Staff & Governors | Staff | Governors | Ryde School | Isle of Wight

Appointed to the Governing Board in November 2014, Chantal-Aimée grew up between the United States, Germany and England and attended the International School in Hamburg and Roedean School in Brighton followed by the University of Pennsylvania and Cambridge University.

At Cambridge, Chantal-Aimée attended New Hall, now known as Murray Edwards College, and studied history and law. She was President of the Cambridge Union Society in 1989.

In 1992 she was called to the Bar of England and Wales and became a King's Counsel in 2008. She practices from Atkin Chambers in Gray’s Inn where she is currently Head of Chambers. Much of her work involves advising and representing UK and overseas clients in major infrastructure projects. She also sits as an arbitrator resolving commercial disputes.

Chantal was made a Bencher of Middle Temple in 2010 and is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. She is Co-Editor in Chief of the International Construction Law Review, a joint Editor of the Building Law Reports and a contributing Editor of Hudson's Building and Engineering Contracts.

Chantal was Chairman of the Bar of England and Wales in 2016. She became Ryde School Chair of Governors in 2024.

Appointed to the Board in June, 2010. Michele moved to the Island as a child, attending the Convent whilst her brother was at Ryde School, it being boys only at the time. She studied medicine at UCH and Middlesex Medical School, qualifying in 1994, where she also obtained a degree in Neuroscience.

Michele has worked as a doctor for 20 years, the first ten in hospital, the last 11 in general practice on the Isle of Wight. A partner at Tower House Surgery, she leads in areas of business and finance, QOF, osteoporosis, CCG and locality working.

In addition she has been a CCG clinical lead for Dementia and Frail Elderly for several years and chairs several groups. She is the Wessex Academic Health Science Network clinical lead in dementia and the clinical chair of the Isle of Wight CCG, President of the Osteoporosis Society on the Island and a trustee at Age UK.

Michele and her partner Andreas, also an Island GP, have two sons who attended Ryde School. Michele’s other interests include politics, antiques and dog walking

Ian is the grandson of the School's founder and was appointed to the Board as Hereditary Governor in November 2023. He was educated at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, graduating with a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.Ian has extensive experience in finance and risk management following a career in international banking. He held a number of senior risk positions including Head of Credit between 2014 and 2022 at a UK-regulated bank specialising in emerging market foreign exchange and payments.

In this role he worked closely with UK charities and donors, assisting them with the delivery of their overseas aid objectives. He has a strong interest in international development and was responsible for organising and implementing large institution-building projects in the financial sector overseas. He has enjoyed passing on his experience gained as a practitioner and has regularly delivered training on finance, risk and strategy topics.

He has travelled extensively abroad, particularly in Africa.Ian lives in south west London. He is married and has a son and a daughter, and he enjoys a wide range of sports including cycling, cricket, golf, tennis and hill walking

Giles attended Ryde School from 1972 to 1984, and then completed a BA in Engineering Science at Wadham College, Oxford, also representing his college in a number of sports.

Giles started work at Plessey Radar on the Isle of Wight in 1987 as a systems engineer, moving to managing projects in the 1990s including programmes in South America, the Middle East and SouthEast Asia.

His role transitioned to Siemens before he joined British Aerospace (now BAE Systems) in 1998 and relocated to Hampshire. In 2006 he was seconded to the Ministry of Defence as project manager for one of the two pathfinder programmes under the Defence Acquisition Change Programme.

Giles has held various roles at BAE Systems, in both UK and International programmes, most recently for Australia and Canada, and he now works as Head of Business Development and Strategy for BAE Systems in the Maritime sector. In 2015 Giles completed a PGDip in International Marketing.

Giles lives in Hampshire with his wife Jill and they have two grown up children. Giles is still keen on sport and in his spare time attempts to play cricket and golf

Joanna attended Upper Chine from April 1980 to July 1989, following on from her three sisters and sister-in-law. Afterwards she gained a Diploma in Water Based Leisure Studies from The College of Maritime Studies, Warsash.

She then worked as a Duty Manager in the Leisure Industry in a variety of indoor and outdoor sports centres and pools and a marina in Portsmouth Harbour.

When she married her husband, who was a member of the Armed Forces, she took work wherever he was posted in the UK and in the Far East including Police Human Resources, Pension Review and a Military Education Centre.

She has three school aged children and lives in the New Forest and works in the Exams Office at a local school. Joanna enjoys playing and watching many sports, in particular swimming. She enjoys travelling and has spent time in Nepal helping in an earthquake-hit village and school.

Much of Philip's career has been spent as a business consultant and specialist recruitment adviser for several national organisations covering much of the UK. He was previously involved with the international renowned Dale Carnegie training and development organisation, supporting leadership training and business management.

More recently Philip has spent the last 12 years working in the estate agent industry, currently working for Spence Willard and overseeing their New Homes & Developments operation.

