About Us

Ms Siobhan Denning (Chair)

Siobhan Denning was educated in London and North Wales, before reading Music at the University of Sussex. She worked for 40 years in secondary state education, the last 27 of which were in senior leadership and Headship. After “retiring” in 2019, she retrained as a Leadership and Executive Coach and now works with Headteachers and leadership teams, with an special interest in promoting women into leadership.

She founded a Steyning-based choir, the Chanctonbury Chorus, in 1981 and has conducted it ever since, with occasional performances in the College Chapel.

MA, NPQH
Nominated Safeguarding Governor
Former Head Teacher; Leadership and Executive Coach

Mrs Karine Ahton

Karine Ahton has over 20 years of experience as a solicitor, specialising in corporate and commercial law. She has held senior roles in multinational companies, advising them on strategic legal matters across the telecom, media, and sports sectors. Karine is the co-founder of 8 Lions Entertainment, a media start-up focused on digital content distribution, and co-owns a vineyard in the South of France. She joined the Lancing College Board of Governors in 2024.

LLB, Dip Law, LLM (UCL)
Solicitor & Co-Founder of 8 Lions Entertainment

Rt Hon the Lord Barker of Battle

Gregory Barker (Olds 1982–1984) served as Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change in the Coalition Government led by David Cameron and as Member of Parliament for Bexhill & Battle from 2001 to 2015. Today he is chairman of the EVN Group www.theevnetwork.com the UK’s leading developer and operator of super-fast electric vehicle charging hubs.

PC, BA
Former Minister of State; Chairman of the EVN Group, OL

Dr Javier Calvar

Javier has over 30 years of experience in insights and strategy, having held senior leadership roles at Ipsos in Hong Kong, the UK, and China. Since November 2021, he has led the Market Strategy and Innovation practices in Hong Kong. Before this, Javier oversaw Ipsos UK’s largest commercial account as Senior Director and, prior to that, he was the Managing Director of one of Ipsos’ Business Units in China, based in Shanghai.

A keen and respected observer of China, Javier has presented at numerous fora and guest lectured at top business schools. Javier is a Chartered Management Consultant with the UK’s CMI and a Certified Member of the UK’s MRS. He holds a PhD from Middlesex University (UK) and is an alumnus of Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (US).

A dual Spanish and British citizen, Javier is married and the proud father of two daughters, whom he loves spending time with. He is also a keen runner and swimmer.

 MA, PhD, MCMI ChMC
 Biography to follow

Mrs Pippa Cleeve

A former and current Lancing parent of two daughters, Pippa spent the early part of her career working in arts administration as an event organiser for the charity Music for Youth, including the Schools’ Prom at the Royal Albert Hall. After a decade raising her four children, she has applied her planning and problem-solving skills as the Events Co-ordinator for Chanctonbury Church. She has recently helped set up a Repair Café in Ashington.

She has a BA in History of Art from the University of London and a BA (Hons) in Modern Language from the Open University.

She lives in Billingshurst with her husband, children, and two dogs.

BA, BA (Hons), Cert Mgmt (Open)
A former and current Lancing parent of two daughters

Mr Robert Crawford Clarke

Robert was born in Shrewsbury, and attended Shrewsbury School.

He went on to study for a BSc in Agriculture at Edinburgh University (1987) and trained as a Land Agent in Perth from 1988–1990. He subsequently worked as a Land Agent in Devon from 1991–1995, qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor in 1991.

Robert and his family moved to Henfield in 1995; his wife took a partnership at Henfield Medical Centre where she is now lead partner.

Robert worked in garden design and tree surgery until 1999 and then returned to land agency in 2000 with Henry Smith Chartered Surveyors in Horsham, where he was made a partner in 2002. The firm was merged with Henry Adams in 2007 and Robert is joint owner of the franchise business based in the Horsham and Haywards Heath offices.

