Board of Governors

Nicholas Mercer, BA (Hons) (Chair)

Nick Mercer graduated from the University of London. Nick has over 35 years’ commercial experience, most recently as a Director of Eurostar International. Nick is a Non-Executive Director of two commercial enterprises and he is also the Chair of the Trustees of a charity Clearlyworld.

Stephen Avery, BA, MBA, FCA

Stephen is a graduate of Stirling and Heriot Watt Universities and also studied at the University of Kansas in the USA.  He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and completed his articles with Price Waterhouse.  Stephen has held senior financial management roles in a number of organisations and in recent years has worked as a consultant and senior financial management lead for a number of universities in the UK.  Stephen has also been a Trustee of a UK Charity and a Director/Governor of a Sixth Form College.

Charles Haywood

Charles Haywood has 40 years experience as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager in the Construction industry. He specialises in risk managing construction projects and has regularly acted as an Expert Witness in resolving disputes.  For 20 years he was a director of a local Surveying Practice before more recently taking on a consultancy role.  He chaired the Sussex Constructing Excellence Club promoting best practice and driving innovation in the sector.

Gnananandan Janakan (known as Jan), MBBS FRCS MSc

Jan graduated from the University of London and is now a Consultant Surgeon specialising in colorectal cancer and major trauma working at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton. In the past he has been the safeguarding governor at a prep school. Jan is also a reserve Royal Air Force Officer working with the Air Cadets. 

Sarah Jelly (Safeguarding Governor)

Sarah Jelly is solicitor specialising in Family Law. She is also an accredited family mediator. She has previously been a Governor at another school and is a past parent, having had a daughter in the Senior School.

Gautam Kakar

Gautam has over 25 years of experience in actuarial, financial modelling and risk management in the financial services sector in the UK and Asia. 

Dermot Keegan

Dermot Keegan has spent over 35 years working in Asset Management in London for both global and specialist firms. Dermot is a past parent.

Dr Charlotte Lemaigre, MA (Hons), DClinPsychol

Charlotte Lemaigre is a Consultant Psychologist with over 10 years specialist experience of working in mental health within the National Health Service (NHS). She also runs her own private practice in London. She is passionate about pastoral care and promoting emotional and psychological wellbeing across the lifespan.

Kate Nash, BEd

After 30 years teaching experience in the independent sector, 10 as Head of Pre Prep at Marlborough House School, Kate Nash has worked as a Subject Advisor for IAPS and as a freelance educational consultant; this includes delivering teacher training to the independent sector globally. Kate is also a Governor at another Prep School and she works as a volunteer inter-generational mediator.

Victoria Parker, BSc, MRICS

Victoria holds a degree in Land Management from Reading University and has been a qualified member of the RICS since 1996. Victoria is a member of the Worshipful Company of Constructors, where she also serves as Almoner to the livery company. She recently completed the Cranfield University School of Management 'Business Growth Programme' and continues to be a member of the BGP Board. 

Both of Victoria's children attended Bede's Senior School.

Marios Pattihis

Marios Pattihis is a solicitor who has over 40 years experience and he specialises in the commercial property sector.

Giles Perrin

Giles Perrin has over 25 years of experience in UK independent, state and international school settings. He is the son of the Senior School’s founding Headmaster Roger Perrin and his family lived at the Senior School from 1978 – 2003. Giles graduated from Edinburgh University with a BA in Religious Studies and Theology and began his teaching career at the Senior School, initially as a teacher and latterly as the Housemaster of Dicker Knights. Following this Giles worked in the state sector in Frome and then as part of a management team, founding a boarding school in India. In 2010 Giles founded Claremont Senior School, where he was based for 13 years.

Kyle Siwek, BA (Hons)

Kyle is a recent politics graduate from the University of York and is currently studying for a MSt in History. He has previously been a governor of two secondary schools and is also a trustee of a Music Education Hub. Kyle also has a keen interest in music, holding a choral scholarship at university.

Philippa Southern MA (Oxon), ACA

Philippa graduated from Oxford University and is a member of the ICAEW.  After a career at Andersen and Deloitte, she spent six years in Argentina and Denmark.  Philippa currently works in special educational needs and is a trustee of another charity.

The Reverend Jeremy Sykes, MA (Hons)

Jeremy Sykes is an Anglican priest and has nearly 30 years’ experience working in a wide range of independent boarding and day schools both prep and senior. He was Chaplain at Giggleswick School and a housemaster, Headmaster of Great Walstead School and more recently Chaplain of Hurstpierpoint College. He is currently Vicar of the parish of Hellingly and Upper Dicker. He is also a foundation governor at a local federation of maintained primary schools.

Alex Targett

Alex is a proud Bede's alumnus who went on to study Economics at the University of Bath. With four years of experience as an independent school consultant, Alex has specialised in using technology to improve school transport systems, with a passion for innovation in education.