Former Chief Constable of Suffolk until 2013. Served 30 years as a police officer in Kent, Hertfordshire and Suffolk. Currently an Independent Member of the Parole Board and Independent Chair of the Bishops Safeguarding Panel for Ipswich and St Edmundsbury. 

Declaration of Business Interests: None

Derek Blake is a former Bank of England senior official with extensive governance experience in the education and charity sectors. Member of Social Security and Employment Tribunals spanning a twenty five year period. Former Chairman of the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury and District CAB. Particular experience of employment and other HR issues (MSc in HR and FCIPD). Chairman, Clare Walks Group.

Declaration of business interests: None

Julia is a parent of a Stour Valley Community School student. She was brought up in Clare and attended the former Clare Middle School. Julia worked as a solicitor in the city, and in retail management before returning to Clare where she now works for the country park. 

Declaration of business interests: None

Ruth has worked for Suffolk County Council since 2008, and her current role as Business and Information Manager involves leading on HR and people processes within the Public Health Directorate, maintaining the risk register and monitoring trends and she is responsible for freedom of information requests. During her career she has worked in management positions specialising in Admin, HR and Training.

Declaration of Business Interests: Suffolk County Council (employee) 

Keith was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to education in the 2013 New Year Honours List. A former senior executive with a multi-national banking group. Keith’s experience spans Board-level roles in all aspects of Financial Services and Business Associations. Keith has served on the management board of a school in Germany.

Declaration of Business Interests: None

Clare resident with specialist knowledge in building maintenance programmes, refurbishment, costings and management, as a Chartered Building Surveyor at leading international real estate advisers, Savills Plc.

Declaration of Business Interests: Associate Director. Savills (UK) Ltd.

Headteacher of Stour Valley Community School. CEO of Stour Valley Educational Trust Ltd. Rachel began her teaching career as a French teacher in 1995 in Norwich. Her career path has allowed her to develop significant expertise as a Teacher of French, Head of Modern Foreign Languages, Professional Tutor for Trainee Teachers, Advanced Skills Teacher and she has a wealth of experience in a variety of roles as a Senior Leader.

She took over as Headteacher of Stour Valley Community School and CEO of Stour Valley Educational Trust in September 2018.

Declaration of Business Interests: None

Paul worked in the Marketing Communications sector for over 36 years and was the CEO of EWA Ltd (a subsidiary of FTSE100 company WPP Group) from 2001 to 2019. Paul has a wealth of experience in delivering customer experience improvement solutions in complex and technically challenging environments in both the public and private sectors.

Declaration of Business Interests: None

Former Chair of Governors at Stour Valley Community School – Resident of Clare, Emeritus Professor of Historical Geography and Demography and Emeritus Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge, Chair of Clare Historical and Archaeological Society and The Clare Ancient House Museum.

Declaration of Business Interests: None

Phil lives in Clare, is a parent of four school aged children and works in Cambridge as an Operations Director for a FTSE 100 high-tech company.

Declaration of Business Interests: None