Our Team

Simon Curtis
Simon has been a TST trustee since 2018 and was elected as Chair in 2023. Before that he was Chair of the Local Governing Body of Bennett Memorial Diocesan School. 

He was a chartered surveyor advising on commercial and residential property for over 40 years and has been a member of the PCC of St John’s, Tunbridge Wells as well as trustee of a number of other charities. 

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Andy Rathbone
Andy is the Head of Business Insight for a Data and IT Managed Services business and has worked in several roles across the public and private sector including Military and Policing careers. Andy is passionate about improving education and become a Trustee in 2023 and has been a School Governor in TST since 2012. Andy has completed the Chair of governors Leadership and Development programme and is currently the Chair of Governors at one of the Trust’s schools where he has served in the position for over 5 years having also held positions on several other governing bodies and boards. In his spare time, Andy is a Duke of Edinburgh Award Expedition assessor and helps in the running of a local Repair Café.

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Melanie Jenkins
Melanie is a solicitor and specialised in employment law in the City of London and the UAE (having lived there with her family).

Her children studied under the English Curriculum and International Baccalaureate in the UK and abroad, experiencing how education is delivered in different settings by different providers.

Actively involved as a parent volunteer and then on the Advisory Board she worked with senior leadership teams to develop procedures and strategies including to address the demands of the reforms to the GCSE curriculum in 2016 in the Middle East.

Having been involved in developing a legal technology enterprise her legal background brings an understanding of regulation and compliance.

She has an interest in all stages of a child’s educational development and the impact of the delivery of curriculum through this journey.

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Anita Chown
Anita has a wealth of HR experience gained in senior roles in the education sector:  Most recently she was Director of People for a large, regional multi academy trust.  Holding a Masters in HR Management and HR Development, Anita is passionate about staff health and wellbeing.

Now retired, Anita is a trustee for her local hospice, St Peter and St James. She also volunteers for Citizens Advice.

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Andrew Robinson
Prior to joining the CCLA, Andrew was Head of Community Development Banking for RBS and NatWest, responsible for the not-for-profit and social enterprise sectors. Before joining NatWest, he was the founding Executive Director of the UK’s first community development finance institution to provide loan finance to voluntary and community sector organisations working in the most disadvantaged communities in England.

Prior to these roles he worked for the Royal Bank of Canada, the St Paul’s Hospital Foundation and the Canadian Arthritis Society. Currently Andrew is an Advisor to Switchback. Previously he was: Trustee – RBS Social & Community Captial; Chair – Community Development Foundation; Vice Chair – LankellyChase Foundation; Trustee – Local Trust; and Trustee – Locality, having been a trustee of both the Development Trusts Association and British Association of Settlements & Social Action Centres. Andrew is also a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts and was awarded an MBE for services to social and community enterprise in 2003.

He was appointed as an Executive Director of CCLA in 2006.

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Louise Payne
Louise has worked in education for 22 years working in both state and independent settings in the UK and abroad. She has worked for a Local Authority as part of a school improvement service working to support senior leaderships in improving their safeguarding and pastoral practice.  Louise is currently a Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead at an independent and boarding school in Kent. She graduated from UCL with an MBA in Educational Leadership where she was able to work with other senior leaders across the world. Her passions lie in developing and improving pastoral and safeguarding practices, developing innovative curriculums, and building partnerships across sectors and within Trusts.

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Victoria Georgalakis
Victoria is a self-employed executive coach using her own executive experience combined with her professional qualification to support clients in a variety of positions and industries to fulfil their potential. Having most recently spent 7 years as Managing Director of the EMEA business of an outsourcing company, she is enjoying building on this and other board level experience to support senior executives. Victoria is a judge for the National Chamber of Commerce annual awards, sits on the Development Board of the charity WellChild, and is delighted to have recently been appointed as a Trustee for the Tenax Schools Trust.

Victoria is a keen cook and gardener, a member of two book clubs, and enjoys travelling to explore new places.

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Lesley Hurst

Lesley Hurst took on the role of the Diocesan Director of Education for the Diocese of Chichester, following eight years as one of the Assistant Directors of Education overseeing details in the diocese engagement with academisation as well as other projects.

She has spent much of her working life involved with education, including working with apprentices in the childcare sector and with a charity promoting STEM careers across London schools.

In her free time, she sings in a number of choirs; and Lesley’s other great passion is running. As well as taking part in various marathons during the year, she is often found negotiating the many routes across the Sussex Downs whenever she gets the chance.

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Tania Kibara

Tania is a seasoned Compliance Officer with a strong track record in regulatory oversight, strategic risk management, and corporate governance. Tania has extensive experience of supporting boards and senior management in international organisations operating under complex regulatory frameworks, ensuring effective compliance.

Bringing these skills to her voluntary position as a school trustee, Tania is passionate about upholding good governance, financial stewardship, and safeguarding the best interests of students and staff. Her strong ability to influence, complemented with extensive experience in risk management and fostering accountability makes her an asset to the school board. Committed to educational excellence, Tania works collaboratively with fellow trustees, school leaders, and the wider community to create a supportive and forward-thinking learning environment.

Outside of work, Tania serves her community through the church and at the local school her children attend.