Our team

Hannah Stolton

CEO

Hannah Stolton has been CEO of national education charity Governors for Schools since January 2020. Hannah joined the organisation in 2017 where she managed the development of operations, enabling us to spend less time on administration, and more time working directly with potential volunteers and schools. After starting her career as a primary teacher, Hannah moved into the recruitment field, managing the UK operations of an in-house agency. She brings 20 years experience in this area to Governors for Schools, where she focuses on expanding our reach across England and Wales. Hannah is currently chair of governors at a primary school in Essex.

Tara Hill

Head of Finance, HR, and Technology

Tara has worked for Governors for Schools since 2007 and is responsible for managing the charity's finance, HR. and technology work. Having previously worked in post 16 education, Tara moved to Governors for Schools as she wanted to work for an organisation that supported education across all phases to ensure she was part of something working for the best educational outcomes for all. For the last 4 years, Tara has been a governor at a primary school in Surrey and has recently started her second term at the school, taking on the role of vice chair. She is the link governor for disadvantaged pupils.

William Durham

Head of Impact and Corporate Partnerships

Will joined the charity in 2015 and is passionate about outcomes for children. He currently oversees our impact reporting and training provision as well as leading on our corporate partnerships. He has been involved in governance roles since 2016 and is currently a Trustee within a primary SAT in West Sussex where he is Vice-Chair, chairs the School Improvement Committee and acts as Link for SEND and Inclusion.

Julie Thiberg

Head of Charity Development

Julie is part of the senior leadership team at Governors for Schools and has oversight of marketing, impact, fundraising, and larger projects. Julie also heads up our new relationships with corporate partners. Julie brings a background in strategic business development, new business, and project delivery and has moved around the world with work. She studied her business degrees in Copenhagen, New York and London. Julie believes that all children deserve a great education and thrives on seeing the significant impact the charity has on schools across the country.

Emma Harris

Head of Governor Recruitment

Emma joined Governors for Schools in 2018 pursuing her passion for education. Her role focuses on making sure we meet the needs of schools by filling their governor vacancies with talented and committed volunteers. Emma also develops our wider partnerships to encourage more people to consider the governor role. She is a governor at a primary school in Stockport, where she is inclusion link governor.

David Ardill

Head of Trustee Recruitment

David joined Governors for Schools as Head of Trustee Recruitment in June, 2022 having previously worked for more than five years on trustee recruitment in the education sector. David previously worked as a Marketing Manager for British Cycling, the national governing body for the sport based at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester, and was responsible for the delivery of Sky Ride, Britain’s largest initiative to get people into recreational cycling, in partnership with Sport England and corporate partners. A former newspaper journalist, David has a degree in Communication from Chester University.

Emma Hawker

Impact and Training Manager

Emma joined Governors for Schools in November 2017 and brings a range of experience in the education sector. She taught in Essex for several years before joining Essex County Council as an Education Adviser, specialising in assessment. Emma has also developed assessment software used in schools across the country. She now helps design and create our eLearning and impact materials. She is a trustee of a multi-academy trust in Southend-on-Sea.

Loren Nadin

Senior Partnerships Manager - South team

Loren is based in South-East Wales and joined the Governors for Schools team in November 2020. She has worked in various roles within the education sector domestically and internationally, including teaching overseas, managing education intervention programmes for a UK charity, and working as a curriculum development consultant on an international project. She has a first-class degree in International History and Politics and an MA in Modern History. She joined Governors for Schools as a Partnerships Manager to support the organisation’s expansion into Wales.

Charlie Western

Senior Partnerships Manager - North team

Having previously worked in volunteer management, community engagement and trustee recruitment in the education and charity sectors, Charlie is passionate about ensuring positive social impact and tackling educational inequalities. Charlie holds a MSc in International Development from The University of Manchester and is a Trustee of a Rwandan NGO that uses localisation strategies to deliver sustainable access to education. When not working, Charlie is likely away in his campervan or playing hockey for Bradford Hockey Club, where he also volunteers as Welfare and Safeguarding Officer.

Louisa Hann

Communications and Engagement Manager

Louisa joined Governors for School as Communications Executive in March 2022. She has around seven years’ worth of experience in communications in both in-house and freelance capacities and has spent time teaching in the higher education sector. She has a PhD in English and American Studies from the University of Manchester and continues to operate within the academic sphere alongside her role at Governors for Schools.

Olivia Hinds

Brand and Digital Marketing Manager

Olivia joined the Marketing and Communications team at Governors for Schools in December 2022 as the Digital Marketing Executive, then became the new Brand and Digital Marketing Manager in August 2023. For over 10 years, Olivia has been a successful and sought-after private virtual tutor and coach, championing the student voice in all of her endeavours. Olivia is active in the digital, social media and education governance space through her various roles as the creator and co-host of The Governors’ Podcast, website designer, diversity of age trainer, and network manager for Education Governance Solutions and its brands (incl. the National Association of School and College Clerks and the National Black Governors Network). She is also the Committee Chair at a selective secondary school in a medium-sized MAT in Birmingham.

