Board of Governors

Independent members

• 

  Steve Armstrong

  Chair of the Board

  

  Steve Armstrong

  Chair of the Board

  Steve Armstrong has over 40 years’ experience in the automotive industry, including 35 years with Ford Motor Company in global leadership roles. He began as an apprentice at 16 and worked across the UK, US, Sweden, Germany, Brazil and China. He held senior roles at Jaguar, Mazda, Volvo and Ford, and was elected Group Vice President of Ford Motor Company in 2014. He later served as Vice President and Transformation Officer for Ford South America and India. Steve led Changan Ford’s turnaround in China and was Chairman, President and CEO of Ford of Europe, overseeing Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
  
  Since retiring in 2022, he has worked as a non-executive director and leadership consultant. Born in Luton, he is married with two children and enjoys cycling, motorsports and wine.

• 

  Sarah Fahy

  Deputy Chair of the Board

  

  Sarah Fahy

  Deputy Chair of the Board

  Sarah is a chartered accountant and member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, with over 30 years’ experience in senior international finance roles at multinational organisations including Sony and Pepsi. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Birmingham and brings expertise in risk management, governance and diversity and inclusion.
  
  She was Head of the Sony Pictures Gender Equality Group. She mentors through the University of Birmingham Alumni Leadership Mentoring Programme, Cancer Research’s Women of Influence Programme and UEL’s Career Mentoring Programme. She led a long-running student internship scheme and is committed to strengthening university–business links and preparing students for work.
  
  In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors and cooking for family and friends.

• 

  Professor Sir Leslie Colin Ebdon CBE DL

  Senior Independent Governor

  

  Professor Sir Leslie Colin Ebdon CBE DL

  Senior Independent Governor

  Sir Les Ebdon is a leader in higher education, social mobility and analytical chemistry. As Director of Fair Access to Higher Education (2012–2018), he increased the number of disadvantaged students entering university to record levels. He previously served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, significantly growing student numbers and income.
  
  He has chaired Million+, served on the boards of Universities UK and UCEA, and led the Association of Universities of the East of England. He was awarded a CBE in 2009 and knighted in 2018 for services to education. He chairs NEON and the University Centre Peterborough Council, and past-President of the European Association of Professors Emeriti.

• 

  Jazz Bhogal

  Independent Governor

  

  Jazz Bhogal

  Independent Governor

  Jazz Bhogal recently served as Assistant Director for Health, Education and Youth at the Greater London Authority. She brings extensive experience across the health and care sector, from working in a busy central London Hospital through to leading work on the UK’s Devolved Nations and Overseas Territories’ preparations for Brexit.
  Jazz spent a decade in UK Government, where she led health and care policy and developed strategies to build a more diverse and inclusive Civil Service. During her time at the Greater London Authority, she led policy and strategy supporting the Mayor’s priorities to tackle health inequalities, create greater partnerships for health and social care, and led programmes to deliver the Mayor’s priorities for early years, education, and young people.
  
  She is now a Non-Executive Member of the West and North London Integrated Care Board.

• 

  Fiona Bolton

  Independent Governor

  

  Fiona Bolton

  Independent Governor

  Fiona is a Human Resources Managing Director with over 30 years at Accenture. She most recently served as Global Strategic People Programme Lead and Chief Talent Officer for Accenture Song and Accenture Digital. She designs and delivers global talent strategies that drive responsible growth, performance and positive workplace culture.
  
  Her career spans continents, including two years living and working in Buenos Aires. She thrives in cross-cultural environments and is passionate about supporting emerging businesses and differentiated talent to challenge traditional models and deliver meaningful change.
  
  Fiona champions inclusion and creates environments where everyone can thrive. She has strong family roots in East London and lives in Essex with her husband, sharing a love of travel, staying active, food and wine.

• 

  Ben Buckton

  Independent Governor

  

  Ben Buckton

  Independent Governor

  Ben is Chief Marketing & Communications Officer (International) at AIG, leading marketing and communications strategy across AIG’s International business. Appointed in October 2024, he is responsible for brand, digital, research, reputation and demand generation across the UK, EMEA, APAC, LATAM and Global Specialty.
  
  Ben is a Governor for the University of East London and Chairs the Remuneration & Staffing Committee. He is also a NED and Trustee of New Family Social, supporting LGBTQIA+ adoption and foster families.
  
  With over 20 years’ experience in strategy, marketing, customer, growth and transformation, Ben has held senior roles at global firms including Experian, AXA, Allianz and RSA, as well as executive leadership roles in legal and professional services.
  
  He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and Leadership Fellow at the College of St George, Windsor Castle.

• 

  Paul Confrey

  Independent Governor

  

  Paul Confrey

  Independent Governor

  Paul is an award-winning marketing leader with 20 years’ experience across WPP PLC, the world’s largest communications group. He co-founded Blue Hive and became CEO of the pan-European network GTB. Earlier in his career at GM Europe, he held brand management, research and e-commerce roles at Vauxhall UK and Opel Germany.
  