Philip went to Bembridge School from 1972 to 1981 and his two sons both attended Ryde School

Marjon attended Upper Chine from 1980 to 1984. Her mother and sister also attended the school as did other family members. After school she studied Cell and Molecular Biology at King's College in London and then Law, qualifying as a solicitor at a City law firm. She also has an MBA from London Business School and an LLM in International Law from Edinburgh University.

Marjon now works as a commercial lawyer with an interest in intellectual property, technology, governance and risk management.

She has worked in large publishing (Hachette UK) and consumer goods (Unilever plc) businesses as well as charities (Oxfam and the British Council) and more recently in other parts of the creative industries, advising on all types of legal issues.

She lives with her husband in London and Scotland and enjoys gardening, hill walking, music and learning languages

As Chief People Officer at the University of Portsmouth Fiona is responsible for leading the delivery of our People Strategy 2030 which supports our underlying principle of educating and transforming lives, while driving a culture of excellence where all our people can achieve great things.

As a member of the University Executive Board Fiona makes a significant contribution to the strategic direction of the University together with leading a large HR Function with a portfolio including Pay and Reward, EDI, People and Organisational Development, People Operations and Business Partnering.

Prior to joining the University of Portsmouth in 2022, Fiona was the Director of Human Resources at St Mary’s University, Twickenham.  Fiona has also worked in strategic and operational HR leadership roles both in the UK and overseas at Transport for London, the City of London Corporation, Surrey County Council, Pearson plc, WWF-UK and Unilever UK and Ireland.

Fiona holds a BA (Hons) in Education and a PGCE (Further Education) from the University of Greenwich and went on to study for a Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management at the University of Westminster. 

Fiona has a strong connection to the Isle of Wight through her love of sailing and had the opportunity to move to the Island when she joined the University of Portsmouth

Alex was educated at Pangbourne College and St Edmund Hall, Oxford where he studied Modern History. On leaving university he spent 11 years working in the shipping industry, both in the UK and overseas, with placements in New York, Taiwan and Hong Kong. His final position was General Manager for the business in China based in Shanghai.

In 2006, Alex decided to fulfil a long-held desire to become a teacher, and returned to Oxford University to study for his PGCE. In 2007 he joined the History Department at Dulwich College and in 2009 was appointed Head of Politics. In 2011 he moved to Abingdon School to run a day and boarding house, before becoming Deputy Head at St John's School, Leatherhead in January 2014.

From 2017 - 2023 Alex was Head of Bedford Modern School, an HMC co-educational school for pupils aged 7-18. He joined St John’s Leatherhead as The Head in September 2023.

Outside the classroom Alex is a keen sportsman and has coached rugby, hockey and cricket. He has also travelled widely in the Arctic, having wintered in North-East Greenland and most recently participated in a race to the Magnetic North Pole.

He particularly enjoys cycling, reading and spending time with his family

Peter Hamilton was appointed to the Board in January 2020. He was educated at King Edward VI School in Southampton and Christ Church, Oxford, graduating with an MA in Modern Foreign Languages, First Class.

From April 2002 until August 2018 he was Headmaster of the Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School in Elstree, prior to which he was Headmaster of King Edward VI School, Southampton. He was Chairman of the HMC Academic Policy Committee for six years and has extensive experience in all aspects of the UK independent sector.

He has also examined at all levels in French and German. He started his teaching career at Radley College and moved to Westminster School where he became Head of Modern Languages and a Housemaster.

More recently was appointed Director General of Misk Schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He has inspected over 30 schools at home and abroad for ISI and has governed a number of schools throughout his career. He speaks fluent French and German with intermediate Arabic and Russian.

He lives in Wootton Bridge and is married with two daughters. Other interests include horse riding, hill walking, sailing, skiing, comparative literature and foreign cinema

Bimal studied Economics at the University of Nottingham and spent two years teaching at Sherborne School before joining KPMG. He has since qualified as an accountant and holds an ACA from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Since qualifying, he has worked for various companies in the consumer space and is currently Finance and Operations Director for a global drinks business. He brings to the Board a blend of education and finance experience and has previously been a member of the governing body of a local primary school.

He lives in North London with his wife and two young boys. He particularly enjoys travelling, cycling and golf in his free time. 

Originally from a village in North Wales, Simon has travelled via Kingswood School in Bath and Durham University, where he studied Biology, then to Jesus College, Cambridge University, before entering the teaching profession at King’s College School, Wimbledon

As Biologist, Head of Rugby and Assistant Housemaster, Simon spent nine years in London before travelling to Newcastle-under-Lyme School in Staffordshire to be Head of the Biology Department and then the Science Faculty. Five years later, having receive a MA from Keele, he headed southwards to Warwick School as Deputy Head for six years, and then to Petersfield, where he has been Headmaster of Churcher’s College since 2004.

Aside from Biology, Simon has always been very involved in sport and outdoor adventurous activities, principally mountain walking and sailing, and has spent a good deal of his time in-between travelling and indulging in DIY.