On joining Seckford Education Trust (SET) in 2017 as Headteacher of SET Ixworth School, Mark brought a wealth of leadership experience to the Trust. Our school in Ixworth went from from strength to strength during his headship, seeing the School awarded a GOOD Ofsted report in September 2019 and then subsequently becoming over-subscribed.

In 2020 Mark was appointed to the role of Executive Headteacher across all of the SET Schools and subsequently appointed Chief Executive Officer of Seckford Education Trust.

A politics graduate from the University of Bristol, Mark began his career teaching politics, critical thinking, French and German. His previous school leadership roles include Acting Head of Haileybury Turnford School in Hertfordshire and Deputy Headteacher at King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford. He has also been a governor of an 11-18 secondary school. Having recently completed his Masters in Education, Mark became a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teachers and is interested in educational research.

Gemma has worked within the health, social care and not-for-profit sector for 23 years, starting as a Support Worker in a long-stay hospital for people with a learning disability. She continued to support people within the community, moving into her first management role of an Older Persons residential care home in 2003.

In 2005 Gemma joined a not-for-profit organisation as Service Manager for a newly developed Older Persons Extra Care scheme and Younger Person with Dementia scheme and then progressed in her career to Head of Service, being responsible for eight Extra Care services across the county of Suffolk including sheltered housing and support. In 2015 Gemma was promoted to Business Development Manager, responsible for growing the entire Support and Care division, developing partnerships and initiatives. Most recently she has been working as Director of Services for a local charity for older people and graduated from the University of Suffolk last year with a Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Service Innovation.

In her free time she is trustee for Ipswich Housing Action Group, providing support and housing to people experiencing homelessness and a Volunteer Mentor for students at Northgate High school.

As Director of Operations, Will is responsible for the leadership, development and effectiveness of the Operational Estates & Services, IT and Compliance across The Foundation.

Will is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply. He holds an MBA from Warwick University, an Advanced Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the NEBOSH National General Certificate. He is currently finishing studying for the Professional Certificate in Data Science with Harvard University.

Victoria leads the Human Resources (HR) team which supports all of the Foundation’s people related activities.  She is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development and qualified in 2004.  Victoria has worked in Human Resources Management for many years both in the private and public sectors, spending nearly eleven years working for Ipswich Borough Council.  Prior to joining the Foundation in 2018, Victoria spent six months at Willis Towers Watson managing the HR Operations team followed by just over two years at Hutchinson Ports (UK) managing the Employee Relations team.

Victoria is Vice Chair of Governors for Bucklesham Primary School and more recently has been welcomed as a Trustee for Ipswich Housing Action Group (IHAG).

After completing her A Levels at Wisbech Grammar School in Cambridgeshire, Shona studied for a degree in English Literature at London University. Upon completion of this, she obtained her PGCE from Cambridge University before being appointed as a Teacher of English at Woodbridge School in September 2002. During her time at Woodbridge, Shona has been promoted to the positions of Housemistress, Extended Project Qualification Co-Ordinator, Deputy Head (Pastoral) and Senior Deputy before stepping into the role of Acting Head in May 2019. Whilst Deputy, Shona chose to return to Cambridge University to complete her Masters in Educational Leadership and School Improvement; she remains part of their Leadership for Learning initiative. Shona became Head of Woodbridge School in January 2020.

Regarded by her staff and students as an inspirational leader and an outstanding teacher, Shona is passionate about student welfare inside and outside of the classroom and in ensuring that every child is recognised as an individual, preparing them to excel in the future world.

Simon leads the finance team which supports all of the Foundation’s activities. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1996 with KPMG. After qualification he spent fourteen years working in private practice with KPMG and Baker Tilly, specialising in Transaction Services and Corporate Finance. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2012, Simon was Group Finance Director of Targetfollow Group Limited, a commercial property investment and development business.

Simon is also Company Secretary and Principal Finance Officer of the Seckford Education Trust.