School Governors
Meet the Governors; for parents wishing to contact either Geraint Davies or Caryn Musker, please do so in writing via the School Office.
Chairs
Mr Geraint Davies BSc FCA, is Chair of Governors and is a a member of both the Finance and the Buildings Grounds and Infrastructure Committees. He is an old Edwardian, and graduated from Bristol University where he read Economics and Accounting. He has worked in senior positions in the 'Big 4' accounting firms in the UK, Switzerland, the Channel Islands and Malta, including being Senior Partner at EY Southampton, and has recently retired to pursue a portfolio career. He is married with 3 daughters, two of whom attended KES, and two of whom attended KES Prep (formerly known as Stroud). In his spare time, he enjoys skiing, cycling, travel and promoting all aspects of Southampton, his home city, and where he was Chair of Governors at City College from 2017 to 2023.
Mrs Caryn Musker, Chartered MCIPD is Chair of the KES Prep committee. A Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, her career spans over 40 years in HR and executive recruitment. Previous trustee roles include children's charity Brainwave and chairing the Solent committee of national youth charity Fairbridge. She is married with a son, who attended KES, and a daughter.
Governors
Mr Mark Chaloner, MA (Cantab), Barrister-at-Law is a member of the Finance committee. He is a family law barrister and was previously an elected member of Southampton City Council representing the Shirley Ward in Southampton and was additionally a Finance Cabinet Member.
Mr Tony Connell, BSc is a member of both the Finance and Buildings, Grounds and Sports Committees. He attended the University of Warwick studying Computing and Business and is also an Old Edwardian having attended the school between 1988 and 1993. A Chief Product Officer at M:QUBE a new digital mortgage platform, Tony has extensive experience in delivering consumer and business-focused products and services, especially those leveraging technology, data, analytics and digital approaches. Prior to his current role he held senior leadership roles at Visa and Experian in addition to advisory roles with organisations like Royal Mail and also a range of start up businesses. Outside of work Tony is a trustee of a small local charity providing sport and leisure facilities to a rural community and has a passion for sports especially football.
Mr Geraint Davies BSc FCA is a member of both the Finance and the Buildings Grounds and Sports Committees. He is an old Edwardian, and graduated from Bristol University where he read Economics and Accounting. He has worked in senior positions in the 'Big 4' accounting firms in the UK, Switzerland, the Channel Islands and Malta, including being Senior Partner at EY Southampton, and has recently retired to pursue a portfolio career. He is married with 3 daughters, two of whom attended KES, and two of whom attended KES Prep. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing, cycling, travel and promoting all aspects of Southampton, his home city, and where he was Chair of Governors at City College from 2017 to 2023.
Mr Ricky Dhanda is a member of the Education and Welfare committee. He was a former pupil at KES and a current Superintendent at Dorset Police. Throughout the course of two decades in policing Ricky has specialised in several fields, including; hostage and crisis negotiation, post-incident (crisis) management, Counter-Terrorism, Intelligence Management and external stakeholder liaison.
Reverend Jon Finch is the leader at Saint Mary’s Church, Southampton and is an ex-officio governor of the School. Jon has been involved with Church leadership for 10 years and was previously a professional musician. He is married to Hannah.
Mr Dan Geddes is a member of the Finance committee. He is a Partner in the Southampton office of Blake Morgan LLP, a full service national law firm. Dan qualified as a solicitor in 2003 and specialises in commercial litigation. Dan grew up near Romsey and, after obtaining a law degree at the University of Manchester and working in Bournemouth and London, returned to Romsey where he now lives with his wife and two children, both of whom attended KES Prep and now attend KES. Outside of work, Dan devotes most of his time to sport, whether that is supporting his two sporty children, watching sport on TV or trying to keep fit. He is also an enthusiastic but not always successful DIYer.
Mr Julian Gray is Chair of the Finance Committee and is Senior Partner at PWC, Southampton. He has worked with a wide range of businesses and his experience spans listed, private equity and owner managed businesses. He has a wealth of experience in the retail & leisure, defence and technology sectors. Julian was a pupil at both KES Prep and King Edwards and graduated in economics at Exeter University. He is married with three children, two of whom attend King Edward’s.
