Our Governors

I have been a Governor at the East SILC since 2015. I sit on the Curriculum and Welfare, the Resources and the Health & Safety and Premises Committees. I am also the school’s Mental Health Governor.

I was a professional dancer before working in Education, in the Higher and Further Education sectors; working as a Teacher, Lecturer and Senior Manager. This has included co-ordinating and apprenticeship scheme for dancers, facilitating their entry to the professional world.

I am a parent governor, and my son attends the John Jamieson site. I used to be a mainstream primary school teacher for over 15 years, but I now run my own online shop selling educational handmade wooden toys. I have been a governor before in mainstream schools but now I want to be able to learn more about the SILC. I feel passionate in supporting the East SILC to be the best that it can be.

Louise is Executive Principal of the East SILC. 

I am the Finance Manager at the East SILC and I’ve worked here since 2006. I became staff governor in February 2019 because I feel I can contribute greatly to the East SILC and put staff views forward to the Governors.

I became a Co-Opted governor at the East SILC in February 2018. My term of office was renewed for a further 4 years from 2022.

I am a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon. Many of my patients attend the East SILC schools or similar schools throughout Yorkshire so I learn a lot from my role as a governor but also insights from my work can be valuable to the Governor’s and committee meetings I attend.

I am the Chair of the Finance Committee and the governor with responsibility for Safeguarding 

I studied my undergraduate degree at University of Leeds, in Classical Literature & English (BA 2:1 Hons), and my masters degree at University of York in Cultural Heritage Management (MA Merit). My areas of focus were structural linguistics, and the representation of gender and social class in society. My MA thesis explored the underrepresentation of the working classes in traditional heritage sites and discourse, and how this is influenced by politics and the media.

After my undergraduate, I worked in market research and data collection for four years before deciding to change career paths to cultural heritage, and so commenced my masters degree.

Whilst studying for my MA, I worked for the NHS for five years in formal medical complaints. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I undertook a secondment in bereavement services for Leeds Teaching Hospitals (NHS Trust). These were both administrative roles in patient experience, where the focus was on guiding patients and their families through the process of formal complaints and bereavement.

My heritage career began in traditional museum sites: the Yorkshire Museum, York Castle Museum, York Art Gallery, and Leeds Discovery Centre. I decided to focus on the crossover between natural and cultural heritage and took a position at York Museum Gardens, a historical botanical garden and archaeological scheduled ancient monument site. To enhance my skills in horticultural heritage, I studied the RHS Level 2 qualification in the principles of plant growth and development.

Starting in the Museum Gardens as a tour guide, I am now the assistant manager. The role is both niche and varied; I am responsible for the conservation of the ruins of a Roman military fort, a 12th century abbey ruins, and the daily management of a 12-acre botanical garden. I am also responsible for our community engagement programme. This involves managing a team of gardening volunteers and work placement students, and providing engagement sessions for less represented community groups e.g. Age UK, Kyra Women’s Project, St Nick’s Ecotherapy. I work with local colleges such as Blueberry Academy, providing volunteer work experience to young adults with additional needs and learning differences.

I am part of York Museum Trust’s EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity) working group and a member of Museum as Muck. This is a network of heritage practitioners from working class backgrounds aimed at making change to representation in the cultural heritage and museums sector. I am a trained mental health first aider and as part of my continuing professional development have undertaken conflict management and active bystander training.

I work as in-house counsel to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, an arms length government body which delivers decommissioning of the UK’s retired nuclear reactors.  My work involves advising on legal risk across any contentious matters.  Prior to this, I worked as a health and safety corporate criminal defence lawyer at Eversheds Sutherland for 12 years.

I live in North Leeds with my husband and 2 young sons who are primary and nursery age.

I am a parent of a child with autism, suspected ARFID, and learning difficulties. I am also a member of the school PTFA and I have a strong interest in the ethos and operations of the East SILC.