Governance & Leadership

David is a retailer with a 40-year career in the industry, starting as a management trainee with Marks and Spencer, and progressing through to store management working in locations throughout the UK. His retail career moved on to work with the Burton Group and Austin Reed; ultimately leading to him establishing a new retail business for a major men’s tailoring manufacturer, Berwin & Berwin, based in Leeds. As the Retail Director he managed all aspects of retail operations and buying & merchandising, operating in stores and concessions throughout the UK and Ireland, retailing brands such as Ted Baker, Paul Costelloe, Ben Sherman and Jaeger. In addition, being a division of a manufacturer, he was actively engaged in the clothing production lifecycle, from the cloth selection, to manufacturing (in China, Vietnam and Hungary) and on to the shop floor. Since retiring from full time employment, David has pursued voluntary roles serving the local community. As such, he is a Magistrate, sitting on the Northamptonshire bench, and along with regular court sessions, he works with the Magistrates Association visiting local junior schools to give them an insight into the judiciary. He is Chair of Volunteer Action (Oundle) which provides transport and befriending services across East Northamptonshire, and also Chair of the local Parish Council. David lives in Glapthorn, near Oundle, with his wife, Anne. They have two grown-up daughters, and one grandchild. In his spare time, David enjoys golf, gardening, travel and has a specific interest in 20th Century military history. Read More

I have been fortunate to have lived in the Stamford area my whole life, with the exception of brief periods away to work, study and travel. Being a Governor of IEG feels particularly poignant, as I undertook my first teaching placement at Stamford College many years ago! After teaching A Level, GCSE and BTEC Business and Finance, PE and IT, I returned to Stamford in 1995 to run Copthill Independent School as Headteacher and recently as Principal. I still teach regularly and remain passionate about education in all forms and for all age groups. My particular areas of interest are environmental education, outdoor learning and activities, which provide such beneficial challenges for students of all ages to learn about themselves and prepare for adult life. Outside of work I enjoy looking after the farm smallholding and lead an active life running, walking and extreme camping in remote places! I remain committed to bringing my experience and enthusiasm to the Inspire Education Group as it moves forward in the coming years. Read More

Martin Ballard joined the Wates Group as Head of Environment, where he is responsible for delivering company targets such as zero waste and zero carbon. Previous roles have seen Martin involved in audit risk assurance and business compliance, leading on legal assurance, business systems and project audits, lead for environmental ISO standard improvements, as well as managing Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) environmental courses and improvements for the group’s Considerate Constructors recognition. In relation to his environmental role in the construction sector, Martin is Board Trustee with CLAIRE (sustainable soil remediation and reuse); Chair for the Society for the Environment’s (SocEnv) Soils and Stones task group; and Trustee with the Welland Rivers Trust. Previously, Martin has held investment programming, operational and supply chain roles with Anglian Water over fifteen years, including audit and delivery of environmental improvements across East Anglia; prior to this, he worked in environmental regulation across the South West of England. Martin’s experience in the construction sector delivering strategic stakeholder and supply chain engagement includes outcomes such as: biodiversity recognition with the BIG Challenge, water management planning; environmental behavioural practices; and construction lean engineering for waste reduction and sustainable resource efficiency. Beyond work, Martin enjoys time with family and friends, walking/running with his dog, singing with Stamford Choral (new members always welcomed!) and managing junior rugby with Stamford Rugby club. Read More

Tony is a Digital Learning Technologist based at Peterborough. His day job is helping educators and learners use technology to create innovative and effective learning experiences. In his spare time he writes science fiction stories set in the near future that explore the potential of technology to enhance human intelligence, creativity and problem-solving skills. Read More

Steve is a Lecturer in Sport at Stamford College. He started as a lecturer in 1994 and has taught in both Higher Education and Further Education environments. His experience includes the management of the curriculum and leading the development of HE provision. Steve also worked externally for QAA as a subject Reviewer and for Pearson as a Standards Verifier. This work led Steve to be offered a role as Educational Consultant specialising in Curriculum Design and the implementation of new technologies. In his spare time, Steve loves nothing more than being involved in hockey and golf. Read More

Tony joined the Royal Air Force in 1987 as an Apprentice technician before qualifying as an engineer officer in 1999. With many years spent at the front line deploying on global operations and exercises, Tony also has experience of working in areas of safety, finance, equipment procurement, and international collaboration. Read More

