Trustee - Chair
Toby WatsonToby Watson
Toby was an investment banker at Goldman Sachs International for 17 years where he was a partner until 2017. At Goldman Sachs he focused on structured finance globally and worked in the New York, Hong Kong and London offices at various times. Prior to that Toby worked at Deutsche Bank in New York and London. He read Physics at Oxford University.
Trustee - Vice Chair
Susan ClarkeTrustee
Susan Clarke
Susan has held leadership roles in local government in London and West Sussex. In that context, she has experience in governance, performance management, organisational change, human resources and public sector finance. Susan has extensive experience of both primary and secondary school governance as a local governor at Preshute Primary School and St Johns. She was a founding member of the Trust and is Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of Staffing Committee.
.
Chief Executive Officer
Nick LewisChief Executive Officer
Nick Lewis
Nick Lewis, CEO of Excalibur Academies Trust from September 2024, brings extensive experience in educational leadership within schools, trusts, and national organisations. As a values driven leader, Nick has a proven track record of fostering academic excellence and collaboration across diverse school communities, ensuring success for students and staff alike.
Trustee
Jane ButlerFoundation Trustee
Jane Butler
Jane worked for 20+ years in the local voluntary sector as a funding and governance advisor, most recently as Programme Director at Wiltshire Community Foundation. Jane has extensive experience of primary and secondary school governance including having been Chair of Governors at Kennet Valley Primary School and Chair of Governors at St John’s Marlborough. Jane sits on Excalibur’s Education Scrutiny Committee.
Trustee
Dr Natalie CozierTrustee
Dr Natalie Cozier
With hands-on experience in overseeing large scale academic, scientific & economic operations; Natalie is a proud Bristolian, Research/Commercialisation Professional, GEDITT (Global Equality Diversity & Inclusion in Technology Transfer) Co-Founder, mentor for the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) women inventors programme, and Consulting Director. A Royal Society of Chemistry member, Natalie is a NSPCC Board member & appointed to the Excalibur Board in 2023.
Member
Rev Richard CurtisCorporate Member
Rev Richard Curtis
Richard is Team Rector of the Cannings and Redhorn Team, his previous 24 years of ministry were in the Diocese of Leicester; whilst there he served on the governing boards of five different schools. He also served on the Leicester Diocesan Board of Education. Prior to reading Theology Richard worked in residential social work having previously taught physics and science in a secondary school.
Member
Warwick DufourFounding Member
Warwick Dufour
A local governor at Easton Royal Academy for six years, Warwick is a founding member of Excalibur Academies Trust and served as a director from the Trust’s inception in September 2012 until May 2018. He has worked in the IT industry for over 30 years in a highly technical capacity providing IT solutions and consultancy in medical imaging, 3D simulators, aviation, telecommunications, oil exploration and defence.
Trustee
Alan GouldTrustee
Alan Gould
A Chartered Project professional, Alan is a freelance consultant assisting engineering and technology companies with product development, projects & business improvement. With extensive experience overseeing governance and compliance, Alan has sat on advisory panels for government agencies/research programmes. An experienced governor – including setting up a LGB – Alan is Chair of Excalibur’s Audit Committee.
Trustee
Lawayne JeffersonTrustee
Lawayne Jefferson
Lawayne has worked in various non-executive governance roles as Chair of Governors and a range of committees/in link roles. A strategic communications professional, Lawayne’s strengths include inter-personal relations, motivation, writing, public speaking, speech writing and leadership. Passionate about education, Lawayne has completed the NCTL Chairs of Governance leadership & development certificate programme, in addition to considerable training. Â
Trustee
Dr Kieran KellyCo-opted Trustee
Dr Kieran Kelly
Kieran tutors on a number of Senior Leadership and Management programmes at Aston University. He has a PhD in Business and Economic History and has taught and researched across a number of areas of business and economics. He is also a qualified executive coach. Kieran is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.Â
Trustee
Lucy LeeFoundation Trustee
Lucy Lee
With a first class degree in Politics and a Masters in Social Policy from LSE, Lucy began her career as a consultant with Accenture. She has held various posts as a public services policy adviser, including Head of Education for a large Westminster think tank. She is currently working as a Senior Policy Researcher for an MP. Â Lucy has extensive experience in governance, both as a Chair and a Trustee. She sits on the Board of Trustees.Â
Trustee
Stella LithgowTrustee
Stella Lithgow
Stella has professional teaching and civil service experience, currently specialising in strengthening capability in the school business sector. She has been a trustee at Gatehouse Green Learning Trust, serving variously as Chairs of Finance & Audit as well as Vice-Chair of the Board, joining the Board of Excalibur in 2023 when the trusts merged. Stella is Chair of the Finance Premises and ICT (FP&I) Committee.
Trustee
Jeanette LonghurstTrustee
Jeanette Longhurst
Jeanette is an experienced health and social care professional and a qualified social worker. She has commissioned and delivered services at all levels. She has worked as a consultant for a range of clients including the Department of Health and taught Social Work on a degree course. Jeanette was Chair at Oare LGB. Jeanette is Excalibur’s nominated director for Safeguarding and chairs the Education Scrutiny Committee.
Trustee
Ann ParryFoundation Trustee
Ann Parry
Prior to retirement Ann worked as a School Business Manager in Swindon. Her professional background is in finance and commerce. She is a lifetime member of the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL). Ann was chair of Easton Royal Primary School at the time of the inception of Excalibur in 2012 and has served as a director of the Trust since then. She is also a trustee of the Parry Family Charitable Trust.
Member
Catherine PinderTrustee
Catherine Pinder
Catherine has significant experience working in education, initially turning around schools within London before developing & managing international education programmes. Establishing a charity for children in low-income communities in India and a leadership training programme for school principals in South Africa, Catherine now works for the higher education regulator – the Office for Students – with a focus on fair access/participation.
Trustee
Nick SwanCo-opted Trustee
Nick Swan
Nick studied Engineering at Cambridge University and qualified as a Chartered Engineer. He worked for 35 years in International Oil Trading. He was a Corporate Member for Kuwait of the Royal Institute of International Affairs. Nick was appointed to the board in October 2018 and sits on the Audit and Finance committees as well as the Trust’s Admissions Panel.