Board of Trustees
Inspiring Futures through Learning is a Multi Academy Trust with a strong governance team of Members, Trustees and Local Governing Bodies.
Please see the profiles of our Members and Trustees below. To contact the Board of Trustees at any time, please email the Chair at mhubbard@iftl.co.uk or the Clerk to the Board, Hayley Cutchey using our contact form.
The Register of Business and Pecuniary Interests for the Board of Trustees can be found here.
Our Members
Marilyn Hubbard is a local businesswoman who is responsible for Legal and Financial matters of a long-standing manufacturing company in Milton Keynes. She has grown the company from start up to a highly successful level with a turnover in excess of £5+ million and has been instrumental in the company achieving ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 accreditations.
Whilst running her own accountancy company with a portfolio of over 30 clients, Marilyn was also the Company Secretary for many of these clients. Her career started working for the Duke of Bedford, with responsibility for finance, cash handling and payroll procedures, followed by a period of working within Chartered Accountancy. Her extensive experience of setting up, strategically growing, and maintaining two successful long-term businesses in challenging markets has given her the skills necessary to be the Chair of the Trust. Marilyn has provided support as Treasurer to a local Golf Club and a large Youth Football Club on a voluntary basis.
She has been involved in school governance since 1990, when she joined the Two Mile Ash School Governing Body as a parent governor, undertaking the role of Vice Chair and Chair, with 22 years of experience as Chair. Marilyn’s experience is vast, and she is always transparent and accountable in her actions, covering all aspects of school challenges from teaching and learning to business and HR. Under her Chairmanship the school has maintained Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ status for over 16 years. During this time Marilyn has had to make difficult decisions whilst ensuring that outcomes were always positive for the school. Her passion is Governance and she became a National Leader of Governance in 2012.
Under this role, Marilyn has worked with Chairs, Headteachers and Clerks mentoring them to become more able in their roles resulting in excellent outcomes from every aspect. Marilyn brings with her vast experience of business, governance, leadership and accountability, ensuring that the strategic growth of the Trust, its ethos, vision and outcomes are challenged effectively, and she is driven by her firm belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to access a ‘world class’ teaching environment to shape their futures.
Tony Wilson is the Director of Education at the Diocese of Oxford.
He met his wife Jo when they were both newly qualified teachers in Peterborough. Jo is the head of business studies and economics at Kings Academy a Church of England School in Cheddar, where Tony was assistant head before he moved to his first headship at Whitstone Academy, Shepton Mallet.
“I was there for four years, during which I was approached to go and work overseas. I was 40 and it was a unique opportunity. Having deeply contemplated what it would mean for me and my family, I took the decision to embark on the exciting challenge of working in Bahrain.”
There he led school improvement, for the Economic Development Board, delivering education reform and gaining experience that would see him coming back to the UK to, among other things, take on interim headships leading schools out of special measures.
The first was the Golden Hillock School, which is now the Ark Boulton Academy. Tony took over after Golden Hillock was part of the Trojan Horse investigation into schools thought to have been taken over by radical Islamists.
“I led it through Ofsted to ensure that it was ready for a new academy sponsor,” says Tony, who moved to the Small Heath School and Sixth Form Centre and then the City Academy, Birmingham. He was there until he formed his own consultancy TJ Education Ltd.
Greg Swepston has worked in the Construction Industry for 31 years; primarily in work winning and negotiation of contracts. Greg is currently employed in the role of Regional Chief Estimator with Vinci Construction Building Division, overseeing a team of 21 people, responsible for securing the expected workload (£500m pa) of the business.
Greg’s responsibilities have been working with key clients in both the private and public sectors, establishing relationships, and ensuring profitable outcomes from any contracts won. Greg has knowledge and experience of commercial property development, building lifecycle costings and maintenance.
Greg has been a Governor of Two Mile Ash School since 2011, and is a firm advocate that; successful schools and academies are only achieved through focussed investment in quality education, underpinned by prudent governance and financial management. Greg is an active member of the Finance and Resources Committee and his attention to detail is second to none.
Marc has worked in the Insurance Industry since leaving school in 1985, initially working for a national broker, placing risks for customers in the London, national and international insurance markets. Latterly, Marc has been providing management and direction to the sales and customer management teams as the Area Sales Director for Towergate Insurance Brokers in the London North Area. Marc has been based with Towergate in Milton Keynes since 2005 and for the last 13 years has been providing leadership and motivation to 30 plus sales executives in achieving sales and development targets.
Living and raising his family in Milton Keynes since 1988, Marc, in addition to his management duties, is also involved on a day-to-day basis working with customers from the manufacturing, distribution, electronics, construction, education and professional sectors to provide risk transfer, risk management, consultancy and protection advice for local and national businesses from Towergate’s Milton Keynes and Hemel Hempstead offices, working with most of the largest Insurers in the UK.
A firm believer in professional conduct, Marc is a qualified member of the Chartered Insurance Institute, previously serving on the local council, and is a member of the Chartered Management Institute.
