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.

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.

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 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.

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.