Our Governors

Biography

A varied education that included a degree in Engineering, a postgraduate degree in Marketing and an MBA resulted in a career that has spanned both large and small businesses - in the UK and internationally. I currently work as a consultant focusing on change - both for individuals and organisations. 

I joined the Governing Body in 2014, continuing an association with the school which started with our two boys attending, and thriving, here.  Other interests include walking (with my husband, dog and, under protest, our boys) and theatre.  I became Chair in 2022.

Biography

I am a retired barrister, having spent my working life practising in London specialising in commercial work. I was the editor of various legal works. I graduated from Bristol university in 1971.

I sit on the Finance & General Purpose Committee and am Chair of the Governance, Compliance & Safeguarding Committee.

I have lived at Potterne with my wife, since 1989. We have two grown up sons. My interests include tennis, walking, skiing, bridge and gardening

Biography

I read History at Cambridge University and then joined J. Walter Thompson, the global advertising agency. A director since 1989, I ran blue chip accounts for clients such as Unilever, Esso, Kellogg and Nestle. Following the arrival of three sons I moved into HR, Talent Recruitment and Development with a special focus on diversity and women’s leadership. I was made a Fellow of the IPA for services to the industry in raising professional standards and developed the industry’s first apprenticeships. I now run my own consultancy specialising in brand communications and leadership coaching. I have had one son at Dauntsey’s, when, new to Wiltshire, I became an active member of the DSPA (which I can thoroughly recommend!) and established the Dauntsey's Mentor Network with the aim of bringing the world of work to life for Dauntsey’s pupils.

I live locally in Semington with my husband Richard and a variety of horses, sheep, cows and royal corgi Ruby.

Biography

Having been sponsored through university on an Army scholarship, I was commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1997 following completion of a year of Army Officer training. I then served with the Scottish Infantry, the Royal Engineers and units in Northern Ireland. 

On leaving the military, I switched to a city career and early roles were with both a Japanese and US investment bank. I then moved to a start-up asset management firm, leaving after seven years as Managing Director. Since 2014, I have been working for a privately owned London based investment firm and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in March 2018.

With a daughter who was fortunate enough to attend the school, I was honoured to be asked to join the governing body in 2017 and very much look forward to contributing to Dauntsey’s continuing success and development.

Biography

After attending boarding school in Dorset and Aberystwyth University, Toby joined the Royal Navy, qualifying in 2002 as a Lynx Maritime Attack Helicopter Pilot. His front line tours included a variety of operational service, from the Arabian Gulf in early 2003, to the Asian tsunami relief effort in 2005, and counter narcotics in the Caribbean. He then served as the lead Air Planner to the UK Carrier Strike Group in the Harrier era.

An Advanced Command and Staff Course graduate, at the operational level Toby led the UK military headquarters team charged with delivering the UK’s response to the Ebola crisis, before moving first into the Navy’s Resources and Plans area, then managing the through life capability of Fleet Air Arm aircraft. He then built on this experience with an assignment in the Capability Strategy area of MoD during the Integrated Review of 2021. He then served in the Navy’s future capability directorate, focussing on how uncrewed systems could be brought quickly into service. In 2023 Toby was promoted to Captain and assumed his current role as the Chief of Staff to the National Defence Planning team based in the MoD in London.

Toby is a member of the Mercers Company and serves on the Audit and Risk Committee.

A keen sportsman, he is the chairman of Royal Navy Triathlon, although his advancing years frequently outmatch his youthful competitive streak. Toby lives in Hampshire with Lucy and their four teenage children.

Biography

After reading Geography at Cambridge, since 1979 I have worked as an accountant and auditor in London, specialising in banks and complex financial instruments and overseeing and participating in training activities. We have a house in Potterne but have lived there full time only from this summer, after I retired as a partner. I have a wife and two grown-up daughters and my hobbies include walking and climbing, researching the history of the family and the house, and owning three alpacas and a small flock of sheep.

Biography

My home and place of work is in Wiltshire, my extended family and that of my wife’s family are also based here.
I am a Chartered Building Surveyor, educated at a local comprehensive school, technical college and The Polytechnic of Central London, graduating in 1985.
My children (22 and 24) each spent seven well rounded and happy years at Dauntsey’s. My wife Sally spent her Sixth Form years there too.
I am a new (2020) governor and a member of the Estates Committee.
A keen swimmer of many years, for the past twenty or so particularly an open water swimmer. Kayaking and walking are my other interests which also help me to stay sane in the busy world of work.

Biography

I have had a varied career in a wide variety of industry sectors – financial services, energy, water, transport, food manufacturing and property. I qualified as a Chartered Accountant and spent the early part of my career in senior finance director roles in a number of large corporates before moving into interim and project management roles, introducing new ways of working through process improvements and new technology developments. I am now retired but continue to provide advice and support to a number of charitable organisations.

I joined as a Governor of Dauntsey's School in 2013 and I am also a member of the Audit and Risk sub-committee. My interests include golf, tennis, travel and I have two sons, both of whom went to school at Dauntsey’s and I am very proud to continue to my relationship with the school as Governor.

