Board of Members and Trustees

Amena Sutton

Retired Secondary School Leader, currently working as a Magistrate. Amena’s skill set includes education, leadership, and governance. 

Mike Marsden

Mike is a Member as well as being Chair of the Trust Board. Mike’s skill set includes strategic change and financial management.  

Tom Jeffery

Managing Director of a large company in the entertainment industry with operations in London, Germany and Woodley. Tom’s skill set includes strategic management, entrepreneurship, and commercial.

Mike Marsden
(Chair)

Mike is the Chair of the Trust Board and has over 20 years’ experience as a school governor first at Willow Bank Juniors and then at Waingels. Mike holds a B Eng in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA and he is in Strategy and Innovation Group at Hewlett Packard, an American based electronics and technology company. Mike brings a range of skills including strategic planning, finance, change management and leadership.

Caroline Norris
(Co-Vice Chair)

Caroline is co-Vice Chair of the Trust and was a school Governor at Waingels for 15 years. Caroline is a recently retired local Headteacher and holds a BEd (Hons) and National Professional Qualification for Headteachers (NPQH). With a lifelong career as a teacher and school leader, Caroline brings a wealth of skills in Education, in particular the Primary sector and in Special Educational Needs & Disabilities. Caroline has worked at several Wokingham Schools as a teacher, Deputy Head and as Headteacher and she has a rich understanding of the local educational landscape. 

Dave Williams
(Co-Vice Chair)

Dave is also a co-Vice Chair of the Trust and has over 20 years’ experience in school Governance, including the last 10 years as Chair of Governors at Hawkedon Primary School. Dave also served on an Interim Executive Board for a local school when it got into difficulty. Dave is a serving Police Officer with years of experience in Protection Role. He is widely experienced in safeguarding, anti-terrorism, first aid at work & mental health at work. 

Beth Rowland

Beth has been a Governor at Southlake & Highwood schools for over 20 years. As a director of the Berkshire Credit Union, Beth is also a local councillor and sits on Wokingham Borough Council education committee. Beth is also Mayor of Wokingham Borough. 

Donald MacDonald

Donald has been Governor for over 30 years at Loddon Primary School in Earley, where he has chaired the Finance and Personnel Committees throughout that period. As a Chartered Banker and Director for NatWest Bank, Donald runs a team who look after the Commercial Mid-Market. He also has responsibilities for climate, sustainability and wellbeing. Donald has been Chair of Loddon District Scouts for over 20 years; a group which comprises over 1200 young people and adults. 

Foster Tembo

Foster holds a PhD in Accounting, an MBA and is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. As Senior Lecturer at Coventry University, he is also the academic course director for Accountancy, Finance & Marketing. Foster has experience as an auditor and is committed to civic responsibility, auditing the accounts for several charities & churches.

Gareth Hayes

Gareth has been a governor at Willow Bank & Waingels for 13 years and became a Trustee of the Waingels Academy Trust in 2019.  Gareth has a BSc in Electronics and Computer Science, and held Technical Director and Chief Engineer roles in telecoms and aerospace industries, and is now working as a consultant in digital security.   

Katherine Sanganee

Katherine is Head of Marketing & Concept Development for SAS International and was co-opted to the Board in December 2022. She has extensive experience in public relations, branding, and communications strategies. She is also a WELL Accredited Professional. Katherine was formerly a Governor at Hawkedon Primary School and is now a School Link Trustee for Hillside Primary School.  

Lee Morgan

Lee, who was co-opted to the Trust Board in December 2022, is a chartered management accountant and is the Global Account Director for SODEXO where he leads a team of over 1,000 people delivering integrated facilities management – at sites in the UK and overseas. Lee brings extensive expertise and experience in facilities management, health & safety, as well as finance, growth and risk management. 

Nayana Bharti

Nayana has been a Governor at Waingels for 20 years and became a Trustee in 2021. Nayana has BA (Hons) in Social Sciences and is a qualified solicitor. Nayana has worked with both FTSE and private companies and has over 30 years’ experience of working in corporate governance and legal; and also in finance, insurance and payroll.

Rebecca Stewardson

Rebecca is Chair of Governors at Willow Bank Infant Primary School. Rebecca studied Law and German at University and has worked extensively in Human Resources, incentives, rewards and motivation, staff well-being, gender pay-gaps, bonus schemes and HR Policy. 

Sally Akers

Sally joined the Trust board in the summer of 2024 and brings a wealth of experience as a primary school headteacher and a therapeutic thinking coach. 

Donald MacDonald

Foster Tembo

Gareth Hayes (Chair)

Katherine Sanganee

Lee Morgan (Vice Chair)

Mike Marsden

Rebecca Stewardson

Sally Akers

Donald MacDonald*

Lee Morgan*

Rebecca Stewardson*
Chair

*Mike Marsden to step in if a member is away

Beth Rowland 

Caroline Norris (Chair)

Dave Williams

Mike Marsden 

Nayana Bharti 

Sally Akers (Vice-Chair)

Dawn Smith 
External Advisor (non-voting) 

Martina Parsons 
External Advisor (non-voting) 

Sarah Phillips 
External Advisor (non-voting)

Caroline Norris

Dave Williams

Donald MacDonald (Chair)

Gareth Hayes

Katherine Sanganee

Nayana Bharti (Vice Chair)