Our Governing Board

• Jolie Collett
  Elected Co-Chair of the Governing Body - Local Authority Governor
  Jolie Collett

  Jolie and her family have lived in the Hammersmith and Fulham Borough for over 10 years. She has a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Law (Hons) from the University of Western Australia. She is a qualified solicitor having practiced law for over 20 years in the UK and most recently in-house for a global investment bank. Through her own children she has developed an interest in education and in particular good governance in education. She is ambitious for all children and young people to have the support and direction they need to achieve the very best and she is keen to use her own experience and skills to support this endeavour.

• Louise Jones
  Elected Co-Chair of the Governing Body - Co-opted Governor
  Louise Jones

  Having worked in the fashion industry for over ten years, Louise changed career five years ago and set up two businesses focussing on early years and primary development.    One business is Hartbeeps, a multi-sensory music business for babies from newborn up to preschool delivering classes, parties and events in West London and the other is Bouncers which delivers multi sports classes and camps both in and out of schools for children aged 18 months to 8 years.    Louise brings an entrepreneurial and creative approach to the board of governors.    

  Louise is local to the area and has two children at primary school in Hammersmith and Fulham.    She is committed to helping the local community and pleased to be able to bring her experience to the Thames Federation.

   

• Andrew Greetham
  Vice Chair of Governing Body - Co-opted Governor
  Andrew Greetham

  Andy has worked for many years as a Creative Director at Universal Music before becoming a partner in a design studio, based in Battersea. He has three daughters all of whom attended local primaries before moving on to various schools in the borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.

  
  

  Andy has have been Chair of Resources at the Federation of Christ Church & Holy Trinity Primary Schools, Chelsea since its creation in 2018, previously working closely with the leadership team and various stakeholders to make the Federation a reality. Before this Andy was Chair of Resources at Christ Church both as a co-opted and parent governor since 2011. Andy currently helps with the PTA at Lady Margaret School, Parsons Green on fundraising and marketing where his youngest daughter attends.

  
  

  Andy looks to get people engaged and enthused, he is a team player but does look to take a lead in supporting and critically engaging with the leadership and stakeholders at Thames Federation.

• Mehkla Barua
  Co-opted Governor
  Mehkla Barua

  Mekhla was born in India and moved to London at the age of 10 years old, growing up in Putney and studying in Hammersmith.  Mekhla graduated from Warwick with a BSc in Psychology and Philosophy and followed that by completing her PGCSE at Bristol University.

  Mekhla worked at St Paul's Girls' School for 12 years and is currently  Deputy Head Pastoral and Head of Mathematics at Fulham School. Teaching for over 15 years, Mekhla is passionate about enabling young people with options and helping them make the right choices for them.

  Now  living and working in Hammersmith, Mekhla is an advocate for the community she grew up in. She has previously been a governor at The Old Vicarage School, where she chaired the Education Committee.

  Mekhla has joined the Thames Federation as the link Governor of Phonics so she can give back to the community.  Recently, becoming a new mother to a daughter, Mekhla wants her to understand what a vibrant and exciting community she is part of and have the social awareness of everything that is on offer.

   

• Alastair Close
  Co-opted Governor
  Alastair Close

  Alastair is a Town Planning Consultancy Director and has over 20 years of experience working in both private and public sector roles.

  Originally from Northern Ireland, via Scotland, he is now firmly settled in West London. Alastair has helped deliver significant regeneration and investment throughout the UK, often working with and managing multiple stakeholder interests. He is passionate about planning and the positive ways it can change people’s lives and the places we live and is delighted to be able to share his skills and experience with the Thames Federation to help create and foster a healthy, sustainable, and inclusive environment for pupils and staff.

  Alastair’s practical experience means he is well placed to provide advice regarding estate management and is the Link governor for Sustainability and Climate Change.

• Mandy Halsey
  Parent Governor
  Mandy Halsey

  Mandy has lived in the borough for the past two decades and has two children, both of whom currently attend Melcombe Primary School and have attended Federation Nurseries.  

