Hanif Asmal
Trustee

Term of Office:

02/11/2023 – 01/11/2027

• Retired teacher and Head of Department with 30 years’ experience in the secondary school sector.
• An active school governor across the city since 2001, including: –
  • Former Chair of Highfields Primary School since 2001.
  • LA governor and a parent governor at two secondary schools,
  • Chair of the local governing body at Roundhill Academy within the Bradgate Trust.
  • National Lead of Governance and NLG Co-Ordinator – advising governing bodies and undertaking external reviews of governance and given advice to many.
  • Former Parish councillor at Syston Parish Council.

Brian Downes
Trustee

Term of Office:

11/05/2023 – 10/05/2027

• Over 40 years’ experience in the construction industry, having been involved in various significant major infrastructure projects.
• A proven track record of success in business having held director roles in Operational, Project Management, Business Development and Commercial. With a focus on partnership and collaborative working.
• President of National Executive of The Institute of Asphalt Technology, having previously served for 9 years as Chair of the Education Committee.
• Lived in Leicestershire for nearly 20 years, and committed to ensuring equal opportunities and access to education for all children.

Robert Grant
Vice-Chair of Trustees

Term of Office:

23/03/2025 – 22/03/2029

• A consultant Bursar who works with independent schools to deliver excellent student outcomes with the financial and compliant envelope.
• Worked in the education sector for the last twenty years in senior leadership roles
• Experienced governor and trustee within the state sector.

Rose Griffiths
Trustee

Term of Office:

02/11/2023 – 01/11/2027

• Professor of Education at the University of Leicester; National Teaching Fellow.
• Specialist in mathematics education – taught in pre-school, primary, special and adult education, and in Initial and Continuing teacher education.
• Member of several government advisory research and policy-making groups and visiting Professor II at the University of Trondheim (NTNU, Norway).
• Author of more than 100 titles for the mathematics classroom and children at home, both in the UK and across the world.
• Founder of the Letterbox Club, for children in foster care, in Leicester in 2003; now hosted by BookTrust with over 10,000 members each year across the UK.
• Worked with the Childhood Bereavement Network and Leeds Animation Workshop, initiating two much-praised projects on childhood bereavement: “Not too young to grieve” and “Teenage Grief”.

Lee Jowett
Chair of Trustees

Term of Office:

02/11/2023 – 01/11/2027

• Climate Change and Sustainability Fellow in the Institute of Education Research and Knowledge Exchange at Sheffield Hallam University.
• Over 20 years’ experience in education including ten years science teaching in secondary schools. PGCE in Science, MA in Environmental Education and MSc in Conservation Genetics.
• Previous Sustainable Schools Manager at Leicester City Council, providing strategic delivery of the Eco-Schools programmes across over 100 schools in the city through the City Council’s Environmental Education offer with significant experience of coordinating environment, health and wellbeing education offer to Leicester Schools including programme of funding bids and externally funded projects delivered in a timely manner (in excess of £100k per year).
• Nearly 10 years of school governance experience, including Chair of Governors at Sparkenhoe Community Primary School.

Zahir Mamujee
Trustee

Term of Office:

10/02/2025 – 09/02/2029

• An experienced property investor and developer with over 20 years in the industry in both Residential and Commercial property, in the UK and Internationally.
• Multiple business owner with commercial expertise at Director and Board Level.
• Previous Board member at ASRA & Sanctuary Housing Associations overseeing mergers and acquisitions.
• Governance & Risk mapping improvement and expertise including strategic development and planning.
• Previous career history in IT Consultancy & Project Management with Cap Gemini and Ernst & Young serving domestic and international clients.
• Born and raised in Leicester he has seen the city develop and expand over the years in to the multi-cultural diverse city it now is.

Abdishakur Tarah
Trustee

Term of Office:

10/06/2024 – 09/06/2028

• An experienced governor with over 15 years of experience including Chair and Vice Chair.
• A University Senior Lecturer in Education in the East Midlands.
• Significant experience in teaching and researching in education including:
  • Leadership and management
  • Special educational needs and inclusion, and
  • Community education (supplementary/complementary schooling)
• Worked as an education advocate for marginalised and disadvantaged communities in Leicester.