Maria Wogan is a former Director of Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, is a company secretary and programme manager with over 25 years’ experience of working in local government and the NHS. Since 2014, Maria has worked as an independent management consultant and she is currently engaged by MK Clinical Commissioning Group. Maria has provided programme management services to MK CCG on a wide-range of projects, including a programme to widen the provision of healthcare for children outside hospital in MK and a programme to increase access to GP appointments. Recently, Maria has also provided corporate governance consultancy services to the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
Maria has extensive Board-level experience and has led large transformational change projects, implementing new ways of working and securing significant cost savings in both the NHS and local government. She has a track record of working successfully in partnership with a wide range of people and organisations to improve and develop services for children, young people and their families.
Maria was Chair of Governors of Olney Middle School from July 2014 to July 2016. She is Chair of Arts for Health MK and is also a member of the Advisory Board for the University Campus MK (part of the University of Bedfordshire).
Board of Trustees
Sarah has over ten years’ experience of headship leading a very large outstanding school in the heart of Milton Keynes. She has successfully led three schools in challenging circumstances in her role as Executive Headteacher. Sarah is well versed in system leadership and understands the importance of using on the ground expertise to support the performance of leaders and teachers in both high performing, brand new and schools in difficulty.
As a National Leader of Education, Sarah has reviewed the under-performance of vulnerable groups in a number of schools nationally and trains national colleagues on how to carry out pupil premium reviews. Sarah is a member the sub regional Teaching School Council and has an influence on school improvement across the region. This is informed by, and feeds into, national priorities. Sarah is passionate about ensuring every child, no matter their background, has the same opportunity and rights to success. She knows that this comes from creating happy, healthy, committed communities with the well-being of all those involved being fundamental to world class achievement.
Marilyn Hubbard (Chair of the Board of Trustees)
Marilyn Hubbard is a local businesswoman who is responsible for Legal and Financial matters of a long-standing manufacturing company in Milton Keynes. She has grown the company from start up to a highly successful level with a turnover in excess of £5+ million and has been instrumental in the company achieving ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 accreditations.
Whilst running her own accountancy company with a portfolio of over 30 clients, Marilyn was also the Company Secretary for many of these clients. Her career started working for the Duke of Bedford, with responsibility for finance, cash handling and payroll procedures, followed by a period of working within Chartered Accountancy. Her extensive experience of setting up, strategically growing, and maintaining two successful long-term businesses in challenging markets has given her the skills necessary to be the Chair of the Trust. Marilyn has provided support as Treasurer to a local Golf Club and a large Youth Football Club on a voluntary basis.
She has been involved in school governance since 1990, when she joined the Two Mile Ash School Governing Body as a parent governor, undertaking the role of Vice Chair and Chair, with 22 years of experience as Chair. Marilyn’s experience is vast, and she is always transparent and accountable in her actions, covering all aspects of school challenges from teaching and learning to business and HR. Under her Chairmanship the school has maintained Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ status for over 16 years. During this time Marilyn has had to make difficult decisions whilst ensuring that outcomes were always positive for the school. Her passion is Governance and she became a National Leader of Governance in 2012.
Under this role, Marilyn has worked with Chairs, Headteachers and Clerks mentoring them to become more able in their roles resulting in excellent outcomes from every aspect. Marilyn brings with her vast experience of business, governance, leadership and accountability, ensuring that the strategic growth of the Trust, its ethos, vision and outcomes are challenged effectively, and she is driven by her firm belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to access a ‘world class’ teaching environment to shape their futures.
Kevin Roberts
Kevin is an experienced businessman, who has worked in senior roles in the private, public and third sectors. Kevin is a qualified management accountant with many years’ experience in senior general management roles. In 2010, Kevin joined the National Farmers Union as Director General, leading it through a period of great change. Kevin has been a Governor for six years and has been the chair of both the Teaching and Learning Committee and the Finance Committee.
Mark Dolling
Mark is a Director with the global sustainable energy and place-making business Engie and he leads their work in the school build sector in the UK. He has also held Business Development and Operations Director roles in the private sector, prior to which he was Capital Programme Director with Milton Keynes Council, where he was accountable for the planning and delivery of the country's largest school build programme.
He is recognised as one of the UK's leading school building specialists and has spoken and written about the subject nationally and internationally. Mark has advised the Department for Education and held board member and trustee positions with several influential bodies, helping to shape national policy and inform best practice. Born and educated in Milton Keynes, he is passionate about the role great schools can play in building thriving communities and making a contribution to the successful and sustainable growth of the city.
Steve Fulton's professional skills are applied to Financial Market Trader Surveillance for Legal and Compliance teams of the Globally Systemically Important Banks, to ensure they meet Regulatory Requirements for Conduct and detection of Malpractice. Steve ensures Business Requirements are translated into Operational Delivery. He has taken and run technology start-ups to market floatation of ITS shares and worked for Global Corporates. Having oversight of good cash flow and P&L whilst growing a business is of great importance to Steve. Employing the best available people, offering growth and ensuring high motivation and ethics is a massive priority. Steve’s empathy towards “Education First” for schools and now for the Multi Academy Trust (MAT) has been nurtured during his seven years as Parent Governor at Two Mile Ash School. Steve puts family and society at the top of his priorities and engenders good citizenship in society.
