Our Trustees

I’m the Managing Director at Quilter Cheviot, leading distribution, proposition, and marketing. 

Alongside my executive role, I serve as Trustee and Chair of The Perins Multi Academy Trust, which comprises three educational settings for children aged 2 to 11. This non-executive position allows me to support and guide the CEO in delivering strategic goals, drawing on my governance experience and transferable leadership skills. 

My career spans executive committee and subsidiary board roles, including working closely with Plc boards, risk committees, audit groups, and leadership forums. Previously, I was Group Chief Marketing Officer for Quilter plc and Managing Director of its advice business, where I gained extensive P&L ownership and operational insight. 

I bring a broad spectrum of commercial experience across wealth management, financial advice, discretionary investment, and platform services, with a footprint in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. My expertise covers distribution, customer governance, product development, branding, and marketing.

I’m deeply passionate about diversity and inclusion and committed to mentoring future talent in our industry.

Steve, a distinguished educational leader with over 25 years of experience, has held various leadership positions, starting his career as a science teacher before progressing to pastoral and curriculum senior leadership, and Headteacher and Executive headteacher. As CEO, he draws upon this extensive background to champion a vision of excellence within the Vita Multi-Academy Trust. His leadership is deeply rooted in evidence-based school improvement, inspired by his passion for research developed during his master’s degree.

A passionate advocate for the arts and sports, Steve combines his own love of rugby and football with his performances in musical theatre and opera to foster a holistic educational environment. He recognizes that engagement in sports and the creative arts significantly enhances both personal and academic development.

Steve is committed to nurturing a supportive and empowering culture for staff within the organization. He acknowledges that the success of educational initiatives heavily relies on valuing and developing talented and dedicated professionals. By promoting professional growth and well-being, he ensures that staff are well-equipped to inspire and uplift every student.

Under Steve’s guidance, each school within the trust retains its unique identity while enjoying autonomy. He strongly believes in the value of schools preserving their individual cultures and strengths while benefiting from the collaborative advantages of being part of a larger network. This approach not only respects the distinct contributions of each institution but also strengthens their ability to serve diverse communities effectively.

Through his inclusive and strategic leadership, Steve remains steadfast in his commitment to improving the life chances of all students and staff, driving educational excellence, and fostering an environment where everyone can realize their potential

Alison has been a Member since the formation of the Vita Multi Academy Trust, formerly The Perins MAT, in 2017. Prior to that, she was Chair of the Governors of Perins School and then Chair of Trustees of The MAT 2017-2020.

After reading History & German (Oxford), Alison worked as an investment banker with JP Morgan. She left to become a teacher, completing a PGCE (IoE, now UCL) in 2004. Since then, she has been involved in education in a variety of teaching and governance roles, as well as holding various Charity Trustee positions and studying for further qualifications. She has completed a BA in English Literature (Open University), a MSt in Literature & The Arts (Oxford) and a BPP (Winchester and Durham).

Alison is currently a Fellow of Winchester College. She lives locally and is married with four adult children.

Caroline has been a trustee since 2023. She is also a member of the Students and Standards Committee.

She has worked in education all her working life.

Having qualified as a teacher in 1973, and while raising a family of four children, she had a varied teaching career, working in primary, middle and secondary schools, specialising in English, music and drama; and for a while, in further education on Access to HE programmes. Following a later degree, she also taught ‘A’ level psychology.

She went on to gain a master’s degree in education followed by a PhD in teacher education in 1994. She then worked in post-doctoral education at the Institute of Education in London (now UCL) and as project officer on a widening access programme at Exeter University before returning to school for ten years, first as a primary class teacher and later as a headteacher.

She then worked as a primary advisor with the local authority before taking up her current post in 2014 lecturing in Initial Teacher Training at Bath Spa University and renewing her research career.

Katy has been a trustee of the Vita Multi Academy Trust, formerly The Perins MAT, since it was formed in 2017 and prior to that was a parent governor of Perins school. Before becoming Chair of Trustees in 2020, she was the trustee responsible for governance and trustee development, chairing the Audit and Risk Committee and the Health and Safety Working Group.

Katy has been involved in school governance for more than 15 years and alongside working with Perins school & the MAT; has chaired the board of a Primary Federation; been a member of Hampshire Schools Forum and most recently served as a member of the Interim Executive Board for Test Valley School. She has also worked with Hampshire Governor Services as an independent investigator.

