At the forefront of their thoughts and decisions is the students that we serve. Below is an opportunity to learn more about them and their backgrounds.
To contact our Chair of Trustees, Mr Neil Yeomans, please email Ms J Woodstock at jwoodstock@sfaet.co.uk.
Neil has recently retired having spent over 30 years working in audit and accounting for one of the largest global professional services firms and was a partner for the last 20 years.
He has travelled extensively and worked in Australia for 2 years and Poland for 3 years. Neil is a qualified Chartered Accountant and as well as having skills in financial management and control, he has experience in project management, risk management and governance.
Neil has a number of other voluntary roles, including being a school and college governor, trustee of a number of charities focussed on providing assistance to the vulnerable and isolated and non executive director of a couple of businesses with a similar focus. He also acts as a mentor to university students and business start-up young entrepreneurs. As well as being a Trustee of SFAET, Neil was previously Chair of the Local Governing body for Sanders Draper School.
Deborah is Finance & Business Manager for the Innovation & Growth Directorate at the City of London Corporation. Prior to this, Deborah worked in the Social Investment sector, where she specialised in developing and delivering large scale support programmes for charities and social enterprises. Deborah is also a trustee of Radio Forest, a hospital broadcasting charity based in Essex.
Deborah grew up and attended schools in Havering, and passionately believes that all children should be supported to reach their potential.
Joanne is the HR Director for a Multi Academy Trust and a chartered member of the CIPD with 25 plus years' post qualification experience gained within varying media and large Local Authorities across London and the South East. She has extensive experience as a HR/OD generalist and specialist on both a strategic and operational front. She is also able to effectively integrate workforce strategy within organisational culture to follow through on business direction changes to support the transformation of services delivered. Her HR career for the last 15 years has been targeted to support Education and Children Services as it is fundamental that every child should have access to excellent education and have the opportunity to flourish as individuals and our leaders of tomorrow. Joanne's ability to influence and support that through the recruitment and development of teachers and support staff in schools is key.
Andrew has worked in the education sector for over 15 years including state and independent senior schools starting his career in Barking. His roles have included Head of Year, Head of Middle School as well as his current role as Housemaster at St Edward's, a leading independent boarding school in Oxford. Alongside these roles, Andrew completed his MSc in Learning and Teaching at Oxford University focussing in the role of homework in education and he has also been part of academic initiatives including the development of alternative GCSEs, the growth in the International Baccalaureate, and the development of a new Mathematics curriculum at primary age. Andrew grew up and attended schools in the Havering area and is a keen sportsman playing rugby for Oxford University as well as coaching for Wasps at youth level.
Natasha is Head of Knowledge and Library Services at NELFT NHS Trust. Prior to NELFT she worked for a start-up in the city and at a healthcare charity; she has over 20 years of experience in the library and information sector and was joint winner of the CILIP K&IM and UKeIG Information Manager of the Year Award 2020.
Natasha is passionate about health inequalities and health and digital literacy. In her spare time she enjoys running (slowly) and can often be found participating and volunteering at local park runs.
Natasha holds a BSc. in Geography from King's College London and MA in Information Studies; she is a Fellow of the CILIP: the Library and Information Association.
Mayank Sharma is a Supply Chain Leader at Amazon with expertise in driving transformations across the globe, through strategy development, implementation of digital solutions and delivering improved processes and decision making across planning procurement, logistics, fulfilment and sustainability. Over the last 14 years, Mayank has worked across Consulting (large global professional services firms), Operations and Technology giving him a well rounded approach to identifying operating models through outcome driven programmes. Mayank grew up and attended schools in Asia and the Middle East and has a BEng degree in Manufacturing Engineering and a Masters in Supply Chain from Warwick. He is passionate about digital literacy, inclusion and equal opportunities for children from all backgrounds. Mayank works with local charities through work to act as a mentor to young students at schools and universities across the UK.
Sana Essid is a seasoned Senior Operations Consultant at Amazon Web Services (AWS), specialising in advising global financial customers on operating models and IT strategies to drive successful digital transformations through cloud adoption and modernisation. With a multicultural background that includes growing up in France and studying in Germany, the UK, and Jordan, Sana brings a diverse perspective to her work.
With a strong educational foundation, including an MBA, Sana embarked on a self-taught journey in IT and has since accumulated 17 years of experience in IT operations across various industries, including cinema, newspaper, transport, and finance.
In addition to her professional endeavours, Sana is actively involved in community initiatives. In 2019, she joined the Sanders School Local Committee, contributing to the school's achievement of a Good OFSTED rating for the first time. Furthermore, she dedicates her spare time to volunteering at the East London Mosque, where she passionately teaches the basics of Islam to both new Muslims and non-Muslims.
Sana's unique blend of expertise, multicultural background, and commitment to community engagement make her a valuable asset in the technology industry and a compassionate advocate for education and cultural understanding.
Vikas Kumar is an industry professional currently working as Operations Manager with Amazon’s EU largest Robotics Fulfilment Centre in Tilbury, East London. With a multicultural background that includes growing up in different parts of India, Vikas brings a unique and diverse perspective to his work.
