Our Trustees and Members
All governance related queries should be referred to our Governance Team via email to governance@epsilonstar.co.uk
TRUSTEES
Annie Sutton | Chair of Trustees and Member
Appointment Date: 6th March 2019
Annie is the Chair of The Epsilon Star Trust Board and has been involved in school Governship since 2014. She has a long connection with Kents Hill Junior School which both her children attended.
Originally from West Sussex, Annie works as the Head of Operations for a large Insurance Broker in the City. She is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute and has a strong track record in operational management and change. In addition to her role as Chair of The Epsilon Star Trust, Annie has previously been a parent Governor at Kents Hill Junior School.
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Michael Thomas | Bed (Hons) NPQH | CEO/Accounting Officer/Trustee
Appointment Date: 1st September 2016
Michael Thomas is the CEO of The Epsilon Star Trust and Executive Head teacher at both Kents Hill Junior School and Lubbins Park Primary Academy and Nursery. He has led the Trust since its formation in 2016.
Michael has worked as a Head teacher since 2007 and has supported many schools through his work as a Quality Assurance Consultant for a Local Authority and is a trained OFSTED Inspector.
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Alex Cadogan | Chair of Finance, Audit & Risk Committee/Trustee
Appointment Date: 10th December 2021
Alex is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and currently works as an IT Audit Manager for a financial services company in London.
Alex joined the Epsilon Star Trust's Board of Trustees in December 2021 and also undertakes the role of Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. Alex previously served on the Local Governing Body at Lubbins Park Primary since 2017, where he was also Chair of Governors since July 2020.
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Salina Ventress | Trustee
Appointment Date: 1st September 2025
Salina is a highly experienced Multi Academy Trust leader with extensive experience leading improvement across all phases, EYFS to post 16, both in Essex and nationally. Salina most recently worked as school improvement lead for a large, high performing academy trust as the lead for teaching and learning and an Education Improvement Partner for primary and secondary trust schools.
Salina grew up in the local area, where she still lives with her young family, and has a geography degree and PGCE from the University of Cambridge. She is an experienced trustee, an examiner for AQA and is an advocate for women in education leadership. Her expertise are in leadership development, school improvement, teaching and learning, safeguarding and strategic governance.
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Matthew Geldart | Trustee
Appointment Date: 1st September 2025
Biography content coming soon
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MEMBERS
Vicki Murray | Member
Appointment Date: 10th December 2021
Content coming soon...
Colin Wright | Member
Appointment Date: 1st September 2016
Content coming soon...
RESIGNATIONS [previous 12 months]
Benjamin Rushmere | Trustee - End Date 23 July 2025
Emma Howell | Trustee - End Date 18 December 2024
Janet Murray | Trustee - End Date 3rd December 2024
Join Our Trust Board
Being a trustee is a hugely rewarding form of voluntary work. Trustees make a real difference to our pupils, and our local community by actively contributing to the success of our academies. We are looking for people with new ideas and a fresh perspective to join our board. As strategic leaders of the academy trust, it is vital that the Trust board is connected with, and engages, the communities and stakeholders it serves. We would like to hear from people with a range of skills and experiences. In particular, we are interested in diversifying our board and would welcome applications from people with experience in: - strategic educational leadership - corporate governance - legal/compliance The strength of a board of trustees lies in the talents and commitment of its individual members, and in their ability to work together as a team. What do trustees do? Trustees are responsible for: - ensuring clarity of vision, ethos, and strategic direction - holding executive leaders to account for the educational and financial performance - responsible for maintaining stability and the management of a dynamic structure - contributing to financial planning for sustainability and potential growth The Trust board meets once every half term – six meetings per year. There are also two sub-committees that specialise in finance, audit and risk and curriculum and standards. These committees meet three times per year, and a new trustee would be invited to join one of these committees based on their skills and experience. If you would like to find out more, please complete the form below.
