Member

Experience and Background

Barbara Harrison

Barbara runs her own educational consultancy company after many years at the most senior levels across the mainstream and independent education sectors. She was Trustee of the New Schools Network, assisting with the free school movement in the UK, as well as formerly leading the Girls Days Schools Trust.

Paulina McGroarty

Paulina is an experienced financial consultant with clients such as Credit Suisse and Working Capital Associates. She has helped Proactive Investors Group with funding rounds and has assisted in the development of Social Media Analytics for investment analysis. Paulina is also currently Finance and Audit Chair for the Barnsole Education Primary Academy Trust, in Kent.

Rebecca Plaskitt

Rebecca is the CEO of Tandridge Learning Trust working with five schools, one large Secondary School and Sixth Form College and four Primary schools. Prior to this, Rebecca was the Director of Education for GEMS Europe and based in London and a Principal/Head Teacher in the UK for five years before making the decision to move into International Education in 2011. She has worked as a Local Leader in Education (LLE) and as a Professional Partner for the National College in the UK, coaching and mentoring other Headteachers and senior leadership teams.

Rony Valeny

Rony Valeny is currently Head of Marine Services at Union Maritime Limited. Formerly Rony was the CEO of GEMS UK and Europe and was responsible for the quality and growth of GEMS’ independent schools in both regions. Formerly, Rony worked in the Deloitte Middle East Financial Advisory Practice, where he headed up the Technology, Media & Telecommunications division for the region following a decade with PricewaterhouseCoopers in London. Rony is a qualified chartered accountant with a proven track record advising corporate and private equity clients as well as lending banks.

Danielle West

Danielle is the Operations Director at LEAD Academy Trust, providing strategic leadership and professional management of the Human Resources and Operations Support functions. Formerly she worked at GEMS Education Leading the development, design and implementation of the strategy for recruiting first-class Principals/Head of Schools/Executive Leaders from around the world. Her earlier career involved roles such as Director of HR and Business Development for Partnership Trust Academies