Our Governors

Governor Information

Russell Trigg –  Chair of 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. 

Business interest in the school?	No
Governor at another school?	No
Related to any member of the school staff?	No
End of term	07/02/2024

 

Louisa Smedley– Co- Vice Chair of Governors

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.

Business interest in the school?	No
Governor at another school?	No
Related to any member of the school staff?	No
End of term	29/06/2026

 

Joshua Gardner  – Co- Vice Chair of Governors

Hello, my name is Joshua Gardner, I have been a school governor at East SILC since September 2023. At the age of nine I had a spinal injury and became a full-time wheelchair user at this point in my life I started going to hospital school within the LGI hospital covered by the East SILC. Once discharged I went back to my primary school St Theresas, in East Leeds, and went on to Corpus Christi high school for a short time before moving to Brigshaw High School where accessibility and education for people with physical conditions like mine could thrive.

 Since leaving school and moving into my working life I have worked as a BBC presenter, communications leader for the NSPCC and health research communications leader within the NHS, before moving to NHS England where I have worked since 2020. Since the start of 2023 I have been in the role at NHS England focusing on improving the standard of employment conditions for colleagues from protected groups under the equality act throughout the organisation. My main area of expertise is the employment of people with a disability and how to make sure a colleague disability can thrive throughout their working life.

 Outside of work I am the chairman of SPIDER-Y, the disability sport charity in Leeds that enables people with disabilities to take part in wheelchair basketball. I also deliver talks with students across Leeds with additional needs each year about the transition from secondary school/further education into higher education and the workplace.

 I hope my experience of being a disabled student from primary, secondary to further education will be a great addition to the East SILC, alongside my expertise of helping people with disabilities thrive in the workplace can help students throughout the East SILC.

Business interest in the school?	No
Governor at another school?	No
Related to any member of the school staff?	No
End of term	31/08/2027

 

Louise Quinn - Executive Principal

Louise is Executive Principal of the East SILC. 

Business interest in the school?	No
Governor at another school?	No
Related to any member of the school staff?	No
End of term	Ex-Officio

 

Stuart McFarlane – Co-Opted Governor

I have been a governor at John Jamieson since the autumn term in 2016 and prior to that I was a community governor for 10 years at Lawnswood School which is local to where I live.

I am currently on the Governing Body and sit on 2 committees. I also have responsibility amongst the governors for data protection and health and safety.

In my working life I was a qualified solicitor and after 7 years in private practice I joined the in-house legal team at Yorkshire Water. After 25 years with the company, where I became Head of Legal and Company Secretary, I retired in December 2014.

 In  my spare time I try and keep fit and healthy and pursue various leisure activities usually involving holidays, reading, cinema going and music.

Business interest in the school?	No
Governor at another school?	No
Related to any member of the school staff?	No
End of term	30/06/2025

 

Lisa Dunn – Staff Governor

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.

Business interest in the school?	No
Governor at another school?	No
Related to any member of the school staff?	No
End of term	13/02/2027

 

Emma Sidebotham – Co-Opted Governor

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 

Business interest in the school?	No
Governor at another school?	No
Related to any member of the school staff?	No
End of term	26/02/2026

 

Caroline Foster – Co-Opted Governor

Business interest in the school?	No
Governor at another school?	No
Related to any member of the school staff?	No
End of term	05/02/2024

 

Cllr Sharon Hamilton – Local Authority Representative Governor

Business interest in the school?	No
Governor at another school?	No
Related to any member of the school staff?	No
End of term	16/03/2024

Yvonne Winteler – Co-Opted Governor 

Business interest in the school?	No
Governor at another school?	No
Related to any member of the school staff?	No
End of term	29/06/2026

 

Gwyneth Stephen - MNTS Governor

Business interest in the school?	No
Governor at another school?	No
Related to any member of the school staff?	No
End of term	29/06/2026

 

Isabelle Hogan – Co-Opted Governor

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.

Business interest in the school?	No
Governor at another school?	No
Related to any member of the school staff?	No
End of term	31/08/2028

Surekha Gollapudi – Co-Opted Governor

 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.

 

Business interest in the school?	No
Governor at another school?	No
Related to any member of the school staff?	No
End of term	31/08/2028