The Governing Body
Outstanding boarding for boys and girls aged 13 to 18
Members of the Governing Body, along with short biographies, are listed below.
The Chair of the Governing Body may be contacted via the Clerk to the Governing Body, Charterhouse, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 2DX. E: clerktogoverningbody@charterhouse.org.uk
Members of the Governing Body
- Kwaku Awuku-Asabre
- Durell Barnes
- Mark Bishop (Chair)
- Caroline Brown
- Stephen Browne
- Clare Ferguson
- Helen Goatley
- James Goldsmith
- The Very Revd Dianna Gwilliams
- Dr Nihara Krause
- David Macey
- Jeremy McIlroy
- John Olsen
- Andrew Reid
- David Royds
- Michael Walton
Kwaku Awuku-Asabre
Kwaku Awuku-Asabre BSc, Dip.Law
Kwaku Awuku-Asabre BSc is a Barrister at Matrix Chambers, London. He is an Old Carthusian who studied Economics and Philosophy at LSE. Before pursuing a career in the law, Kwaku worked in London as a fixed income analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Outside court, Kwaku has undertaken disclosure work for the Government Legal Department in relation to both the Grenfell Tower and Cyprus Colonial Litigation disclosure projects. Kwaku is the governor representative on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group of staff, pupils and Old Carthusians which has been formed to review and give recommendations on the School’s new EDI strategy and its effectiveness.
Durell Barnes
Durell Barnes, BA
Durell Barnes is the Head of Governance and Compliance at RSAcademics. He is an Old Carthusian and alumnus of the University of Oxford and is also the Chair of the Independent Schools’ Examination Board. Durell sits on the Nominations and Governance Committee, Edgeborough School Committee and is Chair of the Education Committee.
Mark Bishop (Chair)
Mark Bishop BA, MA, MBA
Mark Bishop was educated at Charterhouse before graduating from St Edmund Hall, Oxford in 1984, He began his teaching career at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford before becoming the Deputy Headmaster at Caterham School. In 1996 he was appointed Headmaster of Trinity School, Croydon, part of the Whitgift Foundation. After 10 years of headship, he became the Chief Executive of Perrett Laver, a global Executive Search company before returning to the world of schools as the High School Principal and Executive Headmaster of YK Pao School, Shanghai, one of China’s leading international schools. Mark has been a Governor of several independent schools and for many years was an Independent Schools’ Inspector in the UK. Mark joined the Governing Body in September 2023 and was elected as Chair from March 2024.
Caroline Brown
Caroline Brown MA, PgDL, LPC
Caroline Brown joined the Governing body of Edgeborough in 2019 and Charterhouse in 2021. She sits on the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and the Edgeborough School Committee, with a particular responsibility for safeguarding. An employment lawyer with substantial experience advising on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law, Caroline spent many years at two City law firms. She has particular expertise in large scale strategic reorganisations, multi-national corporate transactions, executive negotiations and disputes, complex grievances, and discrimination and whistleblowing claims. Her client base spans a number of business sectors including City law firms, financial institutions, charitable foundations, start-ups, and sporting organisations.
Stephen Browne
Stephen Browne, MA, MBA, PGCE, MCSI
A former member of the teaching staff, Stephen spent 20 years in private client and charity investment management, mostly as a director and shareholder of Waverton Investment Management. He left the industry at the end of 2022 to join technology start-up company Devyce as Chief Financial Officer. A Cambridge University graduate, Stephen began his career teaching Latin and French at Repton and subsequently at Charterhouse. Stephen sits on the Education Committee and Investment Sub-Committee. He is Boarding Governor and chair of the Charterhouse Retirement Benefit Scheme.
Clare Ferguson
Clare Ferguson, MEng
After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in Engineering Science, Clare spent many years at NM Rothschild and Credit Suisse in credit risk, banking finance, and sales and marketing, specialising in strategy development and risk management in the precious metals markets. Clare spent nine years as a Trustee of ACS International Schools, serving as Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee, the Senior Independent Director, Boarding Governor, and a member of the People Committee. She is a Trustee of the Hyde Charitable Trust, and a Trustee of Action Medical Research.
Helen Goatley
Helen Goatley, BA
Helen is a solicitor, an equity partner and Chair of Moore Barlow LLP. She read law at Durham university. She has nearly 20 years’ experience as a charity trustee and previously spent six years as a governor at a Godalming primary school. She lives in Godalming with her husband and two adult children and knows the local area and community very well. Helen helped lead a merger of two law firms to create a new top one hundred business and brings expertise and understanding of change management and leadership to her role as Governor. As a result of a long career representing children and adults with acquired brain injury, she also has a working knowledge of safeguarding law and the healthcare and social care sectors. Helen serves as the Safeguarding Governor for Charterhouse.
