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Maritime Academy Trust

Our Members and Trustees

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Our Members and Trustees

Members

Members are the guardians of the trust’s constitution and they have a similar role to a shareholder of a company limited by shares.  They;

  • Are subscribers to the Memorandum of Association (founding members only)
  • Can amend the Articles of Association 
  • Appoint and remove Members
  • Appoint and remove Trustees 
  • Issue direction to Trustees
  • Appoint the trust’s external auditors
  • Change the company’s name, wind up the company

(Subject to restrictions and Special Resolutions)

Members of the Trust, including Business and Pecuniary Interests:
September 2024 – 25th March 2025

 Name  Date of   Appointment  Appointed by Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests, including Governance roles in other Education Institutions, Director roles
Ben Hutchings  06/07/2016 Original (Signatory) Member

Business owner of Minis Childcare Ltd                    Director, Old Colfeians Rugby Club                          Director, edpeople Limited

Anna Thompson  10/01/2018 Appointed by Members Senior Civil Servant
Eben Groenewald  15/12/2020 Appointed by Members None declared
Martin Myers 16/12/2021 Appointed by Members

Employed by JMW Solicitors LLP

East London Brass (Charity Registration Number: 1091235), Trustee and Chair

External Committee Member, The Fundraising Regulator (Company Number: 10016446)

Memberships - Solicitors Regulatory Authority, Law Society of England and Wales

Members who have served within the last 12 months

Name Date of Appointment Member Type Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests, including Governance roles in other Education Institutions, Director roles
N/A N/A N/A N/A

Trustees

Trustees are both Charity Trustees and Company Directors. Trustees are bound by both charity and company law.  The Board of trustees manages the business of the academy trust and may exercise all the powers of the academy trust.  The Board focuses on the three core functions of governance.

Trustees Business and Pecuniary Interests: September 2024 –25th March 2025

Trustees Attendance: September 2023 – July 2024

Name Role

Term of Office

Relevant Business  Pecuniary Interests, including Governance roles in other Education  Institutions, Director roles

Trust Board Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Standards and Achievements Committee
Sarah Armstrong-Taylor Chair of Finance, Audit & Risk Committee 13/12/2022 - 13/12/2026
Appointed by Members

Owner of Holiday Let property (Purchased 30/08/2024)

Member of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Husband - employee at Legal and General

Volunteer at Brooklands Primary School
5 of 6 5 of 6   
Tiffany Beck

Chair of Trustees

Chair of Standards and Achievements Committee

05/07/2024 - 05/07/2028
Appointed by Members

Employed by PLMR as Communications, PR and Public Affairs

Independent Governor Support (IGovs)

6 of 6  5 of 6 5 of 5
Louise Obi-Drake

08/04/2024 - 08/04/2028
Appointed by foundation/Trust

Senior Consultant, Business Psychologist ets plc.

Director - Firefly Futures Ltd
Membership - British Psychological
Society, The Royal Society of Arts (RSA)

5 of 6 6 of 6 4 of 5
Nick Osborne CEO and Accounting Officer 06/07/2016 Ex-officio by virtue of office (CEO)

Coachbright & Maritime Children's Foundation August 2024

Charity Trustee - Woodlands Academy Trust

Governor - Hurstmere School THAT

6 of 6 6 of 6 4 of 5
Sunny Lu 19/01/2023 - 19/01/2027 Appointed by foundation/Trust

Cambridge ESG Ltd

Partner in Accounting Firm
3 of 6 5 of 6 3 of 5
Mark Chattley   19/02/2024 - 19/02/2028 Appointed by foundation/Trust

Trust Leader/CEO/Director Coppice Primary Partnership 

Charity Trustree - Coppice Primary Partnership 

4 of 4 2 of 2

 

Trustees who have served within the last 12 months:

Name Role  Term of Office  Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests, including Governance roles in other Education Institutions, Director roles Trust Board Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Standards and Achievements Committee
Nidhi Dholakia-Wellens

19/01/2023 19/01/2027
Appointed by foundation/

Trust

Resigned 18/12/2025

Employed by - part time in the NHS 5 of 6   5 of 5
Martin Fitzwilliam Chair - Education Challenge Board

19/01/2023 - 19/01/2027 Appointed by foundation/ Trust

Resigned 25/03/2025

Employed by E-ACT: National Director for Primary Education


Governor - St Paul's Catholic School, Leicester

3 of 6   4 of 5