Mr Chas Bradfield, Chair

A governor at Crosfields since 2005 since Chas was appointed Chairman in August 2021, having previously served as Chairman from 2010-17. Recently retired from full time employment Chas has had a career that spans the National Health Service, Local Government and consultancy work. He has worked for local government at senior executive level for many years, focused on supporting communities, delivering services and leading major city centre developments. Chas is married with two sons (now young men!) who both attended Crosfields.

Mr Mark Turner

Mark is the Head of a Prep School in Richmond-upon-Thames, King’s House School, which is for children from 3-13 years old. He is a member of IAPS and Chairs the London 1S District Heads’ group. He is the designated Safeguarding Governor for Crosfields, and as such works closely alongside the Safeguarding Team at the school. He is married with four children, and enjoys various sports, playing the piano, quizzes and crosswords.

Mrs Alison Atkinson, Vice Chair

Dr Abby Hilson

Dr Abby is a senior lecturer (Accounting) at the Kent Business School and partner at a research consulting SME. She also serves as editor for two Elsevier Journals in social sciences. She is enthusiastic about sustainability and brings to the board experiences working in Canada, Ghana and the UK and also a commitment to empowering children to thrive upon recognition of their individual learning styles.

Mr Charlie Plumpton

Charlie is an experienced Director of Estates who has led and managed Estates teams in complex projects such as a new state-of-the-art theatre, Eco building, Art & Mathematics STEAM building, commercial kitchen and dining facilities to name a few. He is a member of the British Institute of Facilities Management (BFIM) and is passionate about investing people to achieve greatest organisational outcomes.

Professor Clare Furneaux

A Governor for many years, Clare is also Deputy Chair of Governors. She had three children at the School. A Professor of Applied Linguistics, she is also a Teaching and Learning Dean at the University Reading, and a Higher Education National Teaching Fellow.  Clare is chair of the Education and Welfare Committee which oversees the Schools academic offering and pastoral support from the Early Years through to the Senior School.

Mrs Deborah Battersby

Deborah is an Assistant Head at Davenies School overseeing Pastoral, Safeguarding and Pre-Prep. She was appointed to the board in September 2021 as EYFS Governor. She has two daughters and is an enthusiastic follower of rugby.

Mrs Elona Mortimer-Zhika

Elona is the Chief Executive Officer of IRIS Software Group, one of the largest privately held global software businesses. IRIS provides software to over 50% of England schools including software such as finance, HR, Payroll, MIS, engagement, SMS, Payments etc and connects over four million parents and guardians with their schools though their Parentmail and iSams applications.

Elona graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Accounting and Economics and is a Fellow Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of senior experience in Big 4 and various executive and board roles. Elona is passionate about diversity and mentoring those from under privileged and under-represented backgrounds.

Mr Ian Galvin

Ian has over 30 years’ experience in the investment and financial services sector working in the UK, Europe and Middle East. In his last role he was the Chief Operating Officer for a multi-asset private investment firm responsible for Risk Management, Investment Operations, Compliance, Finance, IT and HR. He is a Chartered Accountant (ACA) and CFA Charter Holder (Chartered Financial Analyst).

Mr Joe Sefton-Jenkins

Joe joined the board at the end of 2018 and currently chairs the Finance & Operations Committee. He has over 25 years’ experience of building software for the financial services industry and has two children currently at the school.

Mr John Lucey

John joined the Board of Governors in November 2018 and sits on the Finance & Operations Committee. With a 25 year career in senior leadership roles for some of the leading global IT companies, John is looking to help enable better use of IT within the school. John’s son is in the Senior School at Crosfields having joined Reception in 2012. He will be part of the first year group to attain GCSE’s at Crosfields.

Dr Liz Dawes

Dr Liz is a clinical psychologist with over 11 years’ experience of working with children and young people with mental health and behavioural needs. She set up and runs Every Mind Child Psychology, a clinic for autistic children and their families to receive diagnosis and ongoing therapeutic support.

Dr Liz had recently joined Crosfields Board of Governors as the Wellbeing Governor. She is keen to ensure Crosfields provides the best mental health and wellbeing support for students and staff, throughout the entire school. Dr. Liz is also a Crosfields parent, with two girls already in the school and another to follow in a few years time.

Ms Maggie Mallam

Maggie is an HR leader in the biotech industry. She has over 25 years’ International HR experience in the IT, Telco and Pharmaceutical sectors.

Maggie recently joined the Board and will be a member of the Finance & Operations Committee.

Mr Mark Wardrop

An Oxford Chemistry graduate, Mark is Senior Deputy Head of City of London School and has 20 years’ experience of teaching, leadership and management in several leading girls, boys and co-educational schools. He joined the Board in 2020

Mrs Michelle Lawerence

Michelle joined the Board of Governors in August 2023 and sits on the Finance & Operations Committee. With a long and varied career in senior Estates leadership roles across a variety of different educational establishments, Michelle hopes to bring this experience to support Crosfields in the best management and development of its estate. Michelle has one son in university and a variety of different pets at home.

Mrs Shashi Sachdeva

Shashi has been a Governor at Crosfields for many years. She graduated with a law degree and then read a Masters in Law. She qualified as a solicitor in 1998 and has been a practicing solicitor for over twenty years. She works in Berkshire where she also lives with her family. She has two sons, her youngest joined Crosfields in Nursery and is currently enjoying studying for his GCSEs at Crosfields.