Who we are

Claire Blunt is an experienced strategic leader, board director, and governance expert with a career spanning media, digital, retail, charity, and housing sectors. A qualified Chartered Accountant and Barrister, she has led organisations through complex transformations, driving sustainable growth and operational excellence. Claire currently holds non-executive roles at One Media iP Group Plc and Digitalbox plc. She also contributes to the charitable sector through The Archangel Trust and Newstraid Benevolent Fund. Passionate about diversity, inclusion, and the arts, Claire combines financial expertise with a commitment to fostering talent and driving impactful change.

Farida Mannan is an esteemed education professional with a distinguished career in teaching, curriculum development, and educational leadership. She earned a high Honours degree in Chemistry from University College London and a PGCE in Physical Sciences from the University of London, Institute of Education.

Qualifying as a teacher in 1987, Farida taught science and mathematics in both state and independent schools across West London and the West Midlands. She later served as a senior external marker for AQA while raising a young family.

Her leadership journey continued at the Alpha Plus Group’s Falcons School for Girls (2004–2014), where she advanced through management training to become Director of Studies and Head of Sixth Form, overseeing curriculum reform and senior school placements.

Farida later founded Mannan Education, providing academic support, assessments, and consultancy services. Committed to community engagement, she chaired the Anne Frank Trust’s annual Lunch Committee, supported refugee integration with West London Welcomes, and held governance roles with the National Education Trust and Battle Primary School.

Guided by principles of integrity, compassion, and respect, Farida actively supports cultural causes, including ACTONE cinema, the Lyric Hammersmith as well as a variety of human rights causes.

Ann Cottis was a partner in PwC until her retirement after 38 years; following many years as a tax partner she developed and led the people agenda across the partnership. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1979 and a Chartered Tax Advisor in 1980 after completing a Maths degree at Warwick University. She has held a number of non-executive directorship and trusteeships including City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Surrey Cricket Foundation.

Ben is a senior executive in the Health and Social Care sector. Prior to this, he spent 20 years as an educator, latterly as Head of a renowned performing arts school. He studied in Music and French at Bristol University and the Sorbonne (Paris). He went on to study in the USA at post-graduate level in vocal performance, conducting, and piano, whilst teaching undergraduate music theory and piano. He started his career as freelance musician, working for ten years as a tenor lay-clerk, animateur, accompanist, musical director and jazz pianist.

Jo works as Director of Education and Studies at the University of Brighton and has been awarded an MA in Education. She is a highly experienced Higher Education practitioner with a track record of cross institutional leadership in Education and Student Experience. Prior to her work in Higher Education, Jo held a senior position in Television Production and Commercial Theatre. She is also a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Fellow of SEDA (Staff Educational Development Association).

Property development and project management specialist, Rob has a degree in architecture and started his career working in construction before spending more than 22 years at a major property company, Capital & Counties, where he ran their project team. Until his recent retirement, he was a director of Rosenau Properties.

Ruth is an experienced HR professional who has worked for a range of organisations, most recently as an Interim consultant focussing on business change and transformation.  She has been a mentor in a secondary school and a governor for the University of Bedfordshire.

Sarah Hopwood is an experienced business leader and CFO; a qualified Chartered Accountant, with extensive experience in financial services, media and entertainment, family businesses, education, and the arts. Sarah has been involved in the management of the international opera charity, Glyndebourne, for nearly 30 years as Trustee, Managing Director and previously CFO. Sarah now has a portfolio of non-executive and Trustee roles in organisations ranging from Ed-Tech to the Arts. She lives in East Sussex and is very committed to local community engagement, particularly in ensuring access to the Arts for everyone.

Laura McGaughey is a senior finance and operational executive who has spent her career in UK and international media organisations. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Ernst & Young and has since worked largely in TV and Film, starting at the BBC/BBC Studios, where she played a key role in the transformation of BBC Studios production to a commercial operation. She is currently Chief Financial and Operating Officer at Anton Studios, a European independent studio. Throughout her career she has supported boards in delivering growth and organisational change, as well as chairing gender and diversity boards, including setting up and supported mentoring and women’s finance networks. Laura holds non-executive roles on BAFTA’s Audit and Risk Committee, as well as at Knowledge Schools Trust, a multi-academy Trust, where she sits on the Board of Governors and chairs their Finance and Operations Committee.

A musician by training, Richard Nicholson was a chorister at Southwell Minster and subsequently organ scholar at Lichfield Cathedral before being elected Organ Scholar at Pembroke College, Oxford. Richard began his teaching career in west London and was Director of Music in two schools before moving into school leadership. He is currently Foundation Principal of Warwick Schools Foundation, one of the largest educational charities in the U.K. He is passionate about the place of the arts as part of every child’s educational entitlement and actively supports instrumental and choral projects to bring that to fruition in the town of Warwick and the wider region.

Matt is Chief Legal Officer at Fremantle, which is a global content producer of over 12,000 hours of original programming every year across drama, entertainment, documentaries, and film. He joined Fremantle in August 2021 and sits on the global board. Prior to Fremantle, Matt was based in Amsterdam as General Counsel for EMEA & APAC for Uber, leading a diverse, international team who helped Uber Rides to scale, launch Uber Eats and JUMP bikes (now Lime) and stabilise and grow the business across over 50 countries, culminating in a successful listing on the NYSE in 2019. Matt started his career with four years at Baker & McKenzie, followed by an overall six-year stint in senior roles for global telco Telefónica with a spell at Arsenal Football Club in the middle. Matt studied Economics and Politics and is a practicing Solicitor (England and Wales).

Professor Ruth Whittaker, PFHEA, is a Visiting Professor at the University of Brighton and a highly experienced strategic leader in Higher Education . Ruth was the Pro-Vice Chancellor Education and Students at the University of Brighton, leading learning and teaching and the enhancement of the student experience.  Prior to this, Ruth’s career was in the Scottish university sector. At Glasgow Caledonian University, Ruth provided strategic academic leadership for learning and teaching and quality enhancement.  Throughout her career, herleadership and scholarship  at sector and international levels has centred on widening participation, through flexible entry and pathways with a focus on Recognition of Prior learning (RPL) ; transition into and through university; student engagement; and the transformative dimension of education.