Trust Membership
Trustees and Members 2023/24
Sharon Carlyon, CFO and COO
Sharon has extensive experience in School Business Leadership having worked in education since 2006. Previously, she had a career in banking and finance.
She is a fellow of the Institute of School Business Leaders. Being recognised as an ISBL Fellow demonstrates leadership within the profession, having achieved a high level of professional expertise and shows commitment to developing knowledge and skills to meet the ever-changing demands of the education sector. In 2015 Sharon was the winner of a National Award.
In 2010, Sharon was instrumental in setting up the Hertfordshire Association of School Business Managers which, until 2017 she chaired. This association provides regional networking opportunities and support to its school business management members in Hertfordshire.
Sharon works as a business consultant for Herts for Learning where she is part of a team supporting primary schools across Hertfordshire. She is also an accredited School Resources Management Advisor for the Department for Education supporting schools on strategic financial planning and financial efficiency.
Sharon is a passionate advocate of the profession. She works closely with other school leaders to drive business excellence in the running of efficient schools to ultimately improve educational experiences and outcomes for all children.
James Roach, CEO
James has extensive experience in education, working in Watford schools since 2001. His previous roles include 2 primary headships in Hertfordshire where he demonstrated a track record of rapid school improvement. He led the academisation of Laurance Haines in November 2016 and set up the Inclusive Multi Academy Trust, which includes a further two schools – Beechfield and Cherry Tree. James is a keen advocate for disadvantaged children and established the Trust in order to ensure children in the most disadvantaged areas of Watford are given the same life chances as their peers throughout Hertfordshire. James’ passion for curriculum development with a family centred, nurturing approach to learning is central to the Trust ethos. James currently works as a Hertfordshire Improvement Partner where he is part of a team monitoring and supporting primary schools across Hertfordshire.
Elizabeth Leeman, Trustee and Chair, 15/12/20 - 14/12/24
Liz has worked in leadership roles including Legal & HR Director of a sport and leisure business, Company Secretary of retail businesses and a commercial property negotiator for a large firm of Chartered Surveyors. As an HR consultant she advised clients including well known retailers, broadcasters and government agencies. More recently she was the Business Manager in a local school and headed the business management team at a leading education service provider. Liz has an MBA (Cranfield), she is a qualified Chartered Secretary and Governance Professional, HR professional and School Business Leader.
Supporting disadvantaged young people to improve their life chances is important to Liz who previously volunteered as a Community Youth Offender Panel Member and is now a Trustee and Chair of Inclusive Multi Academy Trust, a partnership of local schools determined to provide the best opportunities for all our pupils to do and be their best.
Claire Edwards, Trustee, 18/05/21 - 17/05/25
Following 12 years at KPMG, lastly as a senior manager in Public Sector Audit and Consulting, Claire became a school business leader in 2007. She has worked in primary, special and secondary schools and as a senior consultant for Herts for Learning. She is currently the Business Manager of a community High School in North West London. She is passionate about giving all pupils the best opportunities and is delighted to support the Inclusive Multi Academy Trust community as a Trustee.
Andrew Chappell, Trustee and Vice Chair, 11/09/2021 - 10/09/2025
Andrew is Watford born and bred, and grew up in the Callowland and Leggatts locality where he still lives today. His daughter attended Cherry Tree School where he was Chair of Governors for 12 years and worked with the school to achieve and maintain a good OFSTED rating. The move to the Trustee Board is a continuation in that journey of how best to help local children get the education they deserve. A Fellow of the ICAEW Andrew has 30 years experience of public sector auditing (external, internal and Value for Money Arrangements) in the local government, health and education sectors with both the Audit Commission and KPMG. As well as a financial background he brings extensive experience of corporate governance and related procedures to the Trust Board. His current day job involves managing the provision of external audit to local authorities. Despite this background his interest is in the provision of a curriculum that is exciting, challenging and meets the differing needs of our children. Andrew is committed to the local community and is involved with a number of projects through local churches as well as the Watford Talking Newspaper.
Sally Newing, Trustee, 25/1/22 - 24/01/26
Sally is Head of Schools at The Mount Stewart Schools Federation, and promotes the highest standards in every facet of school life. She has been in education for 26 years, working in schools in Brent, Harrow and Hertfordshire. She is an Early Years and English Specialist, a coach and a leader with a keen interest in promoting independence, resilience and confidence through teaching and learning and instructional coaching. She is a mother of twins, a keen runner and has completed the London marathon twice and many half marathons.Morgan Bone, Trustee, 08/02/22 - 07/02/26
Morgan was born and raised in Hertfordshire and now lives in North London. Having qualified as an accountant, Morgan subsequently spent 25 years working in marketing and communications for large corporates. He is currently Head of Corporate Affairs for Virgin Money. Morgan is a father of 3 and believes all children should have the opportunity for a great education, hence his support and commitment to the Trust and schools
Sanjay Mazumder, Trustee, 07/02/22 - 06/02/26
Sanjay is an experienced business professional, specialising in M&A Integration/Separation, Business Transformation and Turnarounds. He works as an independent consultant and has over 25 years of experience working for companies of varying sizes, across numerous industries and locations. Companies he has worked for include Diageo, BP, Ladbrokes Coral, Abcam, Sainsburys and Ashurst. He holds an M.Sc. in Industrial Economics from the London School of Economics.
