Governance

Stuart has been a governor of a local Plymouth primary school for 8 years before becoming a trustee at the founding of the Horizon multi academy trust. He is the owner of SJTraining Consultancy, specialising in areas of community development, fundraising and sports development. Stuart has 30 years working in outdoor education and youth work and his passions include being part of the National Schools Sailing Association.

Emma is a HR professional with over 15 years experience. She has worked in HR Director level roles for the last 5 years, having had the opportunity to work with some of the largest employers in Plymouth.

Emma became involved in governance in 2006 when she became a parent governor at Pomphlett Primary School where her son attended and subsequently went on to sit on the Board of Trustees for Horizon Multi Academy Trust when it was formed in 2016.

Jon is a specialist employment lawyer and has a successful track record representing commercial clients in Employment Tribunals and the Central Arbitration Committee. His experience in acting for employers facing claims for trade union recognition in the Central Arbitration Committee is second to none. An in depth knowledge of the law, coupled with a user friendly pragmatic approach, enables Jon to provide clients with solutions to the whole range of issues that employers face from the everyday to the unusual and complex. Jon is also in demand as a trainer providing employers with courses that are designed to make managers at all levels more effective when dealing with their staff.

Jon has been involved with Horizon Multi Academy Trust for nearly three years and during this time, has been able to support the trust in various matters, in particular, writing policies and HR practices.

Imogen is an energetic, highly organised self-starter, with experience in a variety of senior management and delivery roles within both the public and voluntary sector. Highly skilled in partnership working, providing funding advice and business support, project management and evaluation. A demonstrable aptitude for working at both community grass roots and strategic levels, negotiating, advocating, developing partnerships, policy shaping and delivery.

I have recently joined the Horizon Trust Board (spring 2021), having been a school governor for many years. My background is in lecturing in psychology, with personal interests in child development and learning. I am passionate about providing a creative, broad and balanced education for all children across the Horizon Trust. From personal observations, creativity (both in utilising individual teaching strengths and content) was largely sidelined due to a narrow National Curriculum for many years. This, thankfully, is changing and our schools have a fantastic opportunity to take advantage. Our staff are our greatest asset and I hope to champion their desire to provide the education they are passionate about delivering.

Having owned and run a local SME business for over 25 years and an investment property company for around 15, Nick has a plethora of experience at strategic level and brings the following qualities to the Trust Board: financial accounting, interpretation, budgeting and cash flows, strategic planning, HR, project management, lease negotiations as both landlord and tenant and health and safety compliance. Nick also has the ability to delegate to appropriate trusted experts in any given field and feels that no-one can be master of everything, so to know when to get the appropriate help is key.

Andrew has been a Trustee for Horizon MAT since 2019. Previously, he was a local authority governor for Victoria Road Primary School since 2009.

Andrew started work for DML (now Babcock) at Devonport Royal Dockyard in 2000 as a Health Physicist, supporting the Royal Navy’s Nuclear Powered Submarines, and has since moved into project management, managing a number of projects over the course of his career. Currently he is a Programme Manager responsible for the decommissioned submarine projects at Devonport.

Andrew is a chartered radiation protection professional, and is also a member of the Society for Radiological Protection and the Association for Project Management.

Andrew was born and raised in Plymouth and currently lives in the North of the City with his wife, two children, two dogs and a cat.

Following completion of a degree in Accountancy with Law, I joined DML in August 2004 and qualified with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants in 2008. I have had a varied career within DML/Babcock working within the central finance function areas and within Project and Management Accountant roles. I have been involved with major bid activity, due diligence for take overs, system upgrades and internal and external audit processes. I currently hold the Position of Head of Finance.

Outside of work, I am married with 2 children who both attend a school within the Horizon Multi Academy Trust.