Following the successful achievement of her degree at the Shanghai University of Finance & Economics, Qun joined the university as a student tutor and Assistant Lecturer before moving to the UK to continue her studies at the University of Southampton. She then joined Deloitte & Touche LLP as an Audit Manager, working across a variety of clients and portfolios before moving to Goldman Sachs International as a Valuation Associate specialising in interest rates and emerging markets. Qun secured her next role with Deutsche Bank AG as a Quantitative Valuation Specialist, specialising in equity, FX, money market, fund derivatives and commodities where she remained for almost four years before setting up her own successful business Biorbyt Ltd as Co-Founder and Co-CEO. Biorbyt Ltd is one of Europe's largest bioscience hub with bases in Cambridge, the US and China. Read More

Suneel joined the IEG Corporation Board at the start of September 2023 bringing with him recent experience in the energy and decarbonisation sectors, based on a history of procurement and engineering. With a home extension and renovation ongoing he is picking up a selection of new skills but also continuing to find time for his passion of culinary experimentation (scotch eggs being his signature savoury snack). Read More

Faustina's career began as an English Teacher and Head of Department in Wuhan, China. During this time, she was recognised for her excellent work and was given the opportunity to attend the University of Nottingham to continue with her studies and gain her Postgraduate Diploma. On completion of her studies, Faustina took the decision to remain in the UK and secured an opportunity with City University, London as a Project Officer and PA to the Director of Information, process and Change Services. She then moved to CLS Services Ltd as Contracts Officer and EA to the HR Director, hence her interest in HR began. Faustina then secured her first HR focused appointment with AB Sugar as Group HR Administrator before moving to PCVS as a Project Manager, managing the Building Better Opportunities project and then quickly progressing to HR Advisor. Her next move found her with The Lettings Hub, initially as HR Manager and then progressing again to Head of People. In March 2020, Faustina took the decision to set up her own business as a HR Consultant, this has enabled her to continue with her HR practice, along with giving her time to focus on the community organisations in Peterborough that she currently supports. Read More

Rod retired in 2019 having been Executive Director of Development for the YMCA Trinity Group working across Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, a charity working with young people. A Business Studies and Tourism graduate, Rod worked in the travel and financial services industries for over 30 years and held a variety of senior managerial roles, with a number of major brands including American Express and Thomas Cook. Rod still actively participates in Peterborough’s voluntary sector and is an active member of the City Leadership Forum. He is link governor for Safeguarding. Read More

Professor Sir Les Ebdon CBE DL is a widely recognised leader in the field of education and social mobility. He served for six years as Director of Fair Access to Higher Education when he was the independent regulator for HE. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and an award-winning Analytical Chemist, he has published over 270 refereed publications. He has enjoyed highly successful periods as Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Plymouth and as Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Bedfordshire. He has played various national roles in higher education including chairing the University group Million+, for five years, served as a Board member of Universities UK and the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association, as well as chairing the Association of Universities of the East of England for five years. He was awarded a CBE in 2009 for services to national and local higher education and in 2018 was knighted for services to social mobility and higher education. In 2011 he was appointed HM Deputy Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. Read More

Vincent is the founder and CEO of inspire+. Inspire+ is a local sports and education charity whose aim is for young people to be ‘healthier, happier and more active’. Vincent is also the founder and co-chair of the Schools Active Movement that supports not for profit organisations working with schools in England on the PE and School Sport agenda. Read More

Pamela is currently an Education Consultant having spent her entire career in education as a teacher, including many years working in the government schools in Zambia and Secondary schools in South Africa. She has worked in Deacon’s School and was a Senior Leader in Stanground College before becoming Deputy Headteacher and then Headteacher of Jack Hunt School. Read More

Marco Cereste is a director of a number of businesses, Councillor and Cabinet Member of Peterborough Unitary Authority, and Chair of the Italian Community Association. He attended College as a teenager and has a diploma in business direction, an MBA from Loughborough University, and is an IoD Chartered Director. Former Leader of Peterborough Unitary Authority. Has been Deputy Chair of the East of England Development Agency, Chair of the National NHS Trust Federation, Co-founder and Chair of the National NHS Confederation and Chair of NHS Peterborough. When Chair of North West Anglia NHS Trust, he was personally responsible for introduction of Hospital at Home in the UK and introducing appointment times in community nursing. He has a number of Italian honours, one of which is a knighthood in Italy’s OSSI Read More

Gemma is a Partner at Moore, a respected local accountancy firm. She joined the practice (then Moore Stephens) in 2010 after earning a first-class Master of Mathematics degree. Gemma qualified with the ICAEW in 2013 and ascended to the role of Partner in 2024. Specialising in the Education Sector, Gemma delivers expert accountancy, audit, and advisory services to a varied portfolio, including owner-managed businesses, charities, and education clients. In March 2024, Gemma joined the IEG Corporation Board and Audit Committee, driven by a strong commitment to enhancing group oversight and contributing to strategic discussions and decision-making. Read More