Chair of Trustees

Trustees

Trustees retiring in last 12 months

Meeting dates for 2025-2026

Full Board - 11th November, 8th December, 10th February, 5th May and 14th July

Resources and Audit Committee -7th October, 27th January, 21st April and 30th June 

Education Committee - 17th October, 6th February, 1st May and 10th July

Minutes are available upon request. For contact details see below.

Claire Brown

Claire became a school governor at Portway Junior School in 2005 and served as Chair of Governors for 10 years.   This gave her a wealth of experience in Primary governance through involvement at Portway, interaction with other schools and the Local Authority.

Claire works for Atos (a worldwide IT company) in their UK Finance Operations.  Her role involves Finance systems development, implementation and support - problem solving and working with local and global teams.  These skills have been valuable in her work with schools in Derby. 

Sarah Charles

Current role is at University of Derby as Head of Provider Led ITE and EYTS and Deputy Head of the Professional Studies Department. Member of Quality and Academic Excellence Sub-committee and Teacher Education Research Group. Previously a Leading Literacy Teacher in Staffordshire.

Mike Moore - Vice-Chair of Trustees

Mike worked as a project officer in the School Organisation Team of Derby City Council for over 20 years, mainly with responsibility for advising schools on premises related issues but also on schools emergency planning, health and safety and a wide range of other general educational issues. He held responsibility for the prioritisation, planning and delivery of a large number of very high value Capital Programme school premises improvement schemes. He has previously worked in the City as a Headteacher, so is able to bring a breadth of experiences to his post as a Trustee.

James Wright

James lives in Derby and is a Senior programme manager at Severn Trent, giving him wealth of experience in change, governance management and risk and audit management. Particularly focusing on Digital and Organisational change delivery. James also supports incidents relating to the loss of water supply which has meant multiple experiences of working cross organisations and within the community. James also is the group secretary and trustee of the 66th Derby scout group (Spondon).

Rose Richmond

Rose is a new Trustee with many years of experience as a Governor.  She strongly believes that every child has a right to an excellent education and that literacy is key.  Her day job is in Real Estate Management in the Telecoms industry which has given her a skillset that includes the management of projects, budgets and people, and a solid understanding of processes and Governance.

Phil Storer

Phil has held several senior roles in both large plc’s and private businesses, both in UK and in mainland Europe.

A qualified finance professional, Phil developed into a generalist. He spent 16 years with Exel (now DHL) where he worked across a number of supply chains with both retailers and producers as well as delivering large M&A and development projects. Latterly, Phil has operated large-scale pan European circular economy (reuse) system models both in the FMCG/Retail and polymer sectors. 

Now retired from full-time employment. Phil is using his experience and knowledge to give something back by helping others.

Samantha Mitchell

With over 20 years of experience in the employability and education sector, Sam has dedicated her career to supporting educational providers in various capacities. For eight years, she held the role of Director and Executive member, gaining valuable insights into the industry's intricacies. However, in January 2023, she decided to embark on a new journey and establish her own consultancy business focusing on assisting educational providers in their preparation for Ofsted, ensuring compliance, staff development, and providing overall problem-solving solutions.

Her strong belief is that everyone deserves a high-quality educational experience and continuous professional development throughout their chosen life path. This belief has been the driving force behind her professional endeavours. She is passionate about empowering educational institutions to deliver exceptional learning environments for students and educators alike.

 

Elizabeth Starr

Elizabeth Starr is a senior strategic leader and Director of Governance and Performance for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, with extensive experience in governance, scrutiny, HR, risk, and organisational development. With a background in mathematics and Level 7 strategic leadership qualifications, she has progressed rapidly through high‑level roles, leading compliance, performance, HR processes, and major recruitment, while shaping strategy and fostering ethical, collaborative cultures. Motivated by a strong sense of social responsibility and a belief in the power of education to transform lives, she seeks to bring her independent scrutiny skills, inclusive leadership, and commitment to equity to the Odyssey Collaborative Trust, supporting effective governance and driving positive outcomes for children and communities.

 

Alice Clark

As a parent of two children in primary school and a former Scout Leader, Alice is deeply committed to the idea that learning should be an adventure that sparks curiosity and joy. Alice brings this personal commitment to the Board, alongside high-level professional expertise in strategic governance and operational resilience.

Currently Deputy Director of Strategy at the Government Property Agency, Alice brings extensive experience in managing multi-billion pound budgets, strategic planning, and complex organizational structures. My career in facilities management and infrastructure has equipped me with a robust understanding of statutory compliance, health and safety, and financial sustainability. Alice offers the board a blend of commercial acumen and a parent’s perspective, dedicated to ensuring our schools are safe, efficient, and inspiring environments for every child.