BSc Chartered Surveyor

Professor Michael Farthing

Michael Farthing is Honorary Professor at UCL Medical School, University College London. He was formerly Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex until 2016, Principal of St George’s, University of London, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Glasgow and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Bart’s and the London. He graduated from the University College Hospital Medical School and undertook training posts in Cambridge, London and Boston, USA.

He was editor of Gut from 1996–2002 and is an editorial board member of several international gastroenterology journals. He has served as President of the British Society of Gastroenterology and President of United European Gastroenterology. He has taken an active interest in research and publication integrity and in misconduct in biomedical research. He was founding chairman of COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) between 1998 and 2003. He was Vice Chair and a member of the Board of the UK Research Integrity Office. He has served as a member of the governing board of the UK medical regulator, The General Medical Council. He currently Chairs the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund and The West Pier Trust (Brighton).

                                                     MD, DSc(Med), FRCP, FMedSci
                                                     Honorary Professor at UCL Medical School; Chair of the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund

Mr Tim Hancock

Tim is a former partner of a global investment bank, and is now a non-executive director of three companies. He is an OL and one of his sons attended the College.

Tim holds an MA in Modern History from the University of Oxford. He became a Governor in 2016 and chairs the Finance & General Purposes Committee.

MA
Chairman of Finance & General Purposes Committee, OL

Mr Justin Higgo

Justin joined the Governing Body in 2018. He is a commercial chancery barrister in London chambers and specializes in commercial fraud and business disputes. He studied classics at Oxford University, and law at City University. He is an OL, and a current parent.

MA (Oxon), Dip. Law
Barrister, current parent, OL

Mr Jason Hunter

Jason joined the Governing Body in 2024. He is an experienced mediator helping people and organisations resolve their disputes (mostly about property).

He is a coach and mentor, helping clients (mainly lawyers) maximise their performance. As a solicitor, for over 30 years Jason helped clients avoid or resolve disputes about property.

Jason splits his time between Lancing and SW London.

LLB
Mediator, coach/mentor, solicitor (non-practising)

Ms Yasmin Mangalji

Yasmin is a solicitor with over 20 years experience specialising in Technology and Commercial law. She has held C-Suite roles in high growth global technology companies working with Private Equity investors to protect and enhance shareholder value.

Yasmin has 2 daughters and lives in South West London, she joined the Lancing College Board of Governors in 2024.

LLB, Dip Law
Solicitor

Dr John Scott

John Scott is an independent board advisor for several organisations, having retired from the Zurich Insurance Group in 2025. He joined Zurich in 2001 and was Chief Risk Officer for Zurich’s Global Corporate and Commercial Insurance businesses from 2009 to 2017, before leading the Group’s engagement on sustainability risk, both internally and externally as Head of Sustainability Risk from 2018 to 2024.

Educated at Oxford, Aberystwyth and Cranfield Universities, John served in senior executive roles in the oil and gas and chemicals industries, but over the last two decades has increasingly focused on global risks, in particular climate change. John is on the WEF (World Economic Forum) Advisory Board for the Energy Transition Initiative and the IEA (International Energy Agency) Finance Institution Advisory Board, fostering a dialogue between the IEA and the finance community on clean energy transitions. He was also on the Advisory Board to the WEF Global Risks Report from 2005 to 2024

BA (Oxon), PhD, MBA, OL

                                               Independent Board Advisor

Ms Amanda Meyrick

Amanda has over 27 years of PR consultancy experience encompassing strategic planning and brand guardianship having worked with clients such as Aldi, Cathay Pacific, Unilever, Hovis, Diageo and many more. Amanda is also a member of the PRCA (Public Relations & Communications Association) Council and a regular judge of industry awards. Amanda has been a Governor at Dorset House Prep School for many years as their the Estates and Finance Governor and joins the Lancing College Governing Body following the merger of Dorset House Prep School and the Lancing College family of schools.

MA

Mr David Poole

David Poole has worked for major UK and global banks, including NM Rothschild and Citi where he led the UK Private Bank.
He is a senior adviser to a UK corporate finance house and law firm. He advises international families and is on the Development Board of Kent County Cricket Club. He is or has been a trustee of individual, educational and musical trusts.