John Turner
Trustee

Term of Office:

02/11/2023 – 01/11/2027

• Experienced consultant and commercial business development director across private and public sector organisations in Leicestershire, nationally and internationally.
• Strong background and extensive career across the education sector, former roles include:
• Teacher.
• Assistant Director of Education for Leicestershire County Council.
• Senior Education Adviser for the Department for Education.
• 8 years with Mouchel plc as Head of Children’s and Learning Services.
• NCTL – incl’ developed a framework for the UK-wide Director of Children’s Services Programme, Programme Director for the College’s leadership programme for 700 school leaders across the UAE
• Has a clear understanding of the communities served by schools and a passion for improving the life chances of children in urban communities and in particular those in Leicester.

Trustee

Term of Office:

05/06/2026 – 04/06/2030

• Headteacher with over 15 years of experience across both Nottinghamshire, Leicester City and Leicestershire schools.
• A proud Leicestershire native, her leadership is deeply rooted in the communities that shaped her, and she carries that sense of place into every aspect of her work.
• More than 10 years’ experience as a SENCO, has developed a strong reputation for her unwavering commitment to inclusion, championing provision that ensures every child is seen, understood, and supported to thrive.
• Strategic mindset shaped by years of system leadership.
• A strong commitment to giving back to the wider educational community —an opportunity to contribute her experience, challenge thinking, and help shape a trust culture where all pupils can flourish.

Trustee

Term of Office:

12/06/2026-11/06/2030

• Business Development professional with over 15 years experience within the science and healthcare industries.
• 8 years of school governance experience, including Chair of Governors at Charnwood Primary School.
• Raised and live in Leicester with deep ties to the local community.

Minesh Chauhan
Member

• Extensive 30 year career in Information technology and System Integration, covering systems integration, Security; providing consulting & transformation services for more effective business processes and cost reductions to client organisations.
• Principle Solutions & Technical Architect at CGI, leading the global team for SAP Technology and responsible for System Integration Consulting and developing the strategic direction for the company’s technology.
• Former Chair of Governors at Green Lane Infant School (12yrs) and Bridge Junior School (15yrs), with 25 years Governing experience.
• Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSc).
• Qualified and licensed swimming official; Club Officer and Treasurer of Leicester Neptune Swimming club
• 3rd generation family within the trust’s local communities.

Khalid Mahmood
Member

• Over 20 years’ experience in education and children services project management
• Coordinating several operational groups under ‘Regional Innovation and Improvement Alliance’ to support and improve; partnership working, peer learning and cost-effectiveness across the East Midlands Local Authorities
• Managing pan-European projects to support teaching and learning of citizenship education
• Leading on developing and delivering study visits for foreign teachers and other education leaders
• Extensive experience of delivering government-funded community-led projects
• Have been part of various school governing bodies and community organization in Leicester
• M.Sc in Manufacturing System Engineering

Gina Samuel-Richards
Member

• Director Solicitor with AGR Law, specialising in family law and support to new and established businesses.
• Former school Governor for c.10 years and former Vice-Chair at Shenton Primary School
• 18 years supporting charities in the Leicester area, as either a Trustee or Legal Advisor to the board. Currently, Legal Advisor to two local charities, advising on business and governance structures, contracts, HR support, policy and procedures.
• Speaker at the University of Leicester on the issue of FGM. Lectures on courses certificated by the University of Leicester, which are delivered in the local community. Has delivered legal lectures on the radio.
• Has lived in Leicester for most of her life, and is passionate about giving back to the community and embracing the diverse communities it offers.

Member

• Involved with education and mental health services in various roles for over 20 years.
• A former Governance advisor to a wide range of schools, academy trusts and the Department for Education with an emphasis on restructuring, risk management, service quality, clinical governance, accountability frameworks, partnerships and compliance.
• Successful project management advisor – creating and growing innovative education partnership trusts (new start-ups and mergers), winning successful school and grant funding bids, and enabling successful delivery of school improvement through governance and leadership change programmes
• Experienced and award winning Governor, Trustee and Non-Exec Director, previously holding committee and board chair roles, within Education, NHS trust and charity boards. 
• Experienced Parish Councillor
• A strength in project and business administration.
• Most recently supporting children with special educational needs.