Trustees and Members
Scroll down to find out more about our Trustees:
Chair of Trustees: Ian Hetherington Kenneth Scott M.A., M.Chir., F.R.C.S.
Mr Scott was a founding Trustee. He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a doctor and as a trainee surgeon in Germany and Northern Ireland. Upon completion of training he was appointed as a Consultant Surgeon at the Ipswich Hospital. When the Hospital became an NHS Trust, he was appointed as Medical Director, a post which he held from 1993 to 2008. He was one of the earliest members of the British Association of Medical Managers. In 2004, he became the Clinical Lead for Hospital Doctors for the NHS National Programme for IT and established and chaired the Risk Management Board for the clinical side of the Programme.
Mr Scott is fully retired from medical practice.
Mr Scott was a founding Trustee. He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a doctor and as a trainee surgeon in Germany and Northern Ireland. Upon completion of training he was appointed as a Consultant Surgeon at the Ipswich Hospital. When the Hospital became an NHS Trust, he was appointed as Medical Director, a post which he held from 1993 to 2008. He was one of the earliest members of the British Association of Medical Managers. In 2004, he became the Clinical Lead for Hospital Doctors for the NHS National Programme for IT and established and chaired the Risk Management Board for the clinical side of the Programme.
Mr Scott is fully retired from medical practice.
Chief Executive Officer and Ex-Officio Board Member: Daniel Jones BA (Hons), National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership
Daniel Jones was CEO when the Trust founded and has overseen the growth of the Trust from two to eight schools. Previously, he taught in three Inner City London Boroughs and has held leadership positions including headteacher in three Suffolk schools.
Daniel was instrumental in Springfield Juniors being awarded the National Pupil Premium Award (2017). He has spoken at many events, written blogs, led training and worked strategically with numerous schools nationally on this subject. In January 2018, Daniel visited Singapore as part of the British Council and Singapore Ministry of Education in ‘Building Educational Bridges’ project and co-wrote a chapter in the subsequent report on the maths curriculum for Nick Gibb, the Schools Minister. In 2020, Daniel made a series of films for Discovery Education and the National Association of Headteachers focused on the challenge of closing the attainment gap.
Daniel Jones was CEO when the Trust founded and has overseen the growth of the Trust from two to eight schools. Previously, he taught in three Inner City London Boroughs and has held leadership positions including headteacher in three Suffolk schools.
Daniel was instrumental in Springfield Juniors being awarded the National Pupil Premium Award (2017). He has spoken at many events, written blogs, led training and worked strategically with numerous schools nationally on this subject. In January 2018, Daniel visited Singapore as part of the British Council and Singapore Ministry of Education in ‘Building Educational Bridges’ project and co-wrote a chapter in the subsequent report on the maths curriculum for Nick Gibb, the Schools Minister. In 2020, Daniel made a series of films for Discovery Education and the National Association of Headteachers focused on the challenge of closing the attainment gap.
Vice Chair of Trustees: David White Advanced Dip ED (Cambridge)
Mr White was a founding Trustee. He was a Primary School Head teacher for almost 30 years in Northamptonshire, Bromley and Suffolk. Following this, he worked as an Educational Consultant with Local Education Authorities, and also as an Ofsted Inspector so has viewed the education system from a range of positions.
Dedicated to improving practice and maximising pupils’ attainment, Mr White took part in various research programmes for the development of Children's Language and Writing Skills.
Previously a governor at Springfield Junior School, he is a keen Rotarian and a volunteer worker, having worked with Tools with a Mission in Uganda (TWAM). He is also a Trustee of the Bumblebees Children’s Charity.
Julie Goodridge – BA (Hons) PGCE
Julie is currently Director of Education for Everychild Partnership Trust based in Surrey/West Sussex. She has 25 years’ experience in school roles - ranging from class teacher through to senior leader, governor and LA adviser - followed by 13 years working as an Achievement Adviser for EdisonLearning leading on nationally funded DfE programmes with schools from Manchester to Worthing. Julie is also a self-employed Educational Adviser and Coach and has a passion for supporting school leaders and teachers with tried and tested approaches, strategies and tools to improve outcomes for all learners. Julie continues to be interested in tackling new challenges with schools as both local and national agendas change, not to mention the global situation, using what we learn from research. She is also a Trustee of the Bumblebees Children’s Charity.
Julie Goodridge – BA (Hons) PGCE
Julie is currently Director of Education for Everychild Partnership Trust based in Surrey/West Sussex. She has 25 years’ experience in school roles - ranging from class teacher through to senior leader, governor and LA adviser - followed by 13 years working as an Achievement Adviser for EdisonLearning leading on nationally funded DfE programmes with schools from Manchester to Worthing. Julie is also a self-employed Educational Adviser and Coach and has a passion for supporting school leaders and teachers with tried and tested approaches, strategies and tools to improve outcomes for all learners. Julie continues to be interested in tackling new challenges with schools as both local and national agendas change, not to mention the global situation, using what we learn from research. She is also a Trustee of the Bumblebees Children’s Charity.
