Governors

Having gained professional and financial experience as a lawyer and in investment management in the City of London, Ben moved to the not for profit sector, where he has had responsibility in national charities across all areas of operations, property, governance and fundraising. Most recently Ben’s roles have involved growing digital and face-to-face education programmes providing young people across the UK with cross-curricula learning experiences and opportunities to realise their potential.

As a charity trustee, Ben has helped to set up several charities working across education and health as well as providing input on the finance committee of a large RAF charity. Ben and his wife Jane have three children, the youngest of whom currently attends Chesham Preparatory School.

Ben chairs the termly full governor meetings and supports the Headmaster to deliver the school’s current strategic aims.

Dr Adam Haycock is a consultant gastroenterologist at St Mark’s Hospital in Harrow. He trained at St Mary’s Hospital (Imperial College) in London and was appointed as a consultant in 2011. He specialises in gastrointestinal endoscopy and is the lead for the National Endoscopy Training Centre at St Mark’s.

Adam is married to Sarah, a past pupil of Chesham Preparatory School, and has three daughters, the youngest of whom is currently a pupil at the School.

Adam became a governor in 2019 and is a member of the Educational and Pastoral Committee, with a focus on the medical aspects of care.

John studied Agricultural Economics at the University of Reading.  He worked for British Airways Pension Fund for 23 years specialising in investing in UK quoted equities and Asset Allocation.

All four of John’s elder children attended Chesham Preparatory School, and his youngest joined the nursery in Autumn 2020.

John is the Chair of the Finance and General Purpose Committee.

Annmarie is Vice-Chair of the Governing Body and Chair of the Education and Pastoral Committee.

Annmarie has been Headteacher of Chesham Grammar School since September 2015. Prior to that, she spent eight years there as Deputy Head and five as Head of Sixth Form. She started her teaching career at Backwell School just outside Bristol where she was Assistant Head of Sixth Form. Annmarie attended Bristol University where she read Theology and Sociology, staying for a further year to complete her Post Graduate Certificate in Education. Annmarie has also completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship.

Annmarie has two sons, both of whom attended Chesham Preparatory School.

Fiona currently works as a Maths teacher at a local secondary school. Previously she enjoyed an international career, working in various engineering and commercial roles for Shell in Europe and the Middle East, and later as an energy consultant in the UK and Denmark. Fiona is keen to promote STEM subjects within schools.

Fiona has an MA in Engineering Science from Oxford University, in addition to an MSc in Occupational Psychology and a PGCE. In her free time, Fiona enjoys travelling and outdoor pursuits with her husband and teenage children. She especially enjoys running and has completed several half marathons.

Fiona is the governor responsible for Health and Safety and sits on the Finance and General Purpose Committee and is responsible for sustainability at the school.

Jacqui is co-founder and Director of Courvello Executive Coaching and Consulting, partnering with clients in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors.

Prior to launching Courvello in 2014, Jacqui worked in operational and strategic roles focussed on international marketing, change management and leadership development.

Jacqui has lived and worked internationally and while in Germany she was the deputy head of the parent governing body at a bilingual school.  She has also been a member of the Academic Board at Ashridge Business School.

Jacqui holds an MA in English Literature from the University of Aberdeen, an MSc in Executive Coaching from Ashridge Business School and a Diploma in Management Studies.

Jacqui’s daughter attended Chesham Preparatory School from 2013 to 2016.

Shahin is a chartered accountant and specialises in corporate turnaround work.  Previously, she worked with PwC in audit, corporate recovery and corporate finance.  Since 2001, Shahin has been an independent executive, advising family owned businesses, in the UK and abroad, across many industry sectors.  Shahin is keen to promote financial literacy for children.

Shahin has a BA in Industrial Economics from Nottingham University, as well as being a member of the ICAEW.

Shahin sits on the Finance and General Purpose Committee.

Shahin has two boys who both attended Chesham Preparatory School.

Catherine is a highly experienced global marketer with broad international leadership of brands and categories.  After graduating from Manchester University (Economics & Politics) she worked for Unilever and Mars International before re-locating to Japan to raise her family. Since returning to the U.K in 2014 she has worked as strategic consultant focused on sustainability, and in 2019, co-founded a consultancy with the objective of helping brands to accelerate their sustainability efforts.

Understanding human behaviours, consumer preferences, cultural diversity and languages underline her career and continue to be a key passion and motivator for her, as is education. Having raised her children in Japan, Hong Kong, Canada and the U.K. she has a rich and wide experience of different schools and education systems.

Catherine is the Governor lead for Marketing and sits on the Finance and General Purpose Committee.

Catherine started her career in primary school teaching before moving into the independent sector to specialise in English. She was Head of English at a boys’ school in North London and then in Hertfordshire, where she was also a member of the boarding team. She moved to York in 2011 to take over as Director of Teaching and Learning in the prep section of St Peter’s School 2-18, where she remained for 11 years. She moved to Berkshire in 2022 to take up the role of Head of Academic Development at Lambrook School, a post that involves oversight of all academic matters from Nursery to Year 8.

Catherine sits on the Education and Pastoral Committee.

A historian at heart, Rebecca studied at the University of Oxford, specialising in Early Modern culture and religion. After graduating she worked in the education departments at the Museum of London and the Tower of London, before becoming Head of History and Politics at North London Collegiate School. Rebecca joined Northwood College for Girls as Director of Sixth Form, before becoming Academic Deputy Head and then Head in September 2021.

As a contributing international conference speaker for the ICGS, and a representative on both the Independent Schools’ Council and the GDST diversity and inclusion leadership teams, Rebecca works with leaders in education to develop inclusive curriculum, academic, and cultural approaches.  A member of the GSA Sport and Wellness Committee, she works to develop girls’ sport at both an elite and recreational level.

Rebecca is passionate about the value of knowledge and the impact of enthusiastic and skilful teachers in supporting the development of strong, smart, and principled women. The power of collective endeavour and inspiring girls to think of others is particularly important to Rebecca; she recently marked the 130^th anniversary of Northwood College educating in Northwood, with the launch of an ambitious pledge for every NWC student to participate in a service to others within the local community.