James Goldsmith
James Goldsmith, BSc, MRICS
James Goldsmith is a Director at Savills UK Limited and Head of Strategic Investment Advisory with over 25 years’ experience advising predominantly international investors in respect of their strategies for UK real estate markets. He is an Old Carthusian and studied at the University of Reading. James sits on the Finance and Business Development Committee and is Chair of the Projects and Planning Committee.
The Very Revd Dianna Gwilliams
Dianna Gwilliams, DL
Dianna Gwilliams came to the UK in 1978 having just completed her BA in Chemistry and BA in Physics. She worked as a Sound Engineer until she was ordained in 1992. She has been involved in education and youth work for almost 40 years, serving as a governor in maintained and independent schools, School Chaplain, Youth Minister and Trustee and Chair of the Board of a Multi-Academy Trust. She has a MA in Youth Ministry and Theological Education from King’s College, London. She was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey in 2021 and is now Dean Emeritus of Guildford. Dianna is the Deputy Safeguarding Governor for Charterhouse and sits on the Education Committee.
Dr Nihara Krause
Nihara Krause, MBE, BSc, MSc, PsychD, C.Psychol,C.Sci, AFBPsS
Nihara Krause is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, lecturer, speaker, mental health tech creator and founder and CEO of stem4, teenage mental health charity. Nihara has been instrumental in contributing to the development of whole school and university models of mental health; has her own wellbeing programme; is the clinical creator of four mental health apps and a mental health literacy programme for secondary schools and colleges. She is involved in contributing to mental health policy and practice. Nihara is often an expert contributor on TV, radio and the media. She sits on the Education Committee.
David Macey
David Macey, FCA
David is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and was educated at Sandroyd School and Charterhouse. His professional career spanned 40 years with Saffery LLP advising charities, financial services entities and property related businesses. He served on the Management Board of the partnership and as Chairman of the firm and has held a number of professional trustee and executor positions. He continues to act as a professional consultant. David Chairs the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and is a member of the Investment Sub-Committee. He is a trustee of the Carthusian Bursary Trust and the Observer on behalf of the Governing Body of the School for the London Charterhouse charitable body. His non business interests include the Chairmanship of the British International Harmsworth Trophy, the motorboat equivalent of the Americas Cup, a committee member of the Old Carthusian Yacht Club and is past Chairman of the British Powerboat Racing Club. He lives in Poole in Dorset.
Jeremy McIlroy
Jeremy McIlroy FCA, ATII
Jeremy is a graduate of Exeter University, and a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser. He spent his entire career with Ernst & Young before retiring from professional practice after twenty years as a partner. He has undertaken a number of charitable and educational roles. He recently stepped down from the Council of Royal Holloway University after ten years including a number of years chairing the Finance Committee. He was a governor of Edgeborough School and chaired the Board of Governors since 2017, prior to the successful conclusion of the merger of Edgeborough into the Charterhouse family of schools. Jeremy sits on the Finance and Business Development Committee and chairs the Edgeborough School Committee.
John Olsen
John Olsen, BA
John Olsen is an Old Carthusian and a graduate of Durham University. He has spent his career in corporate reputation management consultancy and now acts as an independent adviser, with a particular focus on the education sector. He served as a Governor of Halstead School for fifteen years, including ten as Chair. He has a strong interest in young people’s mental health and wellbeing, and acts as a consultant to the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, a mental health charity. John is vice chair of the Governing Body and chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee. He additionally sits on the Edgeborough School and Finance and Business Development Committees as well as being a Director of Charterhouse International Ltd.
Andrew Reid
Andrew Reid, MA, MBA, FCA
Andrew Reid has recently retired as the Director of Finance of the University of Cambridge. Prior to joining the University he was with Cable & Wireless as Director of Finance, Global Businesses. His earlier career was with KPMG, before working with Jardine Matheson in Hong Kong. He is a chartered accountant and holds an MA in mathematics from University College, Oxford. Andrew serves on the Finance and Business Development Committee and the Investment Sub-Committee.
David Royds
David Royds, BSc
David Royds is a Director at Novatia Financial and Britannicus Stone. He is a graduate of the University of Exeter and is an Old Carthusian. David sits on the Project and Planning Committee and Investment Sub-Committee and is Chair of the Finance and Business Development Committee. David also sits on Charterhouse Enterprises Ltd and Charterhouse School Design and Build Ltd.
Michael Walton
Michael Walton, MA, MBA, FRICS
Michael Walton is an Old Malvernian and a graduate of Cambridge University and a postgraduate of City University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. He has spent his career in real estate investment management and has for the last 18 years been Chief Executive of his own business that advises Governments and Institutions on real estate investment throughout Western Europe. He served as a Governor of Edgeborough School for five years, including three as Chair of the Strategy Development Committee. He attends the School's Health and Safety Committee meetings on behalf of the Governing Body and sits on the Committees for Audit, Risk and Compliance, Projects and Planning and Edgeborough School.
