Chair of Governors
Co-opted Governor
I have lived in Harpenden for 10 years and have one child at Roundwood Primary School. My professional background is as a Chartered Accountant with a leading international financial services firm. Whilst in this role, I audited several leading national charities and a private school group which helps me to understand some of the financial pressures the school faces. I made the decision to not to return to work after having my first child, but now my youngest is in full time school I am pleased to be able to use some of my child-free time to support Roundwood Primary as a co-opted governor. I have always enjoyed helping my community when possible and I have previously been a Community Governor at a different school and so have some knowledge of a different setting to share.I also help lead a Brownie Pack in town and help in school when I can with reading and trips.My term of office as a Governor ends in June 2023.
Co-opted Governor
Having spent 15 years as an IT consultant with IBM and then Accenture in the UK I moved to New Zealand in 2002 where I ran my own IT business helping individuals and small businesses until leaving New Zealand in 2014. Since 2003 however, my interest has more been in helping people flourish. I took a Masters degree in Education with a Certificate in Counselling, followed by a Graduate Certificate in Career Development and became a career counsellor and coach in 2007. In 2012 I decided to follow an interest in Positive Psychology, the science of human flourishing, to Philadelphia, where I gained a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania under Martin Seligman, one of the founders of the field. My focus since then has been on executive, leadership and career coaching, integrating all my education, skills and experience to help people build flourishing lives and careers. I moved back to the UK in 2014 and have been living in Harpenden since late 2015. I see the Governor’s role at Roundwood Primary as an opportunity to use my skills for the benefit of everyone involved with the school. I have been a governor since November 2016, was reappointed for a second term as governor in November 2020 and so my term of office as a governor ends in November 2024.
Vice-Chair of Governors
Co-opted Governor
Our family moved to Harpenden in 2014 and our son started at Roundwood Primary in 2018. I firmly believe that a high quality and well-rounded education offers a springboard to opportunities in later life and I hope that I can use my professional and life experience to benefit the school. I hold an MA in Computer Science and after working in for several years in technology research and then finance, I co-founded and oversaw the growth of a successful investment management firm in the City of London. More recently I have taken a career break to spend time with family and pursue other interests. My term of office as a governor ends in February 2024.
Co-opted Governor
Co-opted Governor
I have lived in Harpenden with my husband since 2009 and originally moved to Hertfordshire after graduating in 1999. We now have two young sons who keep us on our toes. My background is in finance and I am a qualified actuary by profession. My career has seen me working as investment consultant to pension scheme trustees and their sponsors, advising them on all aspects of their investments. A large part of this role was meeting with trustees and company representatives and explaining complex ideas in ways that could be easily understood. I have recently decided not to return to work following my current period of maternity leave so I am keen to use my skills to benefit Roundwood Primary as a Governor. I have also been an active volunteer for the Harpenden NCT branch for the last four years and I currently hold the post of Nearly New Sale Treasurer. In my leisure time, I enjoy reading and keeping fit. I sit on the School Improvement Committee and I’m the subject link Governor for Music, Art, Design Technology and the Eco Council. My term of office as a Governor ends in March 2024.
Co-opted Governor
I grew up in Harpenden and subsequently lived in London and overseas. After having our daughter, my wife and I decided to put roots down in Harpenden to be close to family and friends – we have lived here since 2015 and my daughter currently attends the school. I have a science and technology education and my career is in the strategy and execution of technology and business transformation programmes in Financial Services.
My daughter is very happy at Roundwood Primary and has really flourished over the last few years. I appreciate the strengths of the school but am also aware of the challenges that are faced in both primary and secondary education. This is my first governor post and I recognise that I will be engaging with training to learn and develop the necessary skills required to fulfil the role.
I also recognise that we are custodians in the role and that we have a duty to leave the school in a better place than we found it. I have a strong sense of stewardship in the work I do day-to-day and hope that it will be of benefit to Roundwood Primary.
Co-opted Governor
Vice-Chair of Governors
Parent Governor
My family and I have lived in Harpenden for 8 years having previously been in London for most of my life. We currently have three children at Roundwood Primary who have, and continue to, enjoy and flourish at the school. Having seen our eldest child progress from Nursery to UKS2 has been wonderful, the care, passion and dedication of the teachers and support staff is amazing, and is the reason the primary school is at the heart of the surrounding community.
I am a Portfolio Manager by profession but spent most of my career in Quantitative Analytics – building mathematical and statistical models for Financial Markets. I have an undergraduate degree in Mathematics, a postgraduate degree in Econometrics, and I am a CFA charter holder. I became a Parent-Governor to help the teaching and support staff at the school to continue to strive for excellence for our children, and to think strategically about the impact that changes in technology and society will have on the school and continue to make Roundwood a school where children and parents will make wonderful life-long memories.
My term of office ends in October 2024.
Parent Governor
Parent Governor
My family and I moved to Harpenden in 2013 and my son and daughter are pupils at Roundwood Primary. As a parent, I have always been extremely impressed by the school and the teachers. I passionately believe that whilst academic success is important, the wellbeing and happiness of the pupils is of the utmost importance. In my role as governor, I will strive to support the staff and help maintain and develop the positive nurturing environment already in place at our school.
My professional background is in finance. I worked at one of the largest UK pension funds for almost 30 years, primarily as a fund manager, heading up the North American equity team.
Over the past few years I have relished the opportunity to embrace new challenges and become more involved with my local community. I am currently Membership Secretary at Harpenden Lawn Tennis Club. Last year I enjoyed helping to organise a charity concert with a local children’s theatre group. I am a keen tennis player and with more time on my hands I have rediscovered the joy and challenges of competing, encouraging my family to travel with me to tennis tournaments both in the UK and abroad.
I am the subject lead governor for Maths and Physical Education, School Sports and Physical Activity. I also support the safeguarding and funding governors. My term of office ends in February 2024.
Staff Governor
I am the teacher for Class 1/2 and am the subject co-ordinator for Music. I was elected in September 2022 and my term of office as a Governor ends in September 2026.