Trust Board
The members are akin to the shareholders of a company. They have ultimate control over the academy Trust, with the ability to appoint some of the trustees and the right to amend the Trust’s articles of association.
Elaine Marshall - Chair of the Board of Trustees
Appointed by: Academy Members
From: 19th July 2012
Appointed as Chair: 22nd March 2021
Reappointed: 14th February 2025
To: 14th February 2029
Elaine Marshall joined Launceston College as a Governor in 2009, having studied at the school in the 1970’s. In 2015, as Chair of Launceston College Local Governing Board she worked with the Regional Schools Commissioner to create the Multi Academy Trust (MAT) and became the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Initially Bideford College joined the MAT, followed by Atlantic Academy, Egloskerry and Altarnun Primary Schools. A bid to build a Primary School for Launceston is in the works at present with a temporary building for our current pupils.
As a Graduate of Exeter University, in her professional life Elaine was a Police Officer for 31 years, working in uniform and as a detective across the Westcountry and Northern Ireland. Having been involved in many major crime and murder investigations as she went up the ranks, she went on to set up the first anti-corruption investigative unit in Devon and Cornwall. Elaine completed her service with the Police as the first female Commander in charge of Policing for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, a role that she thoroughly enjoyed until the day she left!
On retirement from the Police, Elaine was appointed as a Non-Executive Director for Peninsula Health for 7 years and was involved in the running of the many small hospitals in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This role gave her the insight into inspection processes across another public sector organisation, which has been useful within the educational OFSTED inspections over the past few years.
Elaine remains linked to her previous professions through other voluntary work, as a Trustee for the Police Charity, Kreslu, and is also a judge for the yearly Penna National awards for patient experience in hospitals across the UK.
Elaine is honoured to be the Chair of the Trust and believes that we should be continually improving educational facilities and standards of education across all of our schools.
Gillian Sanders
Appointed by: GB/Board
From: 10th December 2018
Reappointed: 9th December 2022
To: 9th December 2026
Committees:
- Chair - Trust Shared Service
- Chair - Audit, Health & Safety
- Vice Chair - Governance & Growth Performance
- Education Performance
The daughter of teachers, Gillian grew up in Barnsley, Yorkshire. She studied French and German at Royal Holloway College, University of London, then chose a career in marketing communications where she worked in media planning and buying for over 35 years in a number of London advertising agencies. Latterly, Gillian spent 10 years as a civil servant at COI, the government communications agency.
Gillian has been involved in school governance for over 25 years and served as a governor at the primary and secondary schools in West London which were attended by her two children. In 2010 she retired, relocating in 2012 to North Devon where her husband has family connections. Gillian finds it very rewarding working alongside fellow trustees to support staff and students to help all our young people be the very best that they can be. In addition to school governor activities, she is vice chair of the village community group and enjoys volunteering at sporting and charity events, both locally and further afield.
Ashley Shopland
Appointed by: Academy Members
From: 1st May 2017
Reappointed: 14th February 2025
To: 14th February 2029
Committees:
- Chair - Governance & Growth Performance
- Chair - Finance & Operations Performance
- Chair - Performance & Pay
Having left Launceston College in 1985 post A-Levels, Ashley joined the then English China Clays (ECC) company as a Finance Trainee. After gaining his professional qualification as an accountant, he then moved through various roles in the company including an 18 month spell in the HQ near London. Today, Ashley is now the recently retired General Manager of the company, now Imerys, in the UK responsible for the whole of the china clay and ball clay business globally served from Cornwall and Devon.
With 2 children, and a wife recently retired from working in a school, Ashley has always followed a keen interest in the education sector and has served as a Governor, including as Chair, at both St Dennis and Carclaze primary schools. Within both of these the schools underwent amalgamations, with Carclaze incorporating a complete new 420-pupil school build in 2010.
Ashley is also a Trustee of the South West Lakes Trust, responsible for the activities at such locations as Roadford just east of Launceston and Stithians, near Camborne. More recently he has also joined the Executive of the Cornwall Rugby Football Union (CRFU).
Jacquie Critchley
Appointed by: Board
From: 23 January 2023
To: 23 January 2027
Committees:
- Audit, Health & Safety
- Vice Chair - Performance & Pay
- Governance & Growth Performance
Having studied at Fowey Community School and then St Austell Sixth Form College, Jacquie adventured across the border to study at University of Northumbria in Newcastle and obtained a BA Hons Business Studies. Having specialised in Human Resources in her degree, Jacquie went on to gain membership of Chartered Institute of Personnel Management in 1991 and has been within the Human Resources profession ever since.
Jacquie considers herself fortunate to have had a successful career within Human Resources whilst remaining in Cornwall. She has worked across the health and local government for over 30 years now in a career that has enabled her to build depth of experience across most HR functions. Jacquie enjoys the challenge of transformational change and played a significant role when local government went through unitary reform in Cornwall in 2009. Jacquie has led community health services into a social enterprise, Peninsula Community Health, in 2016 which provided a fantastic opportunity to continue to deliver health services but within the third sector and as the HR Director, Jacquie gained a great insight into different business models, community engagement and culture. Working as a senior HR professional, Jacquie has led large teams to deliver both strategic and operational HR services and loves that every day is different within HR.