  Mandy brings 23 years of experience within Human Resources (Banking and Commodities) to the Thames Federation. She will utilise her knowledge and experience to ensure that safeguarding is optimised and that mental health and wellbeing remains high on the agenda at the Federation.

  Safeguarding is an integral part of ensuring that everyone feels safe within the learning environment at all times. Overseeing and supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all of those in the school community is vital to positively affecting the experience of each child at the schools in the Federation, as well as that of the staff members that teach and support them.

• George Hudson
  Associate Governor
  George Hudson

  George has lived in the borough for over a decade and has three children who have all attended St Stephen's Primary School in Shepherd's Bush.  

  George brings 25 years' experience in the communications and PR industry to Thames Federation and will combine that with his first-hand experience and learnings being a parent at another local school. Whether it is communicating with parents, pupils, staff, governors or the media the ability to articulate and convey the progress and positive change that is under way at Melcombe, James Lee and Bayonne is crucially important to everyone.

  George is an energised and creative individual passionate about giving all children the opportunity to learn in a fun and dynamic environment. His corporate background also allows him to bring a new perspective to the governance and oversight responsibilities that are so important to the governing board.

• Erin Neil
  Co-opted Governor
  Erin Neil

  Erin is originally from Nova Scotia, Canada and is delighted to call Hammersmith home, having lived here for over five years. Before becoming a qualified teacher, Erin read political science and philosophy at university and had the pleasure of spending time travelling and living in both London and Seoul, Korea, where she taught English as a second language. After teaching primary and secondary students in Seoul, she discovered a joy for teaching and education.

  Erin completed a Bachelor of Education degree in the United States, specialising in secondary social studies. She taught for a further combined ten years in both Alberta, Canada and here in London, where she was head of department at a small school, teaching GCSE and A-level History. Erin is now enjoying working as Short Courses Director at an independent boarding school here in London, organising revision courses and academic summer programmes.

• Waffa Osman
  Parent Governor
  Waffa Osman

  Waffa is    a   science   lecturer   and   a   mother   of   three   children aged   six,   five   and   three,   all   of   whom   attend   Thames Federation   schools.        Her  son has been a full-time pupil at Bayonne Nursery since April last year.    Waffa's experience of Bayonne   Nursery   has   been   very   positive   and    she has enjoyed   the support she    has received   from   all   the   nursery staff and the open communication  has had  with them.

  Waffa's    main   intention   in   the   role   of   parent   governor, is   to further   strengthen   the   relationship   between   parents   and nursery/school   staff.   She hopes to do this by putting forward the views   and   feedback   of   parents; so that  they, together   with   the staff, are   vital   in   the   development   and   well-being   of   our children.

• Dawn Paterson
  Staff Governor
  Dawn Paterson

  Dawn graduated from Aberdeen University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Education degree and then taught for a year in Scotland before moving abroad to Dubai in 2007. She then spent 12 years overseas teaching in British schools, across all year groups within the Key Stages, as well as undertaking the roles of Phase Leader, mentor, being part of the Performance Management Team and Maths Curriculum Leader.

  Dawn returned to the UK in July 2019 and spent some time gaining experience of London schools by doing supply work, including at Melcombe, before joining as a permanent member of staff in September 2020.

  In her role as a class teacher, Dawn has always enjoyed the extra-curricular aspect of school life and has been responsible for several whole school performances as well as organising and leading several residential trips, including ski trips abroad. She is passionate about making sure children have the best school experience possible, both inside and outside of the classroom, and is excited to take on the role of Staff Governor for the Thames Federation.

• Dylan Rood
  Co-opted Governor
  Dylan Rood

  Dylan has worked in education for more than 20 years. He has a PhD in Geological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London. As such, he has extensive experience in curriculum development, particularly in the Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) disciplines. Dylan is especially passionate about climate change and environmental sustainability.

  Dylan is a Co-opted Governor at the Thames Federation, including as a member of the Curriculum Committee in which he has a link role for Maths.     As a resident of Hammersmith and Fulham and parent of two students at Melcombe Primary School he has a vested interest in the future of the Thames Federation and is committed to contributing to the success of the Federation and its students.