This is the Compass Partnership of Schools’ Board of Trustees. The Trustees have been appointed for the variety of skills and expertise that they bring to a charitable trust.

Susan skidmore

Chair of the Trust Board
Leader and Education Consultant

Susan has extensive experience within the primary and adult education sectors in various teaching roles and as a leader, Head teacher, mentor and consultant, focussing on leading teams through complex transitions. She also specialises in governance, having both led and supported governing bodies at the request of LAs across the South East, ensuring compliance, challenge and engagement. She has been a Trustee of the Compass Partnership of Schools since its inception in 2017 and has latterly chaired the Trust Board through to the successful merger with Eko Trust.

Susan is committed to inspiring growth, not just in outcomes, but in adults and children alike. Appointed as one of the first national consultant leaders, her approach centres on leadership with vision, purpose and authenticity where others feel empowered to reach beyond perceived limits, embrace change and realise their full potential.

With two grown-up children she now enjoys taking out her grandchildren on exciting day trips and, when she has time, reading historical novels.

Philippa King

Philippa has 30 years’ experience in voluntary sector fundraising, communications and leadership, with national, local and international charities.  She is currently Co-Director of a community anchor charity in Newham. 

Philippa’s skills include premises & capital projects, strategic planning, data analysis, communications, community engagement, fundraising and marketing.

 

Alex Davison

Alex’s involvement in governance started in 2012 when he joined the Rushmere governing body as a parent governor. During which time as a governor he served as chair of finance, vice chair, and as chairperson. He was instrumental in Rushmere’s journey from “Requires Improvement” to “Good”. He has been a member of the Suffolk Governors Forum, including a period as chair.

His career in educational ICT support has given him a clear understanding of how support functions are crucial to the teaching and learning taking place in schools, which he applies to his governance role.

Alison riddle

Partner at Osborne Clarke

Alison Riddle is a partner at Osborne Clarke, an international law firm where she advises clients in the Built Environment sector. Alison has over 20 years of legal experience and focusses on funds, investment management and corporate matters. Originally from Essex, she grew up near Chelmsford before pursuing her law degree at the University of Bristol. Alison is also actively involved in promoting diversity and mental health awareness within her firm, and takes the lead in graduate and apprentice recruitment. She currently resides in the Greenwich area with her partner and three children.

Daniel Chard

Head of Vice-Chancellor’s Office 
University of Brighton 

Dan is Head of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office at a university in the south-east. He provides strategic advice, policy analysis, and project leadership, as well as managing the executive support team. Dan’s entire career has been in education, starting as an executive assistant and pastoral tutor in a secondary school, before moving into higher education. He has held various roles of increasing seniority in campaigns, communications, public affairs and project management.

Dan is deeply passionate about education and the opportunities it creates, especially for children and young people. Dan has been involved with Eko Trust for nearly two years, as associate trustee and chair of the Cluster Performance Committee. From April 2026, he will be trustee of the newly merged trust.

Helen Horsley

Helen worked in primary and secondary for many years as both as a teacher and a leader. Her passion for developing others in order that children can be led by the very best teachers and leaders culminated in her role as head of primary school.

Helen then developed and led a successful Teaching School Alliance. Helen is a trained facilitator and led development of Headteachers and teachers on the National Professional Programmes.

Helen has been a school governor for many years before becoming a Trustee 5 years ago. She really enjoys the role and the learning and development that it brings. She is clear that highly effective governance is about making a difference and is essential to securing the best outcomes and life chances for all children and young people

Hugh Lewis

Hugh was a qualified solicitor being a partner in a high street practice for over 30 years before his retirement in 2023. He specialised in land law and trusts with his client base including local companies and charities. As a business owner Hugh possessed key financial and analytical skills to ensure that his practice met and satisfied ever-changing economic and regulatory demands. Having been a school governor for 16 years, Hugh possesses a good knowledge of the requirements of school governance, including the need to challenge and support school leaders, while always focusing on the well-being, safety and development of each pupil.  

Julian Robinson

Previously the Chair of Governors at Earlham Primary School, with over 30 years' experience of governance in Newham. Julian is Director of Estates at the London School of Economics.

Professionally qualified in Town Planning and Surveying, Julian specialises in master planning, design and construction and property and facilities management.

He is a Trustee and former Chair of the University Design Forum, Vice Chair and Director of the Northbank Business Improvement District in Westminster and a Director of London Heritage Quarter.

