Jane Farrell (Chair of the Trust Board and Chair of the Mulberry School for Girls LGB)

Jane Farrell is a member of the Mulberry Schools Trust and Chair of the Trust board. Ms Farrell is CEO of Equality Works and a successful business woman, as well as the long-standing chair of Mulberry School for Girls and founding member of Mulberry UTC.

(Specialism: Business, Board Development and Project Management)

Nizam Uddin OBE

Nizam is Chief Strategy Officer of “algbra”, a technology-based financial ecosystem dedicated to global financial inclusion by focusing on the underserved and underbanked. Nizam was previously the Senior Head of Mosaic and Community Integration at The Prince’s Trust, where he oversaw the organisation’s community cohesion and social integration activities and led Mosaic, an independent Initiative founded by HRH The Prince of Wales to uplift diverse communities across the UK’s highest areas of deprivation. Nizam has a strong interest and background in overcoming the societal and economic challenges that prevent disenfranchised and minority communities from fulfilling their potential. He is a 2019 Greenberg World Fellow at Yale University and a 2019 US State Department International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) participant. Nizam was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s 2020 Birthday Honours list for services to social mobility and community integration.

(Specialism: Charity Law, Education, Community and Business Leadership) 

Sue Barrow

Sue Barrow is a member of the Mulberry Schools Trust and the Chair of the Trust Board’s Standards Committee. Sue is also Chair of the Governing Body of Mulberry UTC. Previously she was the Deputy Director of Education in Tower Hamlets with responsibility for the Schools Division with major responsibility for HR and resources including buildings, assets and finance. She was Director of recruitment at Cambridge Education Associates (CEA) and the interim project director for Islington when CEA ran Islington Local Authority. Ms Barrow has worked with a number of sponsors assisting in the development of new Academies including Pimlico and Mossborne.

(Specialism: HR, Personnel, Academies)

Alice Crawley

Alice Crawley is the Chair of the Finance Committee and the Chair of Mulberry School for Girls Local Governing Body. Ms. Crawley is a qualified Corporate Lawyer and has many years of experience in corporate finance. Alice works for a multinational investment bank and is responsible for company mergers and acquisitions.

(Specialism: Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions)

Mark Traynor

Mark Traynor is a Partner at Bates Wells and Braithwaite LLP and acts for commercial, charity and private clients in all aspects of transactions involving commercial property, including development, acquisitions and disposals. Mark has high level experience of PFI, academies and property law relating to these fields.

(Specialism: Academies and Property Law)

Ndidi Okezie OBE

Ndidi Okezie is the Chief Executive Officer at UK Youth. Prior to this Ms Okezie was the Executive Director of Delivery—Access, Ambassadors and Collection Action for Teach First. Ms. Okezie was an Assistant Vice Principal at Burlington Danes Academy and contributed to the rapid improvement which lifted the school out of Special Measures to Outstanding.

(Specialism: Education and Leadership)

Ian Chivers

Ian Chivers is the Director of Finance and Operations of the Great Ormond Street Children’s Charity (GOSHCC) and is a long-standing supporter of Mulberry School for Girls. Mr. Chivers has experience in finance, technology, legal and compliance and property. Prior to joining GOSHCC Ian worked for Merrill Lynch in a number of executive roles.

(Specialism: Finance and Health Sector)

Sarah Sarwar

Sarah Sarwar has recently completed her Teach First teacher training placement at Lister Community School and is now Head of Department for History. Ms. Sarwar is a former student of Mulberry School for Girls. Prior to training with Teach First, Sarah was the President of Queen Mary Student Union.

(Specialism: Community and Alumni)

David Gracie

David Gracie co-chairs the Mulberry Academy Shoreditch LGB and is a Director of Global Entity Management Legal Services at KPMG. David took responsibility for KPMG’s Global Entity Management team in 2016, having previously spent 17 years with KPMG Makinson Cowell, where he provided corporate governance advice to large multinational companies. David has extensive experience in subsidiary governance, investor relations, shareholder identification and shareholder engagement on corporate governance matters. David is also Chairman of the KPMG Company Secretary Association in the UK, and as a qualified company secretary of 12 years’, is heavily involved in promoting the profession through his work with the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

(Specialism: Legal, Audit and Governance)

Councillor Denise Jones

Denise Jones is a Councillor for St Katharine’s and Wapping in Tower Hamlets and has held this position since 1994. Denise is also the Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing at Tower Hamlets Council and was the former Leader of the Council from 2006 to 2008. Denise runs a bookshop in Bricklane and she has led on many community projects over the years including the creation of Mile End Millennium Park and the Idea Stores. Denise is also a Director Lea Valley Park, Trustee at Rich Mix, V&A Museum of Childhood, Trinity Buoy Wharf and Aldgate & Allhallows Foundation.

(Specialism: Education, Community and Business Leadership)

Dr. Vanessa Ogden (Chief Executive Officer)

Dr Vanessa Ogden is the CEO of the Mulberry Schools Trust and Headteacher of Mulberry School for Girls. Dr Ogden has been a designated NLE since 2011. She has a track record of success in co-ed schools in challenging circumstances prior to taking up headship at Mulberry. She has subsequently had a successful track record in ‘school to school’ support and in chairing the board of the Somerset Challenge.