Members and Board of Directors

Directors

• David Brown
  Chair of the board of Directors
  David Brown

  David is a specialist Interim CEO supporting Trusts. He has supported Trusts to grow as well as acting on behalf of a DfE Intervention Board to deal with highly significant financial challenges. He was described by ESFA in 2019 as an 'experienced specialist in turning around failed trusts'.

  David has worked as a national policy adviser, an Executive Director of Education and Children's Services, an Executive Headteacher several times, and the Chief Executive of an Academy Trust. Throughout his career he has been focused upon the improvement of challenging and high profile urban schools and larger structural change solutions in the sector and beyond.

  Educated at his local state school in Birmingham UK, he has an Economics degree and MA from Cambridge University, an MBA in Education (International) and qualified in teaching at the renowned Institute of Education, London. David has been a Visiting Professor and Visiting Fellow at UK universities.

  From his first Headship he has led and supported many schools, all of them in deprived areas or challenging circumstances. He has helped schools to achieve top 5% nationally/most improved schools on several occasions from 2001 to 2016 across many different assessment measures. He was one of the first phase of Executive Headteachers in the UK and has written about executive leadership across schools.

  David was Chair of the West Midlands UK Directors of Children's Services and Education and as Director led the procurement of the largest public-private education contract in Europe in 2008. In the same year the local authority was in the top 10 local authorities for improvement at both GCSE and Primary results.

  As a pioneer in the trending world of Executive Headship, he has worked with universities, central and local government, faith groups and charities whilst still leading challenging schools himself. David was national adviser on education for the Church of England and the Secretariat for the Church of England's 'Church School of the Future Report'.

  David is a regular public speaker including at the Houses of Parliament and Tjanjin, China, and has written extensively on change and improvement. He has experience of schools in South Sudan, Brazil, India, China and USA in March 2017 was a member of the first FCO UK Trade Mission to Kyrgyzstan on behalf of Cambridge University Press Education Reform.

• Rob Smith
  Vice-Chair of Directors
  Rob Smith

  I am a reader in Education at Birmingham City University. I have taught in Birmingham schools, colleges and higher education institutions for 25 years. I trained as a secondary English teacher and I was teaching at Holt Schools in Lozells when the National Curriculum was introduced.

  In 2012, I co-founded the Centre for Research and Development in Lifelong Education at the University of Wolverhampton. I am a staunch believer in comprehensive education as a basis for every young person achieving excellence. I also believe in the necessity of pursuing a multicultural ethos. My body of work explores the impact of funding and marketisation on Further Education provision in England. I have researched and written extensively in collaboration with FE and HE practitioners.

  Recent articles include: Rob Smith (2015) College Re-culturing, Marketisation and Knowledge: The Meaning of Incorporation, Journal of Educational Administration and History, Smith, R. and O'Leary, M. (2015) Partnership as Cultural Practice in the Face of Neoliberal Reform, Journal of Educational Administration and History.

• Surinder Buray
  Director
  Surinder Buray

  I have been a Governor at the Trust for over 26 years, having held office as Member (current), Director (current), Chair of Directors for 3 years, Chair of Governors for 6 years, Vice-Chair of Governors for 3 years and Chair of Staffing and Fulfilment Sub-committee for 9 years.

  Both my children were schooled at the Trust, went on to gain Honours Degrees, post graduate studies and successful careers. As an educationalist, I understand that a child's life ambitions can be realised through education. However, it is equally important that standards are maintained and raised in both teaching and learning through challenge, target setting, monitoring outcomes, strategic management including working with and challenging the senior leadership team. In my working life I am a Magistrate of 25 years standing, I am chair of the Bench sitting at Victoria Law Courts, Birmingham. I am a director of a firm of multi-disciplinary architectural, civil, structural consultants, having links with schools wherever possible to enhance career aspirations of pupils in this area.

• Ruby Ubhi
  Director
  Ruby Ubhi

  Hello, I'm Ruby. I am a former Hamstead Hall School student and left in 1999. My learning experience and teachers, who encouraged me to be bold and aim high, have played a huge part in me living my life goals today. Being a Director at the Academy is a huge privilege, and I'm committed to enabling young people and leaders in my community to thrive.

  I am a Leadership & Talent Development Consultant and run my own small business, working with companies in the UK and overseas. I love working with people and supporting them to achieve their fullest potential. My background is in management and leadership, I started my career as an NHS Graduate Management Trainee and have held a number of senior management roles since. I have also worked in Healthcare Consultancy at KPMG, where I developed a global perspective on leadership and experience of leading large-scale leadership development programmes.

  In my spare time you'll find me travelling, walking my dog or reading a good book.

  Qualifications: MSc Public Health & Leadership (University of Birmingham), PGCE Post Compulsory Education (University of Wolverhampton), BSc Business Maths & Statistics (The London School of Economics), Certificate Humanistic Counselling Skills (Gestalt Centre).

• Rupi Chandla
  Director
  Rupi Chandla

  I am an Associate Solicitor at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP and specialise in Real Estate Litigation/Property Disputes. I attended Hamstead Hall from 2004 up until I finished sixth-form in 2011. From then I studied Law at the University of Birmingham.

  I am a member of organisations such as the Birmingham Law Society and the Birmingham Solicitors Group. I am passionate about giving back to my community and promoting equality & diversity. I sit on the Birmingham Law Society EDI committee.

  Previously I have been a Mentor as part of The Prince's Trust's 'Mosaic' programme. I was also Board Secretary for Sport4Life a Birmingham based charity and a Director of the Birmingham Trainee Solicitors' Society.

