Governor Profiles

  • Mr Martin Evans

    Chair of Governors

    My name is Martin Evans and I have been a governor at Finstall First School since 2006 and since 2013 I have been the Chair of Governors.

    I am a senior IT leader at National Grid with global accountability for their IT operational strategy. I have extensive experience in IT, service provision, contract management and negotiation. In addition, I have experience in working across different cultures, people management, as well as influencing and leading.

    I have lived in Bromsgrove since 2002. Both my children went to Finstall School and are now at South Bromsgrove High School. My wife works locally in Bromsgrove.

  • Mr Andy George

    Vice Chair of Governors

    I'm Andy George. I've been a governor at Finstall First School since February 1990 - two years before we moved to the current site!

    I come from Bromsgrove and, despite working away for a while, always gravitated back. Now retired, I worked for Midland Bank and later for Nat West.

    I'm on the Finance and Personnel panels. I'm the link governor for geography and history, together with leadership and management.

  • Ms Julie Sadler

    LA Governor

    My name is Julie Sadler and I have been a governor at Finstall First School since 2009.

    I work as the West Midlands Events Delivery Manager for St John Ambulance, responsible for the safe provision of first aid and medical cover at over 6000 events per year, which range from two First Aiders at a school fete to equipping and staffing five first aid posts at V Festival every year.

    Before this job I spent 25 years working in concert venues as an Events Manager, most recently 17 years at Town Hall / Symphony Hall in Birmingham.

    I have lived in Bromsgrove since 2007, and previously lived in Birmingham and Cambridge. I have one daughter Amy, who is now in Year 8, and my husband works for a Trade Union.

    I have extensive experience of all aspects of staff management, including recruitment and training, and I have significant experience in health and safety, particularly risk assessments. I also bring skills in strategic planning and organising to the school. One of my governor responsibilities at Finstall is to analyse the pupil performance data in detail and report regularly on this to the other governors.

  • Mr Richard Gannon

    My name is Richard Gannon and I became a governor at Finstall First School in 2022.

    I have a legal background having practiced law in Birmingham for a number of years before changing industries and starting a business.

    I am now the joint-owner and a Company Director of a railway project management and engineering consultancy company leading large teams across multiple-clients. In addition to managing the strategic growth of the business I am very experienced in managing complex multi-disciplinary projects with a particular focus on contract, commercial, risk and programme management.

    In addition to the general roles and responsibilities as a Governor I will be focussed on the following areas:

    Leadership and Management
    Property and Curriculum
    Art, Design and Technology

    I grew up nearby and whilst my work has taken me all over the UK and abroad, I continue to live locally. I am married with two children - the eldest of which is currently at Finstall School.

  • Mrs Eden O'Brien

    G’day, my name is Eden O’Brien and I became a Governor at Finstall First School in 2022.

    I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering and have worked across a variety of industries including sugar, renewable energies, water and aerospace. A substantial portion of my career has been working as an Armament Engineering Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). I currently work as reservist for Joint Proof and Experimental Unit (RAAF), writing maintenance strategies and providing guidance for bespoke test equipment.

    Fun fact - While at high school I trained to become a pilot, learning to fly before I could drive!

    My key skills are in technical writing, document management and project management. I’m highly motivated and very focussed on performance and continuous improvement. I have previously held positions as Vice President of Engineers Australia (Queensland Division) and Vice Chair of Women in Engineering, Queensland.

    In addition to the general roles and responsibilities as a Governor, I will be focussed on the following areas:
    Finance and Staffing
    Personal Development
    Mathematics

    Our family moved from Australia to Bromsgrove, where my husband grew up, in April 2020. We have three children, the eldest of which attends Finstall First School.

  • Miss Becky Miles

    Hello, I’m Becky Miles and I joined as a governor in 2022. I was born in Bromsgrove and grew up in a neighbouring village, leaving for university and work until we started a family and moved to Harwood Park in 2017. I’m now a Mum of two and our eldest started at Finstall First School in 2021.

    Professionally, I have a background as a qualified Town Planner and have worked across a number of different public sector organisations throughout my career in planning, economic development and funding delivery and have experience of developing and managing multi-disciplinary Government funding programmes and all that entails (strategic and financial planning, appraisal; risk; monitoring and evaluation); For the last three years I’ve been a Senior Civil Servant working across two Departments (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) leading large teams with responsibility of delivering the Government’s levelling up agenda for the West Midlands and South West England.

    Outside of work I love most sports and have previously been a volunteer with the Access Project which supports students from disadvantaged backgrounds to access top universities, through tuition and mentoring.

    My areas of focus as a Governor will be on PE, RE and Finance and Staffing.

  • Mrs Kelly Joynes

    Hi, I’m Kelly and I’ve been a Community Governor since 2020. I grew up in Alvechurch, left for a while to go to university to achieve my BA (Hons) in Contemporary Studies (I still don’t know what that is either!) and have lived in Bromsgrove since 2005. Both of my daughters were pupils at Finstall First School.
    My professional background is in social housing, having developed and managed supported housing accommodation for young families, young homeless people, care experienced young people and people with learning disabilities, autism and acquired brain injury. I have always led teams and have extensive experience in recruitment, change management, conflict resolution, stakeholder relationships and succession planning.
    I am now self-employed and deliver training and coaching in the not-for-profit sector. I am passionate about strengths-based approaches and trauma-informed work and I am an accredited trainer for Victim Focus. As a qualified coach mentor, I like to be curious and to ask the questions that aim to raise awareness and responsibility. I am also a Mental Health first Aider and promote the importance of wellbeing at every opportunity.
    In my free time I do yoga, I love watching films, spending time with friends and family and listening to music.

  • Mr Matthew Mason

    Head Teacher

  • Mr Daniel Bate

    Deputy Head Teacher / Staff Governor