Meet the Governance

Chair: Stewart Duguid
Email: Stewdug@gmail.com

Working in the investment banking sector and formerly IT management, Stewart Duguid has first-hand experience of financial reporting requirements and risk management; he is qualified in both Business Continuity Management and also auditing management systems to ISO standards. With strong organisational skills, he has been highly successful in running his own business and also a diverse career with a number of multi-national organisations. Using his project management skills, he has demonstrated his ability to deliver complex projects to budget and on time. His business acumen will certainly benefit the work of the LAB as will his wider interest in rugby, both as a qualified referee and Level 2 coaching experience at Wasps.

[No pecuniary interests declared]

Vice Chair: Anthony Cohen

As Head of Network Operations, Tony Cohen is keen to add value using a wealth of experience in industry, leading organisations and employing large numbers of people. Educated in technical college and university environments, he recognises some of the needs of students. Working across London and the surrounding region, he is heavily involved in employing apprentices and graduates, and also sponsoring employees each year through higher education. He brings an employer’s perspective to education along with his own personal understanding, as well as that of employees. Through first-hand experience, his focus has been on ensuring young people remain in employment and continue their education.

[No pecuniary interests declared]

Trustee: Hasan Abubakar

As Premises and Facilities Manager, Hassan Abubakar is responsible for a school in Berkshire. With a wealth of health and safety experience and knowledge in compliance, his skills mean he is well placed to support the Trust in his next chapter. Hassan is keen to support standards and continued improvement, and particularly in relation to premises and facilities management processes and procedures in order to drive forward positive change. He relishes an exciting challenge that requires commitment and dedication in order to make a difference.

[No pecuniary interests declared]

Trustee: Norman Deas

Norman Deas has been closely associated with all aspects of the catering industry throughout his working life. Having graduated from the Scottish Hotel School at the University of Strathclyde, he gained practical hands on experience within various sectors of the industry and ultimately directorships of several large contract catering companies. In 1997, he set up Goodfellows CMS Ltd which specialised purely in Education and sold the company to Compass in 2004 before setting up GSS Catering Management Services as a consultancy to the catering industry. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality, a member of the British Hospitality Association, a past Chairman and Director of the European Catering Association (GB), a past Chairman and Fellow of the Association of Catering Excellence and was a non-executive Director of Pride Catering from 2009 to 2015. He is also the Treasurer and a Trustee of his local Church. His outside interests include running for various charities which included the London Marathon in 2011 and is a keen supporter of several football clubs.

Service Level Agreement between The Trust and Norman Deas Consultancy Services to provide consultancy services on all aspects of the catering services within the Trust to ensure it operates efficiently and compliant with all food hygiene legislation and to the agreed standards as laid down by the Trust. Fee £8100 per annum, reviewable each academic year and dated 21st June 2016

Trustee: Mario Flanagan

Mario Flanagan has worked within the Hyatt Hotels Corporation for more than 12 years, and has a wealth of operational and management experience. His career began in South Africa, where he held leading operational positions and undertook various special projects before moving to London in 2010 to take up post as Hotel Manager at Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill. As General Manager at Hyatt Regency Birmingham, he led the refurbishment and repositioning of the hotel in an increasingly competitive market, before becoming the General Manager of Andaz London Liverpool Street. Andaz celebrates local culture and the unique spirit of the neighbourhood in which it is based, allowing guests to live like a local in the four walls of the hotel. Mario shares this strong sense of community and diversity, and aims to impart a customer focused mind-set to life whilst implementing strategy that continues to build on ethos and core values.

[No pecuniary interests declared]

Trustee: Devard Russell-Jones

Devard Russell-Jones is regarded as optimistic with tenacious analytical abilities calculated for success. His professional background has its origins in the IT/Communications sector. Currently a service manager within FTSE100 business, Rentokil Initial, he has developed a network of profitable relationships across all business sectors. Resolute to success, he has moved a team from the bottom 10% of the business to the top 15% in respect of key performance indicators. Devard Russell-Jones is enthusiastic about new challenge which develops his analytical peculiarity whilst securing value for stakeholders.

[No pecuniary interests declared]