Trustees

Trustees

The Trustees of The Goldfinch Trust provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Trust, ensuring it remains focused on its purpose of delivering high quality education and care for learners with special educational needs and complex health needs.

They are responsible for setting the Trust’s strategic direction, providing constructive challenge and support to executive leaders and ensuring strong governance, financial stewardship and accountability across the organisation. Through their collective expertise, Trustees help ensure the Trust is well led, sustainable and able to respond effectively to the complex contexts in which it operates.

Trustees work closely with Trust Members and senior leaders to uphold the Trust’s values, manage risk and support long term improvement for pupils, families and schools.

Appointment and Terms of Office

Our Trustees

• Philip Hogan, Chair of Trustees

As Chair of Trustees for The Goldfinch Trust, Phil provides strategic oversight and work in close partnership with the Board and executive leaders to ensure strong governance, clear accountability, and a sustained focus on improvement across the Trust.

Phil remains committed to upholding high standards, enabling effective decision making, and supporting the Trust in delivering its core mission. [interim bio]

• Beverley Williamson, Vice Chair

"I recently retired from the position of Headteacher at a medical PRU in a South London borough. Serving in the provision as a member of the senior leadership team for 12 years, I was privileged to lead the school for the last 7 years as Headteacher. During this time, the school had two OFSTED inspections, both graded Outstanding. The role also involved participation in a strong local authority partnership of Headteachers, ensuring strong partnership collaboration with mainstream and special education.

My career path has been varied and I eventually entered into the education profession following the completion of a PGCE, developing my career in primary mainstream settings before moving into alternative provision.

During my time as Headteacher I became a member of the National Association of Hospital Education and was subsequently appointed as one of its directors. This provided me with a strong understanding of the national picture of education in hospital settings as well as alternative provision."

• Ben Fletcher, Chair of Finance, Audit and Risk Committee

"I am a qualified management accountant and have worked in Government and NHS finance in the Ministry of Defence, His Majesty's Treasury and NHS England. One of my roles at NHS England was as the national finance lead for mental health, so I am delighted to continue supporting children and young people with medical and mental health issues through my work with the Goldfinch Trust.

I am currently working as the Director of Financial Planning and Investment at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and also serve as a coopted governor for a federation of maintained nursery schools

In my personal life I am a keen cyclist and love pub quizzes and going to the theatre."

• Maarten Crommelin

"I began my career as a secondary school English teacher in London and have over 30 years’ experience across mainstream and specialist education. After holding a range of leadership roles in secondary schools, I moved into hospital education, where I have now spent nearly two decades.

I am currently Headteacher of Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School and Chief Executive Officer of The Goldfinch Trust, leading education across complex medical and mental health settings. I am committed to ensuring that children and young people continue to access high quality, ambitious education during periods of illness.

As a system leader, I work closely with health and education partners to develop inclusive, innovative provision that supports both wellbeing and achievement, with a strong focus on enabling pupils to re engage with education and progress to positive next steps."

• Brendan Collins

"I hold qualifications in Business, Philosophy, and Theology, having studied in both Northern Ireland and Rome. I've served as an ordained Minister from 2011 to 2016 in Derry, Northern Ireland, where I also gained his first experience as a School Governor.

I've worked at Department for Education at the then Education and Skills Funding Agency, leading on school governance and financial management for academies and maintained schools. I subsequently moved to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, working first on housing standards in the private rented sector before becoming policy lead on national infrastructure.

I am currently employed at the Health and Safety Executive, working as Policy Manager with the Professional Standards Unit that regulates the building control sector.

I'm a Trustee at a 10 Primary School Trust based across Bromley and Kent. I was drawn to the Goldfinch Trust due to it's unique provision and the opportunity to work on the establishment of a new Trust."

• David Butler

"I've worked in education for almost 40 years in various roles including teacher, head teacher, consultant and former Director of Education in a large and diverse Local Authority. I have experience of working with all phases of education and with maintained schools, academies, independent schools and schools with a religious character.

I currently work as an independent education consultant with primary, secondary and special schools, multi-academy trusts and local authorities across the country working on both school improvement and safeguarding.

In addition to serving on the board of the Goldfinch Trust, I'm a trustee for The Collegiate Trust with schools in Croydon and Crawley.

I'm a lifelong supporter of Crystal Palace Football Club and my love of the game saw me serve as the manager of the Croydon District football team at U12 – U16 levels for several years."

• Michael Kelly, MBE, FRSA

"I am an Executive Headteacher with more than 30 years’ experience leading schools in some of London’s most underserved communities. I am committed to ensuring that a child’s background never limits their opportunities, and I am passionate about social inclusion, equity in culturally diverse communities, and neurodiverse inclusion in education.

During my leadership career in Southwark, I led Redriff Primary School from special measures to an Outstanding judgement, founded Galleywall Primary School, which also achieved Outstanding status, and was a founder headteacher of the City of London Academies Trust. I also served as Lead School Improvement Adviser for primary schools within the Trust. Most recently, as Executive Headteacher, I led the turnaround of two failing schools in Deptford during the pandemic.

I have extensive governance and trustee experience, including serving as Chair of Governors at Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital Schools through three consecutive Outstanding inspections and academy conversion. I have also served as Finance Governor at Addey and Stanhope School and as a Trustee of Haberdashers’ Trust South. I was awarded an MBE for Services to Education and the Community in Southwark."

• Dane Pedro, JP, LLB, MSc, IntDip(GRC), MICA

Head of UK Compliance & MLRO at Mollie, with over 17 years of experience in regulatory compliance, financial crime, and risk management across financial services. She has held senior compliance roles at American Express and WorldFirst, and previously worked at the FCA and the Financial Ombudsman Service. Dane has led major regulatory change programmes, including FCA Consumer Duty implementation, and is known for aligning robust compliance frameworks with commercial strategy.

Dane holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Birkbeck, University of London, and a Master of Science (MSc) from the College of Law, complemented by the International Diploma in Governance, Risk and Compliance (IntDip(GRC)) and the ICA Membership designation (MICA) from the International Compliance Association — reflecting her deep specialist expertise across financial crime prevention and regulatory governance.
Beyond her professional roles, Dane serves as a Presiding Justice and Magistrate, and is a Trustee at Academy Achievers, bringing a strong public-service perspective to governance, accountability, and regulatory leadership.