Board of Governors

Victoria has been an Executive Coach since 2010 working with Senior Leaders and Senior Leadership teams across multiple sectors, focusing on strategy and ensuring teams and individuals fulfil their potential. Previously she had a career in HR and Talent Management Consultancy in multi-nationals for over 18 years. She is fluent in Italian and has renovated a house in Southern Italy. Her other interests include sailing, skiing, travelling and long-distance walking. She joined the Walhampton Board on the General Purposes Committee in November 2021 and is the parent of 2 former pupils who went on to Canford.

Paul works for Unilever where he has been for the past 17-years in a range of Information Technology roles and for the past 6-years has held the role of Cyber Security Director. Prior to this Paul worked for Morgan Stanley in their IT Division and prior to that he worked in Academic Research with a PhD in Chemistry. Paul enjoys sailing, paddle-boarding and swimming and is father to two boys at Walhampton.

Tom is Managing Partner of a fully diversified rural partnership combining agriculture (dairy in Dorset and NZ and arable on the IOW), commercial property, renewables and more recently tourism and leisure. Tom looks after the day to day running of the partnership as well as leading the strategic planning. He has three children with his eldest two now at Peter Symonds College and Bryanston, and the youngest at Walhampton. Outside of work Tom enjoys open water swimming, running and cycling, spending as much time as possible out on the water with the family.

William obtained a first-class degree studying Biological Sciences at Oxford where he focused on conservation biology and animal behaviour. He started teaching Biology at Canford in 2011, holding the role of Academic Head of Lower School before being given the privilege of being the Housemaster of Franklin Boarding House since September 2020. William coaches a variety of sports, gives talks on supporting those who are grieving (in memory of his daughter, Bella) and is passionate about the immense breadth an independent education can offer.

Sonia has worked across Children Services, Health and Education settings for over 30 years, holding a number of specialist therapeutic qualifications and is a qualified social worker. Training in child and family therapy and children's emotional and mental health, she has worked as a child and family therapist and managed CAMHS services in Nottingham for many years. Former Director of the PLACE young peoples company and proprietor of a specialist independent school for young people with emotional , behavioural needs and SEND. Sonia currently works for Hampshire Children Services supporting young people in foster care and their carers. Her interests include travel, skiing and sailing and she is a parent of two former children at Walhampton.

Rachel is Head at The Manor Prep School in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, and was educated at Reading University. Rachel is a committed and passionate educationalist who has many years of experience in leadership of successful, thriving schools. Having experience teaching and leading age groups from Reception to Year 8, Rachel understands the entire subject and age breadth of a prep school, as well as the need for exceptional pastoral care and safeguarding, broad co-curricular provision and the importance of developing individuals ready for their move to senior school. Rachel is also an avid traveller enjoying the culture, landscape and food from wide and varied places but is equally as happy with a good book or walking in the beautiful Gloucestershire countryside.

Richard is Head of Bryanston School with a Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of Buckingham, a GTP in Secondary Education and Teaching from the University of Southampton, and a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Economics from the University of Nottingham. Richard has a wealth of experience and, before joining Bryanston, was previously at Canford School and St John’s School, Leatherhead.

Heidi is a Barrister at Law (Middle Temple) and Justice of the Peace since 2003. Heidi currently sits on the West Hampshire Bench as an Adult Chair and Youth Court magistrate. She was previously appointed to West Dorset. Heidi has been a member of The Parole Board for England and Wales since 2009, including as an accredited Chair since 2014, presiding over mandatory life sentence and indeterminate sentence cases. Heidi has also been a member of the HMCT Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal since 2012. She is parent to a former Walhampton pupil. Her other interests include travel, music, foreign languages and spending time with her family.

Elen has spent 20 years in General Management, Marketing and Digital at some of the world’s biggest beauty companies at UK, global and board level. She is passionate about creating a fairer, more sustainable world and has now embarked on a new challenge developing electric car charging globally. She brings a wealth of experience in strategy and P&L management. Elen enjoys walking and cycling in the forest with her children and golden retriever.

Charles has a career background in fund management, property and houseboat development, and the furniture industry. He is founder and MD of The Contract Chair Company. Charles is a former Walhampton pupil and parent of two children, the eldest now at Canford and the youngest at Walhampton. His interests include property, sailing, skiing and motorbiking.

Head of Upper School at El Limonar International School, Murcia, Spain. Lealand has extensive experience as both a housemaster and head of department at leading British boarding schools. He holds an MSc in Educational Leadership and Change Management. He is the designated safeguarding lead at his school and is an Advanced Suicide Intervention Trainer and NPQML mentor for University College London. His children were born in Dorset and whilst now based in Spain Lealand has kept close links with the south coast and is a regular visitor to Walhampton and the UK. He enjoys triathlons and exploring Spain's tapas scene in his spare time.

Jacqui is a qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA), with 6 years experience as an auditor with Ernst & Young. Jacqui is the Club Accountant for the Royal Lymington Yacht Club and Trustee for the Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust. Jacqui brings a wealth of financial experience to the Board of Governors. Jacqui is parent of two former pupils who attended from Nursery, giving her a good understanding of the school across all age groups.

Mark is a Consultant Cardiologist at University Hospitals Dorset and Clinical Ambassador, NHSE. Following medical undergraduate and postgraduate training and research in London teaching hospitals, Mark left London to set up a new unit in Bournemouth in 2005. Mark is parent of four former pupils, now at Eton College and Wellington College.