Biography

Educated in London and later with the OU, I have lived and worked in the Middle East, Far East and North America, as a TEFL teacher and for various charities. Following my degree I worked in HR, and currently work at a local specialist dyslexia school.

My three sons went to Dauntsey’s, as did my father. I became a member of the DSPA and joined Dauntsey’s Choral Society in 2006. I was honoured to be asked to join the governing body in 2018, and am passionate about maintaining the values of kindness, confidence without arrogance, and community, that I observed as a parent when we first visited the school. I live locally with my husband Nick and our two spaniels and became Safeguarding Governor in 2022.

Biography

Thanks to a generous and life changing bursary, I was educated at Stonyhurst College and read Classics at Oxford University.

I have worked for some time in education at a very wide range of schools in both the state and independent sectors as well as internationally in Sri Lanka and Argentina. For 17 years now I have worked in leadership roles and I am currently Headmaster of Millfield.

I am a Mercers’ nominated governor. I joined the governing body in 2021 and I chair the Education Committee. I am married and have two young children. I am at my happiest in the mountains. 

Biography

Following my education at Wycombe Abbey and St Paul’s Girls School, I studied Classics at St Andrew’s University. Following a year as a latin teacher and assistant housemistress at St Leonard’s School for Girls and just under a year studying Polish language in Warsaw, I then attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before commissioning into the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Medical Support Officer. I served for 17 very happy years which included Operational deployments to Kosovo, Iraq and finally I was the Officer Commanding the military ebola hospital in Sierra Leone. During my military career I qualified as a teacher (adults not children) but my main specialty was military medical planning. In 2016 I left the Army and started a business delivering companionship and care to the elderly – Home Instead Senior Care in Andover & East Wiltshire.

I am a member of the Mercers Company and serve on their Education Committee. I am a Dementia Friends Champion and a volunteer for Healthwatch. My interests include sailing anything from a dinghy to a square rigger and shooting. My husband is an Officer in the Irish Guards and I have a son, Fintan.

Biography

I was educated at Sherborne School and Oxford University and then spent 17 years as a languages teacher and subsequently housemaster at Marlborough College.  I also ran the cricket there for some years. Following this I undertook three prep school Headships, one in West Sussex and two in London, before retiring in 2016.

I am currently a Governor of a state school and another independent school, and work part-time as a freelance educational consultant. I live near Dauntsey’s with my wife Christine (another former independent school Head) and we have three adult children. I am a Mercers’ nominated Governor, serving on the Education and Governance Committees, and am also Boarding Governor.

Biography

Educated at Epsom College, my professional journey culminated as Vice Chairman at Musgrave Group Plc, a 148-year-old family company in the food retail and wholesale sector. In this role, I served on the main Board as well as on the Audit, Remuneration and Shareholder Committees.

Prior to this I had run my own Estate Management Company looking after farming estates on the Marlborough Downs.

I was previously a Governor at the Royal Agricultural University for 9 years, aligning Farms strategy, overseeing projects, and contributing to environmental initiatives. A panel member for DEFRA, a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society, and Chair of the Marlborough Downs Nature Enhancement Partnership - I remain active in my commitment to sustainability.

I'm married to Sarah, a psychotherapist, and have two children, one who attended Dauntsey's from 2005 - 2012.  I'm also a keen sailor, serve as Treasurer at Marlborough Rugby Club, and enjoy travelling..

Biography

I was educated at Cheltenham College and qualified as a Solicitor at the London law firm, Withers, in 1981. I recently retired as a partner in the Salisbury law firm, Wilsons Solicitors LLP and am now a consultant with national law firm, Birketts LLP. I specialise in Education and Employment law.  I am an experienced non-executive director and charity trustee.

I was privileged to join the Governing Body in September 2022 and I sit on the Governance, Compliance and Safeguarding Committee.

I spent seven years at Dauntsey's as a student, after which I studied archaeology at the University of Birmingham and then went on to complete a Masters in Science at the University of Edinburgh.

I have since spent 10 years working as a policy advisor on climate change for the UK government including leading negotiations on climate change at the UN. I left to advise businesses on global climate policy and now work at an NGO as Director of Public Affairs, supporting the development of high integrity carbon markets. 

I'm a keen kayaker having competed in the Devizes to Westminster three times - the first time whilst at Dauntsey's. I now live in Worcester with my husband and my dog Charlie.

I joined the Governing Body in April 2024 and sit on the Estates, Infrastructure and Assets Committee.  

Biography

I was educated at Charterhouse School and subsequently gained a BSc in Geochemistry from London and an MA in Strategic Studies while in Australia.  I enjoyed a 30 year military career, retiring in the rank of Brigadier and then served abroad as a Director and Chief of Staff of several NATO agencies.  I now undertake charity work, for the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee and for RE:ACT, a disaster response charity.  

I am delighted to be part of the governing body as a Mercers’ nominated governor.  I am a member of the Estates, and the Finance and General Purpose Committees, and chair the strategy group.  I am married with two grown-up daughters and my hobbies include ski mountaineering, nordic skiing, diving, cycling and travelling.