Rebecca Fludder

Senior Recruitment Manager

Rebecca joined Governors for Schools in September 2023 as Senior Recruitment Manager. She has worked in the recruitment industry for over 10 years, predominantly focusing on flexible working and diversity and inclusion which are real passions of hers. Rebecca believes that people lie at the heart of every organisation.

Outside of work, she is an active member of the PTFA at her daughters’ school.

Raheem Pillay

Impact and Training Coordinator

Raheem joined the charity in 2017 having previously volunteered with the Communities Empowerment Network. He leads on the coordination, administration and delivery of much of our training offer. He also supports with impact reporting with a focus on quantitative data and how we use this to inform our work. He has a degree in Psychosocial Studies from Anglia Ruskin University and in his spare time does martial arts.

Alice Long

Partnerships Manager - Merseyside and Lancashire

Alice joined the team in autumn 2019 and is based in Leeds, although originally from the North East. She has previously worked in relationship management with schools and colleges across Yorkshire, helping to deliver National Citizen Service within the region. In addition she has experience working in the public health sector in the UK and Central America. She has a degree from the University of London Institute in Paris, alongside a PGCE with QTS where she advocated languages in secondary schools.

Gemma Laverty

Operations Manager - Tech and Data

Gemma joined Governors for Schools to pursue her passion for education, having been involved with her children’s school and local youth clubs. She spent 19 years working in the travel industry and was based in locations across France, Italy, and Holland. When Gemma settled back in the UK she moved into the recruitment and logistics for Eurocamp, before joining Flight Centre as an account manager. Gemma is part of the North team at Governors for Schools and lives in Northwich with her husband, two children, and chocolate Labrador.

Kate Weston

Operations Manager - HR and Finance

Kate joined the organisation to further a desire for improving education after 10 years working in Higher Education, seeing the challenges faced as students move from school into University. A keen volunteer, Kate leads fundraising activities in her own children's school to enable the school to improve facilities for its pupils and to support the School's strategy for improvement. Kate also supports her local rugby club, volunteering for the youth team as an administrator. Kate spent her early career working in the travel industry, based in locations in France & Holland and has a passion for travel, adventure, food & community, and is now based in Norfolk.

Clare Skinsley

Partnerships Manager - South & West London

Clare joined Governors for Schools having previously worked in the charity sector. Clare worked at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers where she provided administrative support to the Governance and Engagement department. Prior to this, Clare spent 3 years as an administrator to a surveying consultancy whereby she undertook an apprenticeship in Business Administration. Growing up in the borough of Barking and Dagenham, Clare relates and empathises with children of disadvantaged backgrounds and believes every child has the right to a good education.

Jessica Wing

Partnerships Manager - Central London

Jessica comes from a mental health and wellbeing background. After graduating with a BSc(Hons) in Psychology, she went on to further training in counselling. She is passionate about volunteering because of the impact that it has both personally and within communities and took on her first volunteer role at 15 years old at her local library. She is also passionate about mental health and supporting people holistically, acting as a self-employed counsellor in her spare time. Although not currently volunteering, she loves supporting candidates in finding their own volunteer roles at schools and finds that all these different experiences assist her in her role as a Partnerships Manager for Central London.

Shima Begum

Partnerships Manager - North & East London

Shima is a customer service and education professional. Her career has centered on providing best-in-class customer service and helping others. She is a qualified English Language Teacher, having worked abroad teaching preparatory English at international universities. Shima is very passionate about helping those from disadvantaged backgrounds, having worked with children with special education needs as a Learning Support Assistant and in support services in helping others get access to aid and charitable organisations.

In her spare time, she loves to bake with her two wonderful children and go for long walks and enjoy nature.

Naomi Stokes

Partnerships Manager - East of England

Naomi comes from an administration background having previously worked at the British Heart Foundation. She has an interest in law and is currently studying for a law degree in her spare time. She’s passionate about working to diversify school boards now that her son has started school, which makes her role as Partnerships Manager for the East such a great fit. She believes strongly in helping others and has previously volunteered in the kitchens at a homeless shelter as a way of giving back.

Enya Battersby

Governance Recruitment Manager

Enya comes from a volunteer coordinator and recruitment background and has been volunteering in her local community for 14 years. Alongside her role as Partnerships Coordinator at Governors for Schools, she is currently obtaining her Masters Degree in Human Rights. In her spare time Enya is also the president and co-founder of her local LGBTQ society, leading on community events and comms.