Linda Perks

Trade Union Official and Manager (retired)

Linda has considerable experience in the field of governance, public service and working volunteers and outside agencies.  She worked for Unison, the public service trade union, managing the Greater London Region as Regional Secretary and previously holding roles in negotiation, advocacy, governance and organisational development.  Following retirement, she was elected Councillor in the Royal Borough of Greenwich 2018 - 2022, starting as a back bencher and Deputy Whip, rising to Cabinet Member of Finance and Resources in her last year of office.  Linda comes from a family of school support staff and has a background in advising and representing staff employed in public services, including schools.  She started with Compass as a local authority governor at Willow Dene Special School in 2014 and was Chair of Governors there for six years.  She has also held two separate terms of office as a Compass Trustee, including chairing both the Business and Pay & Personnel Committees.  Linda now mentors young women on behalf of the Fabian Women's Network in skills and career development, public service and governance.

Mary Whitehead

Retired head teacher and national leader of education

Mary has taught in early years and primary settings and became a head teacher in Greenwich in 2000. Mary established the Royal Greenwich Teaching School Alliance, and became a national leader of education, before retiring in 2014. She is passionate about education in school and wider educational issues.

MICHAEL GREEN

Education Consultant & Head of Quality Improvement Planning at Buckinghamshire New University

Professor Michael Green has over 24 years of experience working across a range of education establishments; including schools, multi academy trusts, universities and Government ministerial and non-ministerial departments (Department for Education & Ofsted). Michael is a former Her Majesty’s Inspector of Education.  He now splits his time as Head of Quality Improvement Planning at the BNU, working as an independent education consultant across schools, universities and local authorities and inspecting as an Ofsted Inspector.  He has considerable education leadership experience. His particular area of expertise is system leadership and organisation improvement and development; working with schools and other organisations in a variety of contexts and circumstances.  He has also undertaken a range of international advisory work; including in Nigeria to advise on new models of teacher training and development. Over his career he has published in a range of journals and books and presented at both national and international conferences.

Nathalie Fitzgerald

Head Teacher, Rowhill School

Nathalie is a highly experienced educational leader and trustee with over 15 years experience, having served in federation and trust governance roles since 2010 and as a trustee within the Compass and Eko family of schools since 2017.  She brings extensive expertise in strategic leadership, school improvement, safeguarding and inclusion.

As Headteacher of Rowhill school, Nathalie leads a specialist setting supporting children and young people with SEND, SEMH and autism.  Previously, she led both primary and secondary specialist provisions, successfully driving outstanding outcomes for children with complex needs and ensuring high-quality educational experiences for all learners.

Nathalie combines current headship experience with a strong governance background, including leadership of standards, curriculum and safeguarding oversight.  She is passionate about creating inclusive, ambitious learning environments where every child can thrive and reach their full potential.

Simon Hayward

Programs Director UK portfolio, London & Continental Railways
Associate Partner, Parceman Hill Associates Consultancy

Simon Hayward is a Business Steward, Board adviser and Vice Chair of Compass Eko, bringing extensive experience of governance, organisational leadership and strategic decision-making from across both the public and private sectors.

Simon works with Boards and executive leaders to help them make confident, well-informed decisions by ensuring strategy is aligned with organisational capability and long-term sustainability. His independent approach, developed through the Business Steward methodology, helps organisations understand the wider consequences of major decisions before they are made, strengthening governance and improving long-term outcomes.

Within education, Simon has supported the Boards of four Multi Academy Trusts, helping guide Trust growth, governance development, academy trust-to-trust transfers and organisational change. As Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and a member of the Strategy Committee, he is committed to ensuring Compass Eko continues to provide strong governance, effective leadership and the best possible environment for pupils, colleagues and the wider school community.

Simon believes that good governance should always enable great education, ensuring that every strategic decision ultimately benefits children, staff and the communities the Trust serves.

Sue Hellman

Retired, former Director of UK Consultancy and Knowledge Transfer at UCL Centre for Educational Leadership

Sue has a wealth of experience within the education sector, providing support and leadership development to schools across the UK.  Over a career of 40 years, she has held various roles within the education sector, including as a Headteacher of a Primary school with a specialist unit for pupils with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, a Local Authority Advisor, School Improvement Partner, Consultant Leader and Leadership Coach.

Yvette Stander

Head of EMEA Asset Servicing Risk

Yvette trained as a chartered accountant and completed her articles at KPMG giving her a good grounding in Finance and Audit.  She then worked as a consultant specialising in change and working with businesses to make this change.

In her career she has led large change programmes and led teams to deliver against these programs.  It was the collaboration with the teams that she enjoyed the most.

Her last role for a Corporate was in Risk, where the challenge of the business was key to mitigating key risks and moving the business in the right direction. She was Co-Chair of the Business Risk Committee and a decision maker at the Business Acceptance Committee.

 

 

Leavers over the last 12 months

Daulat Sen - 2 July 2026