• Trystan Shaw
  Director
  Trystan Shaw

  I am a Chartered Accountant working at Mazars LLP in Birmingham. I am in the Transaction Services Team providing due diligence and other financial advice on a wide range of corporate transactions for both private and not for profit businesses. Prior to this I worked in the Internal Audit team reviewing risks and internal controls for not for profit businesses including housing associations and educational academy trusts.
  I have been on the Board of Directors for Hamstead Hall Academy Trust since June 2020. My roles and responsibilities include scrutinising the financial performance of the Trust, advising on financial performance indicators, and ensuring that there are appropriate controls in place regarding financial risks.
  I am connected to the Trust via my Grandad who worked at Hamstead Hall for over 20 years as both a teacher and Head of Lower School.

• Aanisah Begg
  Director
  Aanisah Begg

  I am Birmingham born and bred and have always lived in Handsworth Wood. I attended King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls before graduating with a BSc in Mathematics with Economics from Aston University in 2012.

  I am an Investment Manager at a Birmingham based Venture Capital Fund. I have a passion for supporting local entrepreneurs in business growth, helping them to build successful and innovative companies of the future via financial and operational management.

  I believe my passion for Birmingham and the local community, coupled with my professional experience enables me to make a valuable contribution to the governing board. The success of our region is heavily underpinned by the c.400 schools, 15 universities and 3 university colleges within one hour's drive of the city, churning out world-class talent. It is imperative all children are given the opportunity of gaining the best education possible equipping them with the life skills to purse their chosen career.

  I have previously volunteered with Young Enterprise, enabling young people to develop the knowledge and skills needed for the world of work. I regularly deliver presentations to A Level students in Birmingham, highlighting the professional services careers available in the city and encouraging girls to consider careers in STEM.

• Jonathan Mortimer
  Executive Principal and Accounting Officer
  Jonathan Mortimer

  I have over 20 years teaching experience as a Maths teacher and have worked at Hamstead Hall since April 1998. I have undertaken a variety of roles including Head of Maths, Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher with specialisms in curriculum and assessment and more recently as Head of School at Hamstead Hall Academy.

  In January 2017, I became one of the Executive Principals of Hamstead Hall Academy Trust and recorded as the designated Accounting Officer at the Trust. Hamstead Hall Academy has been a National Support School since 2009. As a National Leader of Education, I have a wealth of experience of school to school support working in schools across the West Midlands to improve leadership and student outcomes. In October 2015, I became the Birmingham Education Partnership (BEP) Secondary District Representative for the North West Network as well as being a member of the BEP School Improvement and Commissioning Committee for Birmingham. In September 2018, I was appointed as a Director on the Titan Executive.

• Sukhbir Farar
  Executive Principal
  Sukhbir Farar

  I started my teaching career at Hamstead Hall as a Mathematics Teacher in 1989. Over the last 30 years I have held many management positions at the school including Head of Year, Head of Maths and 18 years on the Senior Leadership Team. At leadership level I have been a Senior Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher, Head of School and in January 2017 I was appointed as one of the Executive Principals of Hamstead Hall Academy Trust.

  My particular areas of expertise are Human Resources, School Improvement and Self Evaluation.

  I have also been an Associate Headteacher in a number of underperforming schools, in Leeds and Birmingham and I have been an assessor for the Cultural Diversity Quality Standard on behalf of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. In 2013 I became an Ofsted Inspector and have carried out a number of school inspections over the last 5 years.

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Members

• Rachel Burroughs
  Member
  Rachel Burroughs

  Having taught in the West Midlands for 30 years, I have expanded and used my pedagogical knowledge to support the academy trust. I believe in promoting inclusivity and cultural diversity. My extensive knowledge of critical governance spans over 20 years and includes pastoral, safe- guarding, strategic leadership and management. I am passionate about every student's achievement and believe that every young person should leave school with life skills which will enable them to encounter and overcome difficult tasks, be tolerant and remain learners throughout their lives. My daughters, who were previously educated at Hamstead Hall, achieved very well and have gone on to undertake very good careers. I live locally, have strong links with parents and through my role as a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator am able to reach out towards the community.

• Pam Garrington
  Member
  Pam Garrington

  I have a background in Secondary education where I taught for 27 years. I was a member of the Senior Leadership team before moving to a Local Authority School Improvement Service in 2003 -2012. I retired in August 2012 and wanted to devote more time to pursuing my interest in governance. I became a National Leader of Governance in March 2012, in the very first cohort. I have an MA in Educational Leadership and Innovation.

  2019 marked my 25^th year as a governor and I have served on governing boards in the Primary and the Secondary phase, as well as being a trustee in a multi-academy trust.

  I am firmly committed to the importance of high-quality and ethical governance and am dedicated to ensuring that the children and young people in our schools have access to great teaching and resources to enable them to be the best they can be.

• Peter French
  Member
  Peter French

  I have been a governor at Hamstead Hall since 1997 when I was the Vicar at St Andrew's Church in Handsworth. I have been Chair of Governors and have served on the Professional Fulfilment and Finance and Resources Committees.

  Prior to this I have been a governor of another secondary school in Bury, Lancashire and Chair of Governors of a primary school in Bury. Part of my current job as the Assistant Director of Education for Church of England schools in the Birmingham area is to support and train governors. I am also a National Leader of Governance. As well as leading governor training I have participated in governor training to ensure my skills are up to date. As a governing body we have worked hard to ensure Hamstead Hall, and now Grestone Academy, provide high quality all round education for the pupils.

• Phillip Riggon
  Member
  Phillip Riggon

  I am a Member of Hamstead Hall Academy Trust.

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