Katy works in the not-for-profit sector providing accountancy and project management services. She has worked with a variety of different organisations including medical charities and fundraising groups but now primarily specialises in small educational institutions.

Katy passionately believes that every child deserves the best education possible, which is tailored to their needs, and that schools need to collaborate with each other to provide unique pathways for every child in their care. 

James has been a Trustee since 2022. He is also a member of the Resources and Health and Safety Committees.

James worked at Next plc for over 28 years and before then McDonalds for 8 years.  During his time at Next he was MD followed by Chairperson of a couple of subsidiary companies as well as being the Director of HR, Logistics and Warehousing and the Online Contact Centres.

Since leaving Next in 2020 James has been the non exec Chair of a start up business as well as voluntary work with dogs at a rescue kennel.

Charlie joined the Trust Board in 2022. He serves as Chair of the Students and Standards Committee and attends the Audit and Risk Committee. He is also the link Trustee for Perins School for safeguarding, pupil premium and children looked after in education.

With over 20 years’ experience in teaching and leadership roles in 11-18 education, Charlie has been a Deputy Headteacher since 2014 with particular interests in teaching and learning, curriculum, assessment and educational technology. His academic and teaching background is in History, and he has also taught Latin and Government and Politics in multiple schools. He is a member of various professional bodies including the Chartered College of Teaching.

In addition to educational causes Charlie supports heritage organisations and conservation efforts.

Julian has been a trustee since 2022. He is also a member of the Resources and Audit and Risk Committees and is the link trustee with the MAT's Local Advisory Board.

Before this he was for 10 years a board member of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, which through its schools delivered Higher Education and degrees in the Arts, and Escaping Victimhood, a charity which supported vulnerable people traumatised by the murder of manslaughter of someone they knew.

His first career was as a lawyer at two international law firms based in the City of London. He started as a commercial litigator before becoming an employment lawyer. He set up and for 20 years was head of a team which was recognised as one of the leading employment teams in the UK.

Since 2010 his portfolio of work has continued to have a people based focus, supporting individuals and organisations. His work involves:

• Being a sounding board for senior management and negotiating employment contracts

• Coaching and mentoring people in the context of their work and careers

• Carrying out internal investigations for employers and

• Facilitating outcomes as a workplace mediator to differences of opinion.

Marilyn became a trustee in 2023 and is a member of the Students and Standards Committee.

She has over forty years’ experience in education as a teacher, headteacher, Ofsted Inspector and Local Authority Adviser. She has supported schools across the UK as an executive member of National Primary Headteachers Association and represented local Hampshire Primary Headteachers.  Children have always been at the heart of her work; she helped set up a Community Interest Company in Rushmoor, working with local businesses to support youngsters in the area.

Since 2015 she has continued to support children; her portfolio of work involves: 

• Using her qualification as coach to support the national primary qualifications for leaders in education both in the UK and across the globe

• Working with schools for school improvement

• Supporting performance management of headteachers

Dominic has been a Trustee since 2019 and is currently Chair of Resources committee.

He has been living in Alresford for over 20 years, both his daughters attended Sun Hill Juniors School. He is an active member of Alresford Rugby club and Tennis Club.

Dominic attended Bristol University and received a B.Sc in Economics. He has worked in Financial Markets for over 30 years, specialising in interest rate and currency trading. He is now Part-time retired and now working pro bono in Education and Charity.

Jonathan became a trustee in 2017 and is Vice Chair of the MAT.

He is currently Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and a member of the Resources Committee.

Passionate about giving young people a broad curriculum experience and helping them to realise their potential, he has been variously a focus trustee for the Creative Arts where the MAT excels and is currently focus trustee for Careers advice. Along with Dominic Hubble, he is pursuing the development of the Bridge Road site to allow much needed investment into our sports facilities.

Jonathan is a senior adviser with Social Finance Limited, a non profit advisory firm working to improve people’s lives. He works particularly in the area of funding for social and affordable housing. He is a non-executive board member of His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and Chair of its Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.

Previously, Jonathan spent 25+ years in investment banking mostly in London with spells in New York and Paris in the field of mergers and acquisitions. Jonathan lives locally and is married with three adult children. Favourite things include travel, current affairs, family, the Arts and trying to stay fit.