Members
There are currently five Trust Members. One member, Stephen, is involved with the day-to-day governance, leadership and management of the academies. The other four members are not as involved as Stephen, their role is to ensure that the fundamental vision and values of the trust are respected, valued and safeguarded.
They also have key duties under the terms of the trust’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, including deciding on the membership of the Board each year.
The current Trust Members are:
Nathan Elstub
Nathan has spent the last 25 years working as a Venture Capital investor and entrepreneur. He has set up, invested in, sat on the boards of and worked with a wide range of high growth companies from start-ups to large international businesses. Some of these did fairly well and have become successful household names, and whilst he wouldn't claim any credit for their success, he observed and learned a lot from his mistakes and other people's achievements about the challenges of developing organisations and teams as they grew.
Since 2010 Nathan has been exclusively working with businesses that are specifically seeking to make a positive impact on society. He is Managing Partner of Nesta Impact Investments, one of the leading social enterprise investors in the UK supporting start-up businesses active in the fields of education, health and sustainability. Nathan has a particular interest in innovation in Education; Nesta is currently Europe's most active start up education technology investor and Nathan is additionally on the Board of Emerge Education, Europe's leading ed-tech accelerator program, and the Advisory Board of UCL Knowledge Lab’s Educate programme developing an evidence base for effective use of technology in education.
He has learned about some of the practical aspects of education through seeing his two daughters' experience of school. They were lucky to have some amazing teachers and support during their time in education and he is proud to admit that as a result both are smarter than he is. One is currently studying education and psychology and the other is in sixth form working out how she is going to change the world.
In the very distant past Nathan was an engineer and played with model aeroplanes in wind tunnels before he became a chartered accountant and got boring. When he is not working Nathan spends too much of his time playing (and sometimes building) stringed instruments, particularly banjos, of which his wife claims he has too many, sometimes riding his bikes (ditto) and when it rains, trying to remain upright in his kayak, (not all at the same time).
Steve Barker
Steve has been involved in school governance since 1991 and has served on many governing bodies across all phases of education.
He is currently chair of Collingwood College Academy Trust, chair of Bagshot Infant School, vice chair at St Jude’s C of E Junior School in Englefield Green and a Member of EEEA.
His background is in marketing and advertising working for a number of multinational organisations in the health and beautycare industry. He ran his own international marketing consultancy for ten years before devoting all of his time to governance.
Steve currently is Head of Governance Consultancy at Babcock 4S. He is a nationally recognised expert on school governance, has had many articles published on the subject and is a regular speaker on governance at conferences around the country.
Better Governor, an online support and development service for all involved in school governance is Steve’s brainchild and he is the editor in chief for the service.
Steve is a qualified performance coach and an accredited coaching trainer. He is also an accredited trainer for the Surrey Safeguarding Children’s Board.
Steve is also a trustee and the CEO of Harry & Ed’s Aspiration Raising Trust (HEART) a charity that works with schools to support children and young people in accessing opportunities which will raise their aspirations.
David Camp
David founded and runs allianceHR Ltd, a consultancy creating and operating pre-competitive collaborative programmes to drive systemic human rights improvements in supply chains. These programmes include
Stronger Together, a multi-stakeholder collaborative initiative supporting organisations to tackle modern slavery within their businesses and supply chains.
Fast Forward, a next generation compliance programme to build legal and ethical labour standards continuous improvement in supply chains.
Association of Labour Providers, a trade association promoting responsible recruitment practices in the UK consumer goods supply chain. Clearview, a global responsible recruitment social compliance certification scheme for labour suppliers.
Responsible Recruitment Toolkit, a web based toolkit to support supply chains to adopt responsible recruitment standards.
David’s three children all attended Ravenscote and received an outstanding education for which he is truly grateful to all those who played a hand. David is pleased to offer his support to all the inspiring professionals and dedicated volunteers committed to maintaining and enhancing the great work of the Engage Enrich Excel Academies to keep true to their values and ensure that every year, at every school, every child receives the best education possible to provide them with the best chances in life.
David runs a bit, likes rugby, music, time with friends and family – and is on the hunt for new hobbies and the key to finding work/life balance.
Joanna Brill
Joanna Brill is a professionally trained coach and trainer with over 10 years' experience working with executive, business and life coaching clients from around the world. After a 10 year career as a marketing communications professional in telecoms and investment management she successfully certified as a coach and has run her own coaching and training practice since.
Joanna has trained many managers to develop their own leadership and coaching skills. She also works with the Surrey Based Youth Charity, Eikon supporting their initiatives for the development of resilience and emotional well being for all young people in Surrey.
Joanna previously served as Chair of Governors for Ravenscote School and has been Chair of Trustees for EEEA. She is a mother to two teenaged children and passionate about improving outcomes and opportunities for all children in the Trust.
Stephen Norton
Stephen’s career has been built on creating and maintaining strong relationships in investment banking, corporate trust and corporate services. He has been a successful client relationship director and board member within a professional services firm, leading growth through robust relationships with, and professional service delivery, to clients across multiple jurisdictions, and has been a director of over 50 client companies.
His early career was spent in banking with a specific focus on property and asset management, and he has an in depth knowledge of debt capital markets having acted as trustee and director in multiple successful debt restructuring, within the UK, and in the USA and South East Asia. Throughout his career he has mentored junior colleagues and team members, supporting them in their career choices and learning development.
He has built his career expertise through a practical application of relationship building, knowledge gathering and leadership. He is a former President of The Association of Corporate Trustees, and has a longstanding interest in promoting and developing best possible corporate governance which he is now applying to the education sector as a trustee and non executive director for charities including Villiers Park Educational Trust (which focusses on the importance of social mobility, a longstanding passion) and Goldsmiths Students’ Union. He is a Consultant for Independent Directors and Trustees Ltd, which offers expert directorship services to the corporate sector.
A keen if untalented cricketer, he has latterly turned his attention to cricket spectating (for which he has more of a talent), and to the more leisurely (if nonetheless challenging) sport of bowls, and to running a dining club.
As a parent and a grandparent he is keen to apply the enthusiasm and commitment which feature prominently in his personal and business life to optimally contribute to the work of EEEA, and to support all of these connected to it.