Anthony Melia

Partnerships Manager - West Midlands

Anthony joined the team in August 2022 with a background in the education and charity sectors, having recently completed a MA in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. In his prior role, he was on the education team of an LGBT+ charity, overseeing school recruitment while developing resources for staff and pupil-facing programmes across all key stages. Anthony is a strong believer in ensuring every young person has a school experience that gives them access to different opportunities and to feel valued for who they are. In his spare time, he enjoys running, Spanish language cinema, and anything history related.

Sean McLean

Partnership Coordinator - North West of England (Merseyside and Lancashire)

Sean is a Partnership Coordinator for the Merseyside and Lancashire regions, where his main goal is to build new relationships with stakeholders and to help expand awareness of the charity throughout the North West. He joins Governors for Schools following a five year career in Facilities Management and spent several years living in America. He is excited to bring his passion for recruitment to the role.

Bethany Sturgeon

Partnerships Manager - Trustee Recruitment Service

Beth joined the Governors for Schools team with over ten years of recruitment and marketing experience in the education sector. She has worked with universities, colleges, and schools all over the UK, as well as internationally as a partnerships manager and education adviser. Beth's part of the newly formed Trustee Recruitment Service and is passionate about finding the perfect fit for both the volunteers and trusts we work with.

Tig Poole

Partnerships Coordinator - England East Midlands

Tig is the East Midlands Partnerships Coordinator and joined GfS in June 2023. They have a background in business development and the education sector. They are the co-founder of their town's LGBTQ society, planning and assisting with fundraising events and promoting diversity, inclusion and unity. Alongside this, Tig has over 5 years’ experience volunteering, including supporting rescue kennels by walking and caring for dangerous dogs. Tig believes volunteering your time is incredibly important for both personal and professional development, and enjoys supporting others to develop their knowledge.

Harriet Bowen

Partnerships Manager - England, South Central

Harriet joined the team in July 2023 as a Partnerships Manager. Harriet previously worked in the FE sector where her primary role was to support disadvantaged adults in gaining the confidence and skills to get into employment or learning. Harriet is passionate about increasing diversity in the education sector and hopes to use her previous experience to welcome everyone into the Governor role.

Danielle Ballagher

Partnerships Manager - Trustee Recruitment Service

Danielle joined the Governors for Schools Trustee Recruitment Team in June 2023 after working as a Governance Professional for several years within the education sector. Having completed her Chartered Governance Institute qualification in Academy Governance, her wealth of experience working with MATs has her well placed in our new Trustee Recruitment Service. Danielle is passionate about social change and was previously Governance lead in her MAT for both Community and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Kalina Zlatkova

Partnerships Manager - England, South East

Kalina joined the team in 2023, with close to ten years of experience in the UK Higher Education Sector. They have previously led programmes for skills education, employability and industrial relations in several Colleges within the University of London Federation; as well as careers consultancy services for schools in the European Union. Kalina is passionate about DEI as well as animal welfare, and has been volunteering in these spaces since 2013, while additionally pursuing a MHFA certification.

Sam Colson

Marketing and Communications Executive

Sam joined Governors for Schools as Marketing and Communications Executive in July 2023, having held several marketing positions in the further and higher education sectors. They’re passionate about inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility, co-founding their university’s Queer Society, as well as holding several roles focused on LGBTQ+ inclusion within their Students' Union. Sam holds a BSC (Hons) in Marketing with Digital Communications and is working towards an MA in Marketing Communications and Branding. They are a studying member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Andy Nisbet Friel

Corporate Partnerships Officer

Andy Nisbet Friel joined Governors for Schools as Corporate Partnerships Officer in July 2023. He previously spent over a decade in Community Engagement and Volunteer Management working for various organisations across the charity sector including The Royal Parks, Place2Be and Independent Age. More recently Andy was Communities Executive at Business in the Community Northern Ireland where he led the Employer Supported Volunteering programme, engaging businesses to support local communities through the time and skills of their employees.

Nicole Robinson-Ford

Partnerships Manager - North East and Yorkshire

Nicole joined Governors for Schools in August 2023 as Partnerships Manager working with the North team. Nicole previously worked in Client Relationship Management/Business Development within the IT and creative industries and also worked recently with Trusts and schools on their CPD and statutory training. Nicole was an active member of a Parent Partnership board at her children's primary school, and when not at work, can be found mastering all things gluten free and has a natural passion for helping others with their well-being.

Joyce Lau

Partnerships Manager - South West (England) and Wales

Joyce worked as a teacher in a local secondary school in Hong Kong for three years, during which her passion for young people and education grew even more. Therefore, after moving to the UK in 2022, she continued to pursue a career that would allow her to continue her passion and equip her with transferable skills. She worked as a youth employment coach in a charity for a year before joining Governors for Schools in September 2023.