By education, Vikas is marine engineer turned MBA with degrees from prestigious Indian Maritime University, Kolkata and Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai. He has worked in different companies over a decade and a half across cross-functional roles and acquired experience in industries such as FMCG, Oil & Gas, Beverages and E-commerce. Vikas has led diverse teams of superstars thus building strong leadership skills. He has been recognised for challenging the status quo and driving towards improvement without dropping the ball on execution.
Outside of the professional domain, he is passionate about bringing a positive change to things around him and has been part of many such initiatives. Vikas has been actively involved in causes related to environment conservation, mentoring young minds and volunteering work for local communities.
Saif brings over 20 years of leadership experience helping global organisations improve the way they work through better use of data, technology, and teamwork. He currently works at a major international financial services company, where he leads efforts to help teams make smarter decisions and work more efficiently.
Saif is passionate about supporting young people and believes every student should have the tools and opportunities to reach their full potential. He also actively contributes to employee and community groups that focus on learning, inclusion, and career development. As a trustee, he is committed to helping the Trust deliver excellent education and positive outcomes for all its pupils.
Neil has worked in central Government since 2007 in a number of senior roles covering communications, stakeholder engagement, strategy and project delivery. Previously, he worked as a national and local newspaper journalist and editor after completing a history and politics degree at Warwick University.
Neil is an enthusiastic advocate of helping children achieve their potential, with particular interest and experience in special educational needs, having been a trustee of a Hornchurch children’s charity for almost 10 years before joining SFAET.
Neil grew up in Colchester and currently lives in Hornchurch with his wife and three children.
Stephanie has been in the field of education for approaching 30 years. She graduated from the University of Warwick in 1995 as a teacher of Physical Education and has worked within the profession ever since. Stephanie has gained experience of working in four secondary schools within the London and Essex areas and has held a variety of middle and senior leadership roles during that time, giving her extensive experience of leading and managing whole school improvement across all key judgement areas. Stephanie is currently the Senior Deputy Head and Head of Campuses at Barking Abbey School in Barking and Dagenham. In February 2024, they were judged by Ofsted to be an Outstanding provider.
During her years in education, she has also accessed a wide range of continuing professional development opportunities to ensure she remains up to date with current educational theories and practice. Most recently this has included successfully completing the NPQH qualification with Ambition Institute. Stephanie is passionate both professionally and as a parent, about improving the life chances of young people and ensuring that they are successful in realising and achieving their full potential.
With over 27 years of experience in education, Michael has had the privilege of serving as both a teacher and deputy head across schools in the local area. He currently leads mathematics across the Inspired Learning Group of schools, where he works to ensure that every child receives a high-quality education that enables them to reach their full potential.
Michael is deeply passionate about creating learning environments where children feel safe, supported, and inspired. He believes that school should be a place of joy and discovery—a space where every child feels they belong and is excited to return each day. Supporting schools in achieving this vision is at the heart of his role.
Originally from Liverpool, Michael moved to London at the age of 10 and understands the anxieties children may face when navigating school life. This personal experience has shaped his empathetic approach to education and his commitment to student wellbeing.
Having lived in Havering for the past 40 years, Michael has a strong connection to the local community and a deep understanding of the schools within our group. He has had the pleasure of working with many of them and have seen first-hand the dedication and excellence they bring to education. He is excited to continue supporting schools and contributing to the success of the Trust in the years ahead.
Outside of work, Michael is a proud parent to an 8-year-old daughter who shares his passion for Liverpool FC—with weekends often revolving around cheering on the Reds together!
Kathy Freeman has been a proud resident of Havering since moving to the Borough from Taiwan with her family. Educated in a local comprehensive school, she has a long-standing connection to the community and a deep appreciation for the opportunities offered by Havering’s schools. Two of her three children are currently educated in the Borough—one in secondary and one in primary—giving her a personal understanding of the needs and aspirations of local families.
Kathy’s interest in serving as a trustee grew when her son joined Redden Court School, inspiring her to contribute to shaping the strategic direction and culture of the Trust. Her commitment extends beyond a single school; she is dedicated to supporting all academies within the Trust and ensuring they continue to thrive as part of a cohesive and successful educational family.
Professionally, Kathy has built a distinguished career in local government since graduating from university. She currently holds the position of Strategic Director of Resources at the London Borough of Havering and serves as the Council’s Chief Finance Officer. In this role, she oversees a broad portfolio of services and leads a team of 550 staff. Kathy is responsible for the effective financial management of the Council’s budget and works closely with Government departments to address the financial challenges faced by the authority, advocating for fair and equitable funding.
Her remit also includes leadership of the HR and Organisational Development function, IT and Digital services, Customer Services, Commissioning, and Public Health—experience that equips her with a comprehensive understanding of governance, accountability, and strategic leadership. While well-versed in the responsibilities of a trustee, Kathy remains committed to continuous learning and embraces new approaches that enhance the effectiveness of the Trust.
Beyond her professional and governance roles, Kathy enjoys attending live music events and taking on renovation projects, pursuits that reflect her love of creativity and hands-on problem-solving.
Kathy is proud to serve the Success for All Educational Trust and looks forward to contributing to the continued success and development of its schools.