Jacquie now works as Associate Director for Resourcing and Reward at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust and is passionate about our local services and communities. With four children who have benefitted from a fantastic education, Jacquie has always wished to be more involved in this sector and with her children now grown up, she has more time to volunteer and is really enjoying the opportunity to be a Trustee.
Stella Ellis
Appointed by: Board
From: 30th June 2023
To: 30th June 2027
Committees:
- Vice Chair - Finance & Operations
- Vice Chair - Audit, Health & Safety
Stella was educated in Edinburgh graduating in Social Work and started her career in the East End of London in 1975. Her caseload was principally working with families and mental health patients. On being appointed as senior social worker at Great Ormond Street Hospital Stella began a career in the NHS. This move brought tremendous opportunities in both team work across many disciplines and being part of the Institute of Child Health. As a Centre of Excellence in caring for children Stella experienced first-hand what it is like to be part of a world-class organisation.
Moving to Cornwall and starting a family Stella carried out research sponsored by the Royal College of
Paediatricians before moving into NHS management at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust in the mid-1980s. Prior to retirement in 2014 Stella was responsible for approximately1000 members of staff with a budget of £56 million. This involved being accountable for the delivery of high standards of patient care and for ensuring the teams had the necessary resources, whilst meeting NHS targets within the financial constraints. Included in her portfolio was also the management of West Cornwall Hospital.
Having conflicting demands and challenging performance targets was part of her daily workload. Stella was part of the Executive Board and had to be both inward and outward facing, working with the County Council and Primary Care. Stella holds Education as a cornerstone for children & young adults to fulfill their potential and to give future generations opportunities to flourish in their chosen career paths. Stella is a firm believer in Public Services delivering both excellence and value for money.
David Barnett
Appointed by: Foundation/Trust
From: 18th January 2024
To: 18th January 2028
Committees:
- Chair - Education Performance
- Finance & Operations
- Chair - Ethos & Values
David has dedicated his career to education. He began as a teacher in Bristol and Bath for 14 years before becoming a primary Headteacher in Devon. Following a stint at the Department for Education, he assumed the Headship of a large primary school in Teignbridge in 2008. During this time, he supported other school leadership teams and served on the Devon Association of Primary Headteachers' executive board.
Leaving his last substantive Headship in 2019, David transitioned into an Educational Leadership and Management Consultant role. He currently collaborates with various partners, including Devon Schools Leadership Services, the Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership, Leading Schools South West, and Teach First, supporting schools and Academy Trusts across Devon and nationally. He has also served as Interim Headteacher of two schools during periods of transition.
Additionally, David volunteers with The Wave Project in North Devon, a surf therapy charity.
John Paul Masters
Appointed by: Board
From: 24th April 2024
To: 24th April 2028
Committees:
- Governance & Growth Performance
- Vice Chair - Trust Shared Service
- Audit, Health & Safety
Paul was born in Plymouth and attended Lifton primary school and Launceston College, before training as an Environmental health officer and undertaking numerous roles in North Cornwall District Council, Cornwall Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly.
Paul took the role as CEO of Cornwall Council and just before retiring as the CEO of the Council of the Isles of Scilly.
Paul has also undertaken a non executive role in a health trust and a period as group Chairman for the Corserve group of companies.
Paul is passionate about unlocking ambition for local people to seek opportunities they think are beyond them and always putting people first.
Ian Frost
Appointed by: Board
From: 22nd May 2024
To: 22nd May 2028
Committees:
- Education Performance
- Vice Chair - Ethos & Values
Ian has been a senior leader in schools for 20 years and a headteacher for a decade, with
experience of securing improvement in a range of contexts. He has worked in schools facing
challenging contexts, with high proportions of disadvantaged and SEND children, working across
primary and secondary phases.
Following working as a school improvement advisor he is now Deputy CEO of the Oxford Diocesan
Schools Trust, a Trust of 42 Church of England and Community primary schools. In this role he
works closely with HTs, developing CPD and leadership support for school leaders and strategy for
the Trust.
As an ILM Level 7 Executive Coach, Ian has coached more than 100 school leaders around the
country and overseas to support both their schools and also their own professional development.
In his coaching, he aims for clients to be clearer, more confident thinkers who make better
decisions.
Historic - Left within the last 12 months
John Veal
Appointed by: Board
From: 15th May 2023
To: 15th May 2027
End Date: 25th November 2024
Committees:
- Chair - Performance & Pay
- Vice Chair - Trust Shared Service
John Veal is the co-founder and Director of Nobul Resourcing Solutions. Nobul helps start-ups through to FTSE 100 companies build and execute talent plans.
John has always had a keen interest in education and ensuring that future generations are set up to succeed in the evolving world of work. He grew up in Manchester, England, and attended The University of Leeds, graduating with a degree in Theology and Religious studies in 2010.