Paul Allen

Elisabeth Anderson

Rita Atkinson (Diocesan Representative)

Frances Bartlett (Diocesan Representative)

Frances is a School Improvement Adviser and strategic lead for governance with Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust. For the last ten years, she has worked as a diocesan adviser, school improvement adviser, and a trustee with a number of multi-academy trusts. Prior to her current role, Frances was Deputy Director for the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education and before this she was headteacher of two Oxfordshire primary schools, both of which achieved Good Ofsted ratings under her leadership. Frances has also worked as an inspector for Ofsted.

Ruth Elliot 

Ruth is Chief Financial Officer & Director of Corporate Services at United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). Prior to this, she was Finance and Commercial Director at UK Research and Innovation, managing an annual budget of over £7bn.  After training as an accountant with Deloitte, she worked at the National Audit Office and held a variety of finance roles in central government organisations. Through these roles she has gained experience of leading and motivating large teams, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of finance services in a number of organisations, as well as implementing new systems and improving financial control.

Jill Judson

During 37 years of secondary school experience, Jill has worked in a wide range of large and medium sized urban and suburban schools – comprehensive, selective, mixed and single sex, in single and split sites. She was a headteacher for 19 years in two very contrasting schools, each judged outstanding by Ofsted. In both headships she had successful experience of substantial school expansion and reorganisation. She is a former Ofsted inspector and since retirement from headship she has provided school improvement support working with many different schools, particularly supporting them with Ofsted preparation, with leadership and management development and with senior appointments. Until recently, she also worked with ASCL as a headship appointment consultant.

Andrew Kaye (Diocesan Representative)

Shelia McKenzie

James Thurgood

James is Director of Legal and Chief of Staff at Elliptic, a VC- backed technology business specialising in blockchain compliance.  James is a solicitor whose diverse legal career prior to Elliptic has included being Head of Legal at Metro Bank PLC, legal counsel at Care UK and commercial litigator in a private practice at Shakespeare Martineau LLP. James brings a wealth of legal and HR knowledge to the Trust Board and Finance and General Purposes Committee.

Stephen White (Vice Chair)

Stephen spent his career in a variety of management and leadership roles in the civil nuclear industry. He worked at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) in a wide range of roles, becoming Director for Strategy and Authority Secretary. From 2003 to 2005 he was responsible for restructuring the Atomic Energy Authority following the adoption of a new national strategy for nuclear decommissioning. He became chairman of two site decommissioning companies and helped set up a nuclear services business which was sold to Babcock International, with whom he finished his career as Director of Nuclear Decommissioning. He was awarded the OBE in 2009 for services to the nuclear industry. Stephen chairs the Trust Finance & General Purposes Committee which scrutinises the finances of schools within the Trust and oversees the provision of key premises, IT and health and safety matters. The Committee has overseen substantial change and savings programmes in support functions.

He is a Trustee of the Blewbury Players which supports young people in the arts.