Structures and oversight

A qualified youth and community worker and youth work consultant with over 33 years’ experience in both the statutory and voluntary sector, extensive experience in leadership and management including: Chair of governors: Sarah Bonnell School, member of governing body of Heathcote school, Chair of Newham Independent Advisory Group (IAG) to the Met Police.

With twenty years’ experience as a BBC journalist and television director, Janette has developed many transferable skills that she brings to our Trust Board; good communication, planning and logistics, researching, assessing and analysing information, relationship building, budgeting, problem solving, listening and patience, collective problem solving and team work. Her most recent role was Senior Project Manager for the BBC’s media literacy programme for 11 to18 year olds. This role required her to work with multiple stakeholders to establish a 200-strong staff volunteer base to deliver content in schools. The success of this project demonstrates her ability to navigate legal and editorial compliance, the importance of child safeguarding, and her commitment to BBC values, and puts her in a strong position to support the Trust. In May 2020, Janette stepped away from the BBC in order to bring her media literacy skills to an even wider audience, as the founder and owner of Be Smart Cookie.

Neil is a solicitor with the Insurance & Reinsurance Group of CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP. He is a leader in his organisation on insurance and reinsurance issues, most recently advising both insurers and policyholders on coverage for business interruption and event cancellation following the COVID-19 outbreak. Neil is also involved in insurance disputes, including claims arising from natural catastrophes, onshore and offshore energy losses and financial scandals. He further advises on the drafting of insurance policies and reinsurance treaties, and advises insurers, reinsurers and brokers on regulatory investigations. He became a Co-opted governor and then Vice-chair of the governing board for Lister Community School in 2014 and was involved in the formation of Newham Community Schools Trust (which merged with the Leading Learning Trust in September 2022 to form Newham Community Learning).

Pam is a parent of three children who attend a primary and secondary school in the London Borough of Newham, who has been a resident in the London Borough of Newham for the last 20 years. She has worked in the education sector since 1998, both in primary and secondary settings. Her area of expertise is Pastoral, Parental Support, Attendance and Safeguarding. She have been employed as part of the Primary Pupil Referral Unit and Outreach Behaviour Team, After School Club Manager, Home School Liaison Worker / Designated Safeguarding Lead and currently as an Attendance Advisory Officer. She has been a Governor at a Newham primary school since October 2013 currently chair of governors since 2018. During this time the school went through an Ofsted grading of Required to Improve to Outstanding. The school also went through a process of due diligence and consultation and joined an existing MAT. Pam joined the NCL as a Trustee in May 2019 and also serves on the Standards Committee.

Christina developed her senior leadership and governance skills through wide-ranging experience in complex organisations (central government, NHS, Charity Commission, charities, schools and London Livery). She is a qualified Chartered Secretary (governance professional), holds academic degrees (MA and BA) and for much of her career worked as a senior qualified technical tax inspector. Christina was awarded an OBE for her services to the Home Office as an Operations Director in the Immigration Department. Formerly, Christina was a school governor of three primary schools over a period of 10 years. She became chairman of one, leading and responsible for school recovery after a dismal Ofsted. In her retirement, Christina is a trustee for Age UK Bromley and Greenwich (Vice Chair), a visiting lecturer in a Tanzanian college, and Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

Sarvesh is a Director at EY-Parthenon, part of EY’s Strategy and Transactions practice. He has over 10 years of experience in advising complex international organisations on a wide range of strategy and M&A related topics including growth, performance improvement, operational turnarounds and mergers/ carve-outs. He has lived and worked in London, Paris, Dubai, Kenya and Mumbai. He studied Financial Strategy at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and has qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant.

Momodou’s primary area of expertise is in Education. He has a BA degree in International Development Studies with a Minor in English Language from St Mary’s University, Halifax, Canada, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Psychology from University of East London. He previously taught at both primary and secondary schools in Gambia. Momodou has worked in various teaching roles in Newham schools since 2005.

Mohammed Mansoor Siddique is an Aerospace Engineer working as an Enterprise Architect for the Ministry of Defence, Formula 1 and Airbus and is a Lead Project Manager on a range of international Aerospace and Engineering projects that span several countries. He has strong leadership and financial management skills as well as high-end data analysis skills. Mansoor has a PhD in Active Control of Turbulent Boundary Layers in Low Reynolds Flow. He currently runs his own IT consultancy.

Sergey’s interest in the role of trustee comes from his strong commitment to the community, with an ability to influence one of the most important aspects of young people’s lives – their education. Throughout his career as a General Insurance Actuary with significant experience both in London and in international markets. Sergey brings this experience to support the budgeting and strategic decision making as a trustee.

The following trustees form the membership of the committee: Pam Chadha, Momodou Sanyang,  Janette Ballard, Sarvesh Ramachandran.
Andrew Hemmings – Director of Education, is a permanent guest of this committee, and is acting as the temporary chair.

The following trustees form the membership of the committee:  Momodou Sanyang, Paul Leslie, Mansoor Siddique, Sergey Sidorov, Christina Parry.
Jacqui Waine – COO and Abi Ejiofor – CFO are both permanent guests of this committee.

This committee combines the Growth Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee, as per the Trust Development Plan approved by the board in December 2023.
The following trustees form the membership of the committee: Christina Parry, Sergey Sidorov, Sarvesh Ramachandran.
Anthony Wilson – CEO and Jacqui Waine – COO are permanent guests of this committee.

The following trustees form the membership of the committee: Paul Leslie, Christina Parry, Sarvesh Ramachandran.