The Trust’s Members are responsible for overseeing the work of the Trust’s Strategic Board of Trustees. The Trust’s Members are as follows:
Canon Peter Howard (appointed 21 March 2015)
Peter Howard was brought up in East London and worked for the Borough Treasurer’s Department in Newham before training for the Church of England Ministry at St. John’s College, Nottingham where he read for a degree in Theology at Nottingham University. After graduating he continued his studies undertaking research at Birmingham University into Religion and Inequality and Leeds University in Continuing Education.
He was ordained in 1977 and has served as a parish priest in Birmingham, West Yorkshire and since 1992 in Norwich. As a Parish Priest he has maintained a strong interest in community renewal in poorer communities. He recently served 8 years as Rural Dean of Norwich East and is Urban Officer for the Diocese of Norwich.
Education has been an important part of Peter’s work, and he has been involved in the training of lay people and prospective clergy. He has been involved in working with children throughout his life, serving as a youth leader, running children’s activities, and involvement in local schools, taking assemblies, choir training and small group teaching.
Since 1981 he has been a school governor, in Birmingham, Stanley near Wakefield and Norwich. For a few years he was Governor at Heartsease High School but his longest service, since 1992 has been as a Governor at Heartsease Middle School and its successor school Heartsease Primary School, now Academy.
Peter was a founder member of the Heart Educational Trust. During his time as a Governor he has also served as Chair of Governors in primary schools in Birmingham, West Yorkshire and Norwich. He is married with a grown up daughter, is interested in History, Current Affairs and Travel. His main hobby is music playing piano, organ and jazz trumpet.
Shaun Porter (appointed 16 September 2015)
Shaun is an experienced Facilities Manager with extensive experience of property asset management and building services. He is a certified member of the British Institute of Facilities Management and holds a BSc honours degree in Construction and Health & Safety. With professional training in asbestos management, HR and auditing, Shaun brings a wide skill set to Trust. Shaun also has much experience of maintaining statutory compliance and minimising business risk.
In his spare time, Shaun enjoys outdoor activities including golf and rugby, and is currently studying part-time for an MBA.
John Crofts (appointed 18 September 2015)
John is the Headmaster of Glebe House School and Nursery, an independent prepatory school in North West Norfolk. John brings expertise to the Trust in the management and governance of independent schools, essential to the establishment and management of academies, as these fall within the independent school category. John has a wealth of educational experience and can assist the Trust’s Directors in holding academy senior leaders to account.
Michael Tait (appointed 1 August 2019)
Mike is an international chairman with 23 years’ experience in building or turning around private equity backed companies. Mike has worked with many leading names in private equity such as 3i, Electra Europe, Sovereign Capital, Advent International and Milestone Capital, and banks such as RBS, Hambros and Investec.
Most recently, Mike was chairman of 23.5 Degrees, the leading UK Starbucks franchise network where he presided over a period of considerable growth to 40 stores and DriveThrus and the achievement of considerable growth in revenues and profits.
Past Members
The following members have stepped down in the last 12 months:
- Melanie Selvarajah – 27 August 2018
- Michael Fagg – 28 November 2018