Paul Wranek ACA
Paul qualified as a chartered accountant in 1992 and following a career in various businesses as Finance Director and Managing Director joined Ipswich School in 2007 as Deputy Bursar. In 2013 he became Bursar and continued in this role until his retirement in May of this year. As well as being responsible for the finances of the school Paul also contributed to strategic development working with governors as a member of the senior leadership team. He oversaw all the school’s non-academic departments, including catering and estates and also oversaw major capital projects, which included a new music school, a new sports facility and the purchase of an ex-nursing home adjacent to the school. Paul sat on the steering group for the Ipswich Garden Suburb development from 2008 until 2019 and then on the development group once the overarching planning had been granted.
Paul lives on the Shotley Peninsula and has recently become a trustee of the HMS Ganges Museum.
Anthony Miller
Anthony Miller is an Education IT Consultant with extensive experience in IT within the education sector having worked with schools, colleges and universities over the past 20 years. He has recently project managed the implementation of IT systems into new SEN school builds in London and the South East. He is currently working with the Active Learning Trust as the Head of IT, developing the Trust’s digital strategy and leading the Trust's vision and strategy for ICT delivery, and developing the quality and impact of the operational deployment of technologies.
Anthony is a business owner and a former governor of a Primary School in Norwich.
Victoria Gardner BEd (Hons)
Victoria grew up in the Wiltshire countryside, and moved to Bristol to attend university where she studied English Literature and qualified as a primary school teacher, with literacy as her specialism.
Moving from Bristol to London before settling in Ipswich, Victoria has worked in business for over 20 years, with the majority of that being in the financial services sector. She is currently a Portfolio Trading Manager for AXA Insurance. Working in a highly regulated environment, Victoria has built up a wealth of experience in account management, risk management and relationship management.
Having joined the Board of Governors at Springfield Junior School fourteen years ago, Victoria is currently chair of the Finance Committee, so she brings both local knowledge and business experience to the Trust.
Victoria has a passion for literature, the Arts and culture along with spending time with her family and walking her dog.
Clare Barlow RN, RHV, MSc, MBA, PGDL
Clare brings a wealth of experience in healthcare and law to the Academy Trust. After working in the NHS until 2004, she qualified as a Solicitor and now leads the family law department at Christchurch Solicitors LLP. Clare is dedicated to resolving family issues, whenever possible, constructively, and in a non-confrontational manner.
With personal experience of Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, Clare is passionate about ensuring every child, regardless of their needs, has appropriate access to the educational support they require. She has championed locally for an increase in SEN investment, reflecting her commitment to educational equality and inclusion.
Clare has developed a strong belief in the importance of parental engagement. She recognises the need for close collaborative working with parents to ensure their views and concerns are understood, with a focus on how well their children are progressing at school.
As a trustee, Clare’s unique blend of legal expertise, personal experience with SEN provision, and her collaborative approach to governance, make her a dedicated advocate for inclusive and high-quality education for all children.
Scroll down to find out more about our Trust Members:
Mrs Gwen Collins
Mrs Collins was a founding member of the Trust in January 2019. She has worked in the healthcare sector for over 20 years in England and also in the United Arab Emirates. From 2010-12, Mrs Collins was the Deputy Chief Nurse East of England Strategic Health Authority and professional leader for over 20,000 staff across the Midlands & East region.
Mrs Collins was the Global Chief Nurse and Director for Clinical Governance & Quality for BUPA from 2013- 2016 and served as the professional lead for over a 30,000 strong nursing workforce. Within her BUPA role, Mrs Collins was the organisational lead for the development, implementation and monitoring of the Clinical Governance and Quality programme across the world. She was responsible for the provision of specialist & unique advice, analysis and consultancy in order to facilitate delivery of the clinical governance program & contribute to the achievement of operational excellence for all 32 million customers.
Mrs Collins was a founding member of the Trust in January 2019. She has worked in the healthcare sector for over 20 years in England and also in the United Arab Emirates. From 2010-12, Mrs Collins was the Deputy Chief Nurse East of England Strategic Health Authority and professional leader for over 20,000 staff across the Midlands & East region.
Mrs Collins was the Global Chief Nurse and Director for Clinical Governance & Quality for BUPA from 2013- 2016 and served as the professional lead for over a 30,000 strong nursing workforce. Within her BUPA role, Mrs Collins was the organisational lead for the development, implementation and monitoring of the Clinical Governance and Quality programme across the world. She was responsible for the provision of specialist & unique advice, analysis and consultancy in order to facilitate delivery of the clinical governance program & contribute to the achievement of operational excellence for all 32 million customers.