Steve has been a Youth Rugby coach for 16 years and advocates team sports and inclusion for all children. He knows the pressures on families from difficult or disadvantaged backgrounds as he was bought up by a single parent during tough times. Steve is proud of his community and country, particularly when it is compassionate, inclusive and celebrates multicultural displays of Britishness. As a Multi Academy Trust Member, Steve will dispatch his responsibilities with rigour and professionalism for the greater good of all the schools and people under its umbrella and promote educational excellence.
A qualified Talented Leader with 20+ years of experience in educational leadership, including Executive Leadership and School Improvement Partnership roles, teaching and industry, engaging in challenging and innovative educational opportunities that truly benefit young people, their families and their communities.
With creative, analytical and dynamic approaches, Mark is successful at leading secondary schools and coaching heads of primary schools through school improvement and sustainability programmes including substantially raising quality of teaching and learning, creating and embedding successful school partnership networks and significant improvements in student achievement, behaviour and attendance.
Jane Richardson
Jane's professional background is in HR and training and development. Jane has been a freelance HR and Training Consultant since March 2009, with contracts in a range of sectors including engineering, education, housing and early years schooling. Jane has lived in Olney since 1991 and has been involved with Olney Infant Academy and Olney Middle School for a considerable number of years, in various roles as Governor, Chair of Friends of Olney Middle School and Yoga Teacher within Olney Infant Academy. Jane has been Chair of Olney Middle School and has brought to the role a sound understanding of education and children's development, a genuine joy in seeing people learning, developing and therefore gaining confidence as well as understanding practically how we can all make a difference.
Dawn Rogers
Dawn is a solicitor specialising in child protection matters. She has been practising for 23 years and during this time has worked with vulnerable children and families at the most difficult times of their lives. Dawn assists when the local authority becomes involved with families both to provide support and also to seek a child’s removal from their parents’ care.
Dawn understand how difficult it can be for children and young people in a world which is changing rapidly and the stress that can be placed on them both in their academic lives and their lives outside school. Good mental health is of vital importance to children and young people but sadly the reality is that such services are difficult to access and lack cohesion. Dawn is authorised by the Law Society to represent children and does so directly when they are competent to provide instructions. As a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel has a current, enhanced DBS certificate. During her career Dawn has also acted for local authority child protection teams and has advised on law, policy and procedure. Dawn has an understanding of the structure of local authorities and their decision-making processes along with the difficulties they face.
Dawn is a director of the firm she has worked with for over 20 years and responsible for compliance. She ensures that her firm meets the requirements of the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority, GDPR and Lexcel. Dawn was responsible for implementing GDPR compliance within the firm in May 2018 and as a result has also implemented ‘Cyber Essentials’ accreditation, IT being of vital important to the firm but also potentially providing the biggest element of risk of disclosure of personal information.
As a trustee, Dawn is able to assist in the area of child protection, the duties the local authority owes to the school’s children, securing the services which are due to them and how the school will be able to assist and protect such children. Dawn is also keen to assist with the continued implementation of GDPR principles and learn the compliance requirements of the school to ensure their implementation.
Ben Stanley (Chair of Trustees’ Educational Excellence Committee)
Ben Stanley is a Founder and Director of Trilby Multimedia. Based in Birmingham and established in 1993, Trilby is an education software and training company working to improve learning outcomes through innovative uses of technology.
Ben’s experience of working in schools comes from delivering staff training in well over 600 venues in the UK, and this has given him a good insight into the workings of most institutions. Having experience with all levels of education, from pupils through to leadership and management teams, Ben is adept at explaining and delivering his knowledge to various audiences, both technical and otherwise.
In his role at Trilby, Ben brings his understanding of learning styles, process analysis and software development. The skilled team produce TrilbyTV, a digital signage platform designed for and focused on education. TrilbyTV is all about student voice, teacher sharing and community engagement and recognises the power of video as a communication tool.
An interest in amateur astronomy and an ability to convey complex ideas in simple language also mix well with Ben’s role as a trustee of his local astronomical society, where he enjoys delivering public outreach workshops with children and adults, bringing astronomy to the masses.
Ben hopes that being part of the IFtL Academies Trust Board allows him to share his passion for lifelong learning and hopes that by bringing his technology experience on the journey, all those involved can benefit.
Greg Swepston (Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees)
Greg Swepston has worked in the Construction Industry for 31 years; primarily in work winning and negotiation of contracts. Greg is currently employed in the role of Regional Chief Estimator with Vinci Construction Building Division, overseeing a team of 21 people, responsible for securing the expected workload (£500m pa) of the business.
Greg’s responsibilities have been working with key clients in both the private and public sectors, establishing relationships, and ensuring profitable outcomes from any contracts won. Greg has knowledge and experience of commercial property development, building lifecycle costings and maintenance.
Greg has been a Governor of Two Mile Ash School since 2011, and is a firm advocate that; successful schools and academies are only achieved through focussed investment in quality education, underpinned by prudent governance and financial management. Greg is an active member of the Finance and Resources Committee and his attention to detail is second to none.