LEH 4 Life 4 Real!

She says: “It is an honour to be appointed Governor of LEH.   I look forward to the role immensely, and just returning to the school for interviews last year, and again to meet Mrs Hanbury, renewed my sense of pride, and brought those memories back to the fore.   A very happy place it was for me, as a pupil back in the seventies and eighties!  Miss Candy was my Headmistress.  A tall, elegant figure, as she strode along the corridors, we would enjoy seeing her break into a smile as she passed by.

It was in Holles Connect where I first read that the school was looking to recruit new Governors.  This piqued my interest… hope favours the bold I thought, go for it!  Education and lifelong learning are my passion, and I often think back to school days with gratitude.  This was a potential chance for me to learn new skills, to hopefully contribute some value, and to rekindle a strong connection with my school. 

Being shown around the school again was a delight – my, how the school has grown, although the ‘bones’ of it remain the same (the traffic light system at Mrs Hanbury’s door is still there).   Memories of playing lacrosse but not being allowed to approach the Hampton School fence (there was certainly no gate...), dropping an Ammetera (an instrument for measuring electric current) in the lab at the front of the school (Mrs Haynes was not amused and told me it would ‘go on my parents’ school bill’), pinging rulers under the lids of wooden desks in Latin, eating tasty school lunches in the great hall, hanging out on the balcony in the Upper Sixth common room wearing ‘own clothes’ and feeling cool, hating doing lengths in that fantastic swimming pool.  The only class we had in common with Hampton School was ‘car maintenance’, so of course we all suddenly developed an interest in car engines.

After leaving school I read French and German at the University of Bath – I adored languages, and French teachers (Mrs Hannah, Mrs Bacon), and German teachers (‘little’ Miss Thomas, Miss Benke and Mrs Sutcliffe) were stellar at nailing fluency and accuracy (repetition, repetition, repetition...).  We watched animated films for each language, most definitely the latest technology at the time.  Those teachers deepened my love for the languages, cultures, and countries.

I now work for the University of Cambridge.   Leadership development and management education became my passion when I worked at an international Business School, INSEAD, in Fontainebleau, France, for several years.  My roles there spanned from programme management, design, and development of programmes for corporates and individuals, to marketing and business development.  I adored living and working in France, I count it as my second home, my son was born there and is bilingual. 

At the University of Cambridge Judge Business School, I am the Director of Open Programmes, and the Cambridge Advanced Leadership Programme, the flagship programme in the portfolio for Executive Education.  I am responsible for managing the Open programmes business unit to ensure profitable growth, as well as for the successful operations, delivery, overall strategy, and vision for the business.  I live in Cambridge and my son Louis is studying at university.

I look forward to my new role this year, and to working with a very talented group of Governors.  I also look forward to meeting pupils, teachers, and parents.  My curious mind, seeded and encouraged at LEH, will continue to grow – I hope I don’t bore you with the questions.”