He is a graduate in English with Theology from Bristol University and is a previous Lancing College parent.
David enjoys music and sport and is a keen cyclist and dog walker and is married with two children.
Foremost, he is an admirer of the first-class, pastoral education Lancing delivers as one of the UK’s greatest public schools.

BA (Hons)

Mr James Abdool

James joined in 2026 having previously served as a Chair of a local prep school and Trustee of a Surrey MAT.

James joined the family business having graduated in 1994, driving it into an international market leader before delivering a trade sale in 2007.

Since then he has worked for Boards and investors to build technology, creative and media companies, and currently manages engagements for his boutique consultancy balanced with charity and non-executive roles.

BA

Mrs Carla Bradshaw MBE

Carla Bradshaw, MBE, BHa, FISBL, SRMA is a graduate of the Institute of Hospitality Management, The Hague.

Following a career in international hotels, she transitioned into Investment Banking where she was responsible for UK and European IPO and Corporate marketing globally.

After a career break to look after her young family she became a School Business Professional. She currently is the CFOO for a Single Academy Trust and works for the Department for Education with schools requiring or requesting support.

She is chair of a federation of two primary schools, a trustee for the Diocesan Board of Education for Portsmouth and Winchester and chair of Ed-WISE, a charitable community benefit society that supports communities to improve life chances for young people on the Isle of Wight.

BHa, FISBL, SRMA

Mr Abbas Kazmi

Abbas joined the Governing Body in 2026 and is a multi-award-winning serial entrepreneur, investor and advisor to governments, recognised by the likes of Forbes 30 Under 30, Maserati 100 etc. Ex-BlackRock.

Abbas has co-founded the Oxford Accelerator, SABAH.fund, Collegiate Capital, BlackWood Ventures, Pioneering Education, Playback Sports AI, Horizon, and Capital Calls, amongst several other ventures.

He has been appointed as a United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Fellow, a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, an Entrepreneurship Expert and Tutor at Oxford’s Saïd Business School and Investor-in-Residence at London Business School.

He was recognised and selected by the UAE’s Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister, Sheikh Mansour, as an Arab Youth Pioneer. An academic scholar at Westminster School, Oxford University and Harvard Graduate School of Education, Abbas is also VC Fellow at LBS’ Newton Venture Program. He is                                                                          Chairman of The Oxford Guild and serves as Trustee and Treasurer of Jamal Edwards Delve and on the RISE Board at The King’s Trust.

                                                     FRSA, MA (Oxon), MBA
                                                     Entrepreneur, investor and advisor to governments

Mrs Marie Williams

Marie Williams is an Independent Safeguarding Adviser appointed by the Chair in 2024 in a voluntary capacity to support the work of the Governing Body. Marie is the founder of TheSafeguardingCop and has over 25 years’ experience in safeguarding, spanning healthcare, policing, social care and the corporate sector. She trained and worked as a Registered General Nurse, served as a Police Officer specialising in safeguarding, public protection and counter-terrorism, led safeguarding services within Adult Social Care, and subsequently held roles as Head of Safeguarding and Safeguarding Risk Consultant at Zurich Insurance UK. Marie now advises organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors on safeguarding, governance, risk management and multi-agency working, bringing extensive expertise in safeguarding assurance, organisational governance and the protection of vulnerable people.

BSc (Hons), RGN
Chair’s Appointed Associate Member

Mrs Hilary Dugdale

Hilary has been at Lancing for many years in many roles including Housemistress and Senior Deputy Head. She now holds the position of Director of Admissions. Hilary’s experience is invaluable to the College, but it is her previous governor role at Dorset House Preparatory School that was crucial to her appointment as an Associate Member. Dorset House Preparatory School joined Lancing in September 2025. Hilary has been instrumental in supporting the governing body during the merger to gain a clear understanding of the unique and wonderful aspects of Dorset House School to be championed and celebrated as we have transitioned to a unified family of schools.

MA (Cantab)
Chair’s Appointed Associate Member