Richard Hover – (Chair of Trustees)
Richard has been a Governor at Chartham Primary School since September 2014 becoming Chair of Governors in September 2018. Richard has successfully completed the NGA Development for Chairs Training Programme and has a clear understanding of strategic leadership within the context of governance. He became a Governor at St Stephens Infant School in October 2018 In order to further develop his understanding of the governance role in school improvement.
Richard was member of the joint governing body strategy group and pay committee, Executive Headteacher Performance Management Panel and was the Safeguarding Governor for Chartham Primary School. Richard brings a wealth of experience, enthusiasm and commitment having worked in the Civil Service for over 20 years and has a naturally inquisitive mind. He has a proven track record of motivating people through change, building continuous improvement and coaching newly trained investigators.
Agnieszka (Aga) Gordon
Dr Aga Gordon has been a school Governor for 8 years, including 4 years as Vice- Chair. Over her time as a Governor she has undertaken a range of responsibilities, including quality of learning and teaching, and membership of the staff complaints and appraisal appeals panels. She was responsible for SEND and pupil premium, leadership and management, and was a member of the school federation’s strategy group. She has also served on the Head Teacher appraisal panel and was previously a member of the Executive Headteacher appraisal panel.
Aga brings a broad range of experience to the governing body spanning across Primary, Secondary and Higher Education, as well as leadership and management experience in other areas.
She worked as university lecturer for several years, has run her own company, and founded and manages a Polish supplementary school. She has significant experience of managing complex projects and currently works at Canterbury Christ Church University as a Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Aga is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and has a PhD in Chemistry and an MBA.
Emma Whitehead
Emma joined Chartham Governing Body in October 2017 as a Parent Governor and has been Vice-Chair of Governors since September 2018. She has been in Primary Education for over 20 years, as a KS2 teacher with a subject responsibility for music. Latterly, Emma has been running her own peripatetic music teaching business, working across a number of schools. Whilst in her role as a KS2 teacher, Emma spent 7 years as a Staff Governor with responsibility for monitoring teaching and learning and assessment. As a governor at Chartham Primary School, she is able to utilise her experience in the Primary sector to provide insight into the strategic leadership aspects of school life. As part of the Strategy Group, Emma has been involved with the development and growth of the shared vision and ethos of both Chartham and St Stephen’s Infants, witnessing first-hand the ever-growing benefits of the partnership.
Using her knowledge and experience of teaching, Emma has monitored strands of Quality of Education and Teaching and Learning.
Emma has also been responsible for finance monitoring, which has required her to develop her knowledge and understanding of the financial systems used within education.
Kimberley Foulkes
I am currently an Audit Supervisor at Kreston Reeves LLP and began training with the same firm in August 2008. I qualified with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in 2014 and have been a Fellow of the Association since 2019.
In my job I have a focus in leading and managing Charity and Not for Profit audits, with a specialism in Multi-Academy Trust audit and advisory work.
Consequently, I have developed a passion and commitment to the Education sector. I also supervise teams undertaking audit work for a diverse portfolio of clients, which include large corporate international groups, Pension Schemes and Not for Profit entities, including private schools. I undertake extensive training and CPD for my role which encompasses specialist Academy and Education finance training. I have been a co-opted governor at St Stephens Infant School since 2016 and at Chartham Primary School since 2019. I find these roles extremely rewarding and enjoy contributing to the vision and future of these schools. I am born and raised in Canterbury, and live locally to both schools within the trust, with my husband and dog.
Ben MacPhee
After graduating from the University of Kent, Ben has spent the majority of his career in the Higher Education sector and he has been the Chief Executive of the Students’ Union at Canterbury Christ Church University since 2014, leading on governance, strategy, and financial planning.
Ben became a governor of St. Stephen’s Infant School in 2013 as a result of a desire to further contribute to the education sector in Canterbury, before becoming Vice Chair in 2016 and then Chair in 2017. In the role of Chair Ben initiated the partnership with Chartham Primary School and drove, with The Chair of Chartham and the Executive Headteacher, the project to form what became Inspira Academy Trust.
Toyin Okitikpi
Toyin is a qualified social worker and has over 40 years of experience in the field of social care and social welfare both as a practitioner and as an academic. Toyin is an external PhD examiner for the Tavistock Portman Foundation and University of East London. He have been involved in research and have written and co-authored academic publications in practice related areas, including children and families, discrimination, and equality. Toyin has also been involved as a panel member on several committees and tribunals for over 20 years. He currently sits on the Mental Health Review Tribunal; Immigration and Asylum Tribunal; Employment Tribunal and the Ministry of Defence Service Complaint Tribunal. He is involved in a Lord Lieutenant’s project encouraging the active involvement of Primary School Children in life skills groups. Toyin is a trustee of the Primary Shakespeare Company and Leadership through Sports and Business.
Gina Potts
Dr Gina Potts is a higher education professional with expertise in project management, building partnerships, knowledge exchange and corporate governance. She has particular interests in digital transformation in education, and how technology can improve working practices and student experience as well as breaking down barriers. Gina has spent the majority of her career in the UK higher education sector – previously as a lecturer and researcher and more recently in professional services as project and partnership manager. She also spent over 10 years in the private sector running her own business providing training & mentoring and working in IT and web development. Gina brings her professional experience and passion for raising aspirations through education. She joined the Inspira Academy Board of Trustees in Autumn 2022 and is Health and Safety Trustee.