period of self-employment, Mary did project work focused on service review, service redesign and the commissioning of new service models often where multi-agency working is involved. She has lived in Bucks for nearly 20 years and retired in early 2018.

She has been a council member of the (now) Health & Care Professions Council. Mary spent 9 years as Board Chairman of Turnstone Support, a not for profit provider of services for people with a learning disability and older vulnerable people, and as a Board member of Parkside & Radian Housing Association groups.

Giles Ellerton Giles Ellerton has lived in Chesham since 2010, and has been a Governor at CHA since 2016. He works for BT as Regional Partnership Director for the East of England. His principle role involves managing stakeholder relationships across the region with communities and individuals including MP’s, County Councils, Parish Councils, business groups, on BT policy and investment that affect its stakeholders in our communities, including education and skills and, specifically, Superfast Broadband to rural communities. Giles has worked in commercial roles in BT negotiating government contracts with Central Government and Local Authorities. Giles is an active member of St Mary’s Church, Chesham, and is married with two children. Giles spent 5 years as an army officer in Germany, and has subsequently worked and lived abroad in the Sultanate of Oman.

Philip Garner Philip has been Research Professor in Education in three universities in England; he was previously a teacher/headteacher for 18 years. Currently he is CEO/Research Director at Talent4Transition, and also a Visiting Professor. Philip has spent a lifetime in professional education, and has undertaken research/consultancy activity for the DfE, Home Office and local authorities in England and Wales, as well as internationally (for governments in Australia, Barbados, Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, FYR Macedonia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Muscat & Oman and Sierra Leone), as well as for UNICEF and SightSavers International. He received a British Academy Fellowship scholarship for his research on the education of hospital children with renal failure and is the author of over 20 books and over 150 articles or monographs relating to the education of children with special educational needs. Philip is a member of the DfE Senco Advisory Group and is an Expert Evaluator for both the European Research Agency (REA) and the European Audiovisual Cultural & Education Agency. He is a keen rock climber and over the years has contributed to first ascents in the UK and also to climbing guidebooks. He lives near Chorleywood.

Graham Hull Graham has been a governor at Chiltern Hills and the predecessor school since 2009 and currently is Vice Chairman having previously chaired the Finance Committee and the Marketing Committee. His background is in business and process improvement and organisational excellence and holds a Diploma with the Institute of Management Services. Around 18 years ago he set up his own management consultancy specialising in business performance improvement and excellence, the application of standards such as the ISO management systems and business continuity and risk management. Graham is one of only 3 EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) Ambassadors in the UK and he is passionate about quality and the customer experience in any walk of life. Graham has worked for public sector, not for profit organisations and private sector businesses in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia.

Caroline Mastrorilli Caroline has lived in Chesham for over 20 years and her 3 children are all educated in local schools. For the last 7 years Caroline has worked in education at a local primary school. She has been a parent governor since 28 February 2017. Caroline has spent a lot of her career in the events industry organising B2B events around the world. Caroline volunteers in many community activities such as the Chesham Carnival and Backpackers and she helps to run and manage a local football team.

Mick McCormick Mick has a daughter at CHA. He has a background in social work and education and is currently senior lecturer at the Open University where he provides academic leadership and expertise in relation to student employability. He has a keen interest in education and believes that education offers everyone an opportunity for academic, social and career development.

Kevin Patrick Kevin completed his Bachelor of Education teaching degree at King Alfred's College, Winchester. He moved to Hertfordshire to commence his first teaching position at Kings Langley School. His first senior position in a school was as an Assistant Headteacher at Bushey Meads School near Watford and he then progressed to Deputy Headteacher at Sir William Ramsay School in Hazlemere. Through part-time study, he completed his Masters in Education at the University of Hertfordshire. He was appointed as Headteacher of Chesham Park Community College in January 2007. This school was transformed to an Academy in 2011. Kevin led in the formation of the new school, the Chiltern Hills Academy; a school that is now full in the lower years. It has a 'Good' Ofsted rating and a growing and thriving sixth form.

Martin Paxton Martin has been a Diocesan appointed Governor since June 2014. Prior to this he spent 34 years in the Ministry of Defence working in logistics, administration, finance, policy, secretariat and management training. Martin was also seconded to a charity for two years where he assisted people with disabilities into employment.

Martin has a range of involvements with St Mary's Church, Chesham amongst which are PCC Secretary, Assistant Organist, Youth Group Leader Assistant, Pastoral Visitor and Friends of St Mary's. He is also on the Committee of the Buckinghamshire Organists Association and is involved with several local charities.

Rebecca Rochon Rebecca has lived in Bucks for a number of years, and worked for Buckinghamshire New University for over ten years. She is a Senior Lecturer in Education and works primarily supporting the professional development of academic staff as teachers, as well as being involved in the development and delivery of CPD courses for local teachers. Outside of work, Rebecca is currently undertaking doctoral studies and enjoys spending time with family, being outdoors or undertaking DIY (with varying levels of success).

Kate Shaw Kate Shaw graduated with a degree in Business Studies and is CIPD qualified. She has worked in the HR field for over 20 years and currently works for pladis (previously United Biscuits Ltd) where she is HR Director for the UK & ROI. She is a local resident of Chesham, and became a Governor at Chiltern Hills Academy in January 2016. Previously she was a governor at Newtown School for 5 years. Kate has a child in year 8 at CHA and 2 further children at a local feeder school.