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: 22nd March 2021
To: 22nd March 2025
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.
Ben Mitchell
Appointed by: Academy Members
From: 1st June 2021
To: 1st June 2025
Ben attended Launceston College for both Secondary School and Sixth-Form before completing his Law Degree at the University of Portsmouth. After completing his degree he attended the University of the West of England and attained a Distinction in the Legal Practice Course which then entitled him to train as a Solicitor. In 2015, on completing the Legal Practice Course, he joined Parnalls Solicitors in Launceston where he qualified as a Solicitor and specialises in the fields of Commercial Property and Business.
Gilly Sanders
Appointed by: GB/Board
From: 9th December 2022
To: 9th December 2026
Gilly retired in 2010 and moved to North Devon in 2012 following a career in marketing communications; she worked in media planning and buying for over 35 years in a number of advertising agencies in London and, latterly, as a civil servant at COI, the government communications agency. Gilly has been a school governor for over 25 years and served the primary and secondary schools in West London which were attended by her two children.
Gilly is also Health and Safety Governor, Deputy Safeguarding Governor, a member of the Trust Board and Chair of the MAT Finance and Assets Committee. She finds it very rewarding working alongside fellow governors to support staff and pupils to help our young people be the very best that they can be. In addition to school governor activities, she is Vice Chair of the Fremington Community Group Committee and enjoys volunteering at sporting and charity events, both locally and further afield.
Ashely Shopland
Appointed by: Academy Members
From: 22nd March 2021
To: 22nd March 2025
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 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 currently also sits as a Trustee of South West Lakes Ltd. responsible for such locations as Roadford just east of Launceston.
Jacquie Critchley
Appointed by: Board
From: 23 January 2023
To: 23 January 2027
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.
John Veal
Appointed by Board
From: 15th May 2023
To: 15th May 2027
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.
Stella Ellis
Appointed by Board
From: 30th June 2023
To 30th June 2027
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.
Historic - Left within the last 12 months
Peter Crispin
Appointed by: Academy Members
From: 10th December 2018
To: 10th December 2022
Left - Retired from post 10th December 2022
Peter has lived in Launceston since 1984. He joined the Trust Board in 2018 having previously been a governor at Launceston College for many years.
Before he retired in 2019, Peter was an independent education consultant, working with primary schools in Plymouth and Cornwall, supporting school improvement.
He was a Senior Primary Adviser in Plymouth for ten years, supporting schools in challenging circumstances. Peter was also the authority’s music adviser for the city’s schools and managed the Plymouth Youth Music Service.
Prior to that he was a primary headteacher in Cornwall for nineteen years, with experience in both small and large schools, which included nursery and specific SEN provision. He has also been Head of Music in an inner-city boys’ secondary school and a class teacher in primary and middle schools.
Peter has a particular interest in arts education and the role of outdoor and adventure learning. He also remains passionate about providing the very best educational opportunities for our students and seek to support this aim across our schools through my role as a trustee.