Professor Mohammad Dastbaz
Professor Dastbaz was a founding member of the Trust in January 2019. He is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at University of Suffolk. He has a PhD in Design, Development and Evaluation of Multimedia Systems from Kingston University. In 1989 he established one of UK’s first Multimedia computer companies called “Systems 2000 Ltd.” building Multimedia PCs and was one of the only companies alongside the Philips Corporation to participate in the UK’s first Multimedia Systems Exhibition at London Olympia in 1990.
Professor Dastbaz joined Kingston University in 1994 as a research lead and has worked in number of universities. Between 2000-2007 he was the Head of the Department of Information Systems and Multimedia, at the University of Greenwich, he then became the Dean of School of Computing and Engineering at the University of East London. In 2011 Professor Dastbaz joined Leeds Metropolitan University as their Dean and Pro Vice chancellor for Faculty of Arts, Environment and Technology, with over 7000 students and 600 staff, being responsible for five distinct academic schools.
Professor Dastbaz has published over 60 refereed journal, and conference papers, books and book chapters. He is on a number of editorial boards of international journals, has been chair of a number of international conferences and remains a member on a number of international conference committees.
Professor Dastbaz is a Fellow of the BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of Royal Society of Arts (RSA).
Mr Mark Millar, FCCA, FHFMA
Mr Millar was a founding member of the Trust in January 2019. He has spent his career working within the National Health Service, where he accumulated nearly 20 years’ experience in Director and Chief Executive roles. Mr Millar has been a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants since 1980, member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Council since 2010 and elected Vice President in 2018.
He has been Chief Executive of St Elizabeth Hospice, Ipswich since January 2015. He recently completed 7 years as Non-Executive Director of the Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, chairing the Audit Committee.
Mr Millar is also a past chairman of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), and has undertaken a number of overseas study tours on their behalf. He has written and lectured on health systems in a number of European and African countries, as well as Australia, China, New Zealand and United States.
Mr Terry Hunt
Mr Hunt was a founding member of the Trust in January 2019. He grew up in the heart of Suffolk, and was appointed editor of the Evening Star, in 1993. Three years later, in 1996, he became editor of the East Anglian Daily Times.
During his editorship, Mr Hunt maintained the paper’s long-held reputation for fighting on behalf of Suffolk’s people and communities. His passion for education saw the EADT campaign to achieve better standards in Suffolk schools. One initiative, Maths Challenge, won a global award.
When he retired in 2017, Mr Hunt was the longest-serving regional newspaper editor in England. In his spare time, he is a season ticket holder at Ipswich Town.
Mr Alan Pease
Alan Pease was appointed as Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Suffolk New College in May 2023 having previously been Deputy Principal since August 2018. Alan has worked in the FE sector since 2002.
Alan, who holds a degree in Business Management with Sport Studies from Manchester Metropolitan University, was previously Assistant Principal at South Essex College, where he served in a variety of curriculum-based leadership and management roles. As part of the South East Essex College management team, Alan was involved in a successful merger with Thurrock and Basildon College in 2010 and was part of the senior management team who led the merged college to a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating in 2017.
At Suffolk New College, Alan is particularly passionate about providing an ‘exceptional learner experience,’ which is why the fit between his personal vision and the values of Suffolk New College are so strong.
In his first year in the Principal and CEO role, Alan has focussed on maintaining a learner-focussed culture as an organisational priority. As part of this, the role that Civic, Community, Education and Employer stakeholders play in the learner journey has been of paramount importance to support learners acquire the right skills to facilitate their next steps. Through the innovative Industry Partner Programme, Suffolk New College now engages over 400 partners who support learners through a range of activities, both in college and in the workplace.
Alan has brought his merger experience to the implementation of the Suffolk New College merger with the Otley Campus of Easton and Otley College, over the last four years. A fresh organisational culture for the newly merged College has been established, the learner experience has improved and growth in the Land Based curriculum has been achieved for young people, adults and apprentices.
Suffolk New College have also been an early adopter of T Levels and are currently delivering six routes with three new routes planned for 2024-25. The college is proud of its strong retention and achievement across the majority of these T Levels, which is above the national rate and well publicised through FE Week recently. Alan has relished the challenge of raising awareness of T Levels to all external stakeholders and is proud of the T Level provision that the College offers.
Alan is also passionate about Suffolk New College’s place at the heart of the community, serving as an organisation that is accessible to all. As part of this engagement, there is an assiduous focus on ensuring that the college meets local and regional skills needs and is supporting employers with their future workforce needs. Alan strongly believes that investment in skills is the best way to ensure economic growth through supporting people into work, or into better paid jobs that will be of benefit to Suffolk.