Sanjay has been involved in the voluntary sector for many years, and was a Trustee and Chair of the People Committee at The London Community Foundation for approaching 10 years, stepping down from this role in May 2022. Sanjay has also been a parent governor of Walker School, in Southgate, London N14. He is an independent trustee of the Rugby Football Foundation, the charity arm of the Rugby Football Union.
Sanjay is passionate about giving back to young people locally, and is looking forward to being part of the ongoing success of the Inclusive Multi Academy Trust and the schools within it.
Liz Jones, Trustee 14/03/22 - 13/03/26
Liz is a retired Executive Headteacher of a large Pupil Referral Unit in Lewisham, South East London. She has over 20 years’ experience of Alternative Education and students with complex needs, and particular expertise in developing successful strategies to support young people who are alienated from conventional learning. She has also been a senior leader in a further education college, a specialist private college, a voluntary organisation and an 11-16 secondary school. Liz is familiar with the restructuring of both Local Authority services and schools, and is an experienced strategic leader with significant understanding of governance across a range of settings.
Liz has a Doctorate from the Institute of Education and researched student voice for her thesis.
Liz served as a Governor of an East London secondary school, a South London FE college, a Magistrate on the Stratford Bench, and is currently the Chair of the Board of Trustees at Greenwich University Students’ Union.
Liz has an absolute commitment to social justice and a belief that education should be emancipatory and empowering.
Sebastian Gray, Trustee 05/12/23 - 04/12/27
Seb has 15 years of experience teaching and leading in Hertfordshire.
Having spent 5 years as the Headteacher of Laurance Haines School and working alongside Trust Leaders, he has built first-hand experience and knowledge of working with the children and community of West Watford. The collaborative and inclusive approach to school leadership he developed with the Trust, continues to be a focus for him in his new position as Headteacher of a school in Milton Keynes.
He is keen to continue to support the Inclusive Multi Academy Trust and schools in their ongoing growth and development.
Natalie Dalvarez, Member, Appointed 01/09/20
Natalie has worked as a Business Leader in the Education sector for over 10 years and is currently the Interim CEO of a Diocesan Multi Academy Trust based in Bedfordshire. She is a Fellow of the Institute of School Business Leaders and has previously worked for both the Council of British International Schools, as their Director of Operations, and Herts for Learning, as the Deputy Director for Business Services.
Natalie has significant experience of school governance and has acted as both the Chair of the Curriculum Committee and the Chair of Governors for schools within Hertfordshire.
Jonathan Hartley, Member, Appointed 05/10/16
Jonathan has spent his career in the financial services industry, starting out as chartered management accountant, and more recently leading business and technology transformation for firms including NatWest and Barclays.
Jonathan has hands-on experience of the Inclusive Multi Academy Trust, having joined Laurence Haines School as a governor in 2014.
Nick Martin, Member, Appointed 10/12/18
Nick is a Technical Director at WSP who are one of the world’s leading engineering consultancies. He specialises in the management and remediation of hazardous materials and is a member of the British Occupation Hygiene Society.
Nick has a strong background in business leadership and governance, and financial management. He has worked throughout the UK and the rest of the world assisting major organisations and governments in managing health and safety risks to their employees and workforces.
Jill Steward, Member, Appointed 05/10/16
Jill is an experienced school governance professional with over 25 years’ experience as a clerk to governors, and as a school governor, committee chair and chair of governors, principally in primary education. This experience has been gained in several schools in Hertfordshire (including Laurance Haines) and latterly in Norfolk, where she is currently chair of governors for two Norfolk schools – a large community primary school and an all-through complex needs school.
Emma Flawn, Member, Appointed 20/07/22
With over 13 years' experience as a headteacher, Emma Flawn serves as Co-CEO of the Claxton Trust, a primary Multi Academy Trust located in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. She holds the positions of Chair of the Management Committee for the Nexus Federation, a board member of the Inclusive Multi Academy Trust, and is a Parent elected Trustee at Presdales Academy in Ware.
Being a member of the local DSPL, Chair of the Primary Stevenage Headteachers Consortium and Behaviour steering board, she's passionate about inclusivity for everyone and lends her expertise as a behaviour consultant within local schools. Her current Primary school, of which she is Headteacher, is a DSPL Behaviour ‘Hub’ in the community.
Emma’s past achievements have been as a senior leader in Wandsworth and Merton in Outstanding Primary and Specialist provisions and as a school improvement advisor in Merton.
Continuing her love of learning, she has most recently completed her DFE National Professional Qualification Executive Leadership (NPQEL) and Level 5 in Coaching and Mentoring from the Institute of Leadership and Management.
Emma Lad, Trust Clerk