  He has served as CMO and COO at several organisations and is now CMO at Prometheus Space Technologies, an Athens-based environmental space-tech start-up focused on wildfire prediction and tracking. At GM Europe, he created and launched the world’s first vehicle online purchase system. He holds two Guinness World Records for marketing launches in Spain and Italy and has appeared as the advertising expert on the BBC’s The Apprentice.

• 

  Reverend Trevor Critchlow

  Independent Governor

  

  Reverend Trevor Critchlow

  Independent Governor

  Trevor Critchlow is the 52nd Rector of Stepney, an office dating back to 1233. He holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Ethics from Lancaster University and King’s College London, with a particular interest in business ethics.
  
  He chaired the governing body of an East London secondary school that moved from Special Measures to Outstanding in record time. He has extensive board-level experience in charity governance and chairs several local charities. He lives in East London.

• 

  Amanjit Jhund

  Independent Governor

  

  Amanjit Jhund

  Independent Governor

  Amanjit Jhund is CEO of Whipps Cross University Hospital and a qualified medical doctor with degrees from Edinburgh and Harvard. He has served on NHS boards and advised global healthcare institutions through McKinsey. An award-winning entrepreneur and former Labour parliamentary candidate, he is passionate about the role of education in improving health and economic outcomes in East London.

• 

  Naureen Khan

  Independent Governor

  

  Naureen Khan

  Independent Governor

  Naureen Khan is a Managing Director and member of the executive team in Accenture UK’s Health and Public Service practice. She helps clients use technology to modernise public services. She has a background in public policy, with senior roles across the public and private sectors, including the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), techUK and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
  
  At EHRC, she led the Commission’s successful application for ‘A’ status accreditation as a UN National Human Rights Institution. She is committed to tackling social mobility and has served on boards focused on socio-economic inequality. She is a member of the techUK Skills and Inclusion Council.

• 

  Kieren Mayers

  Independent Governor

  

  Kieren Mayers

  Independent Governor

  Kieren Mayers is Vice President of ESG at Sony Interactive Entertainment, leading sustainability, accessibility and ethical gaming. He has nearly 30 years’ experience in environmental leadership at IBM, HP and Sony, and co-founded the European Recycling Platform. He chairs the UN’s Playing for the Planet Alliance.
  
  A Visiting Professor and published scholar, Kieren champions inclusive gaming and climate action. Having grown up in poverty, he now mentors students to help them realise their potential.

• 

  Lucy Millar

  Independent Governor

  

  Lucy Millar

  Independent Governor

  Lucy has over 35 years’ experience in the manufacturing industry, with roles spanning finance, strategy, risk, internal audit and pension management. She has lived and worked internationally, including in India, Spain and the USA, and most recently served as the General Auditor for Ford Motor Company. She is a qualified management accountant and internal auditor, and chaired the Trustee Board of Ford’s Senior Staff Pension Scheme.

• 

  Uzoamaka Nwamarah

  Independent Governor

  

  Uzoamaka Nwamarah

  Independent Governor

  Uzoamaka Nwamarah is Head of Climate Change at the Commonwealth Secretariat, where she provides strategic leadership on the Commonwealth Climate Change programme including its flagship Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH). She also champions the Secretariat’s Gender and Youth Climate Action Programmes, ensuring that the Secretariat’s climate initiatives are inclusive and effective for men, women, and young people alike.
  
  Before joining the Commonwealth Secretariat, Uzoamaka held senior roles as a Principal Climate Finance Consultant with Atkins Realis UK and as a Senior Climate Change Specialist with the African Development Bank in Tunisia and Ivory Coast. She holds a Master’s in Environmental Science and Technology, Energy Policy, from Imperial College London and is a Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance.

• 

  Gavin Poole

  Independent Governor

  

  Gavin Poole

  Independent Governor

  Gavin Poole is CEO of Here East, a technology and creative campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London. He led the transformation of the former Olympic International Press and Broadcast Centre into a campus for more than 6,500 workers and students. He is also the Executive Chair and director of Plexal, an innovation centre and consultancy, which focused on cybersecurity, national prosperity, and long term economic growth.
  
  A former RAF Wing Commander, Gavin later led the Centre for Social Justice and helped shape the Modern Slavery Act alongside the Centre’s ‘Broken Britain’ policy agenda. He sits on the advisory board of Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates and is a board member of the Royal Air Force Club in Piccadilly. He lives in London with his family.

• 

  Steve Shaw

  Independent Governor

  

  Steve Shaw

  Independent Governor

  Steve is an HR and organisational development leader with senior international executive and consultancy experience. He has served as Chief People Officer at MPB Group and Chief HR Officer at HP Inc.’s Apogee Corporation, leading global people strategies across the UK, US, India and China. He also held senior HR roles at Interpublic, supporting international teams and organisational change.
  
  He has contributed to sustainability initiatives, including with Global Sustainability Benchmarking in Sport. As founder of Wyndham James, he advises small businesses and education organisations on growth, workforce strategy and diversity, equity and inclusion. With over 20 years’ board experience, he brings expertise in growth, sustainability and widening participation.