Mr Alun Jones is Chair of the Education and Welfare committee. A former Principal of Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester and St Gabriel’s, Newbury, Alun retired in 2020 after 20 years of Headship. As a leader, musician and educationalist, Alun has enjoyed undertaking National and International facing roles which included a term as Chair of Inspections (GSA) and Trustee to the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate (ISI); Alun was elected President of the Girls Schools’ Association (GSA) in 2015-16. Alun has served as a Governor and Trustee on a number of Independent and Maintained School Boards and Chaired the Heads Appointment Panel for a West Berkshire School. Alun is delighted to serve as a Governor to King Edward VI School, Southampton, from September 2020. During a portfolio career as a musician, Alun began his career in education as Director of Vocal Studies at The Cathedral School, Llandaff, Cardiff, and the United World College of the Atlantic. Following positions as a Music Master & Choirmaster, Director of Studies and Deputy Headmaster, Alun was appointed Principal at St Gabriel’s, Newbury, Berkshire, in 2001 where he remained for 15 years before being asked to lead Chetham’s, the world renowned, and UKs foremost, specialist school of music attracting talented young musicians from all over the world. Alun now looks forward to a period of consultancy for schools. He has been appointed Director of Foundation and International Education Development for a major girls’ boarding school in the UK, a role he will enjoy whilst supporting school leaders as a consultant and inspector.
Miss Penelope Kirk B.Ed, Cert.Ed is a member of the Education and Welfare and KES Prep Committees. She is also the Compliance and Sustainability Governor on the Board. She recently retired as Headmistress of Prince’s Mead School and has been involved in education for the past thirty-eight years, twenty-five of these as a Head. She is a former Vice Chairman of IAPS and former IAPS Representative on the Board of Directors at ISI. Penelope is a Team Inspector with the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate (ISI) with whom she has worked since 2000, latterly as an Overseas Team Inspector. She is at present the Education Advisor to The Banda School, Nairobi. She is a former Governor of Chafyn Grove School, Salisbury and Sunninghill Prep School, Dorchester. She now works as an Independent Education Consultant and Mentor, both in the UK and overseas. She is an avid traveller and photographer and enjoys combining her love of travel with her passion for education. She lives in Winchester and can often be found indulging her passion for fly fishing on the banks of the River Itchen and River Test.
Mr Adam Knibb, BSc (Hons), BArch, ARB, RIBA is a member of the Buildings, Grounds and Sports committee. Adam undertook his education at the Welsh School of Architecture (Cardiff) before completing his RIBA Part 3 qualification at Oxford Brookes University. Adam worked at a number of high profile and multi-disciplined companies before setting up his own practice in 2011 (Adam Knibb Architects). The practice specialises in one-off modern contemporary private residential houses, developer scheme and small commercial projects working across the South of England and in France / Switzerland. During this time the studio has received numerous Awards for their design and projects with Adam selected on the shortlist for Young Architect of the Year. Along with being a Director, he is also the current Vice-chair of the Hampshire RIBA branch. Besides this Adam is a keen sportsman. Passions are in rugby having played at University level, along with an extensive sailing CV notably being included the youth GB squad for Laser dinghies and a key member of the senior GB yacht Team, winning the Commodores Cup in 2008. He is married and has two daughters currently at KES Prep.
Dr Jane E Mitchell, MA (Cantab) MBBS, DRCOG, DCH. is a member of the Education and Welfare Committee. She has worked as a GP in Alresford, Mid-Hampshire since 1990. Originally from London, Jane is a graduate of Cambridge University (Girton) and Guy’s Hospital Medical School (now part of King’s College London). Jane’s interests in General Practice include practical procedures, dermatology and survival/resilience strategies. Jane is married to John, who is a solicitor, and they have three children all of whom attended KES. Away from work Jane enjoys family holidays, tennis, gardening, DIY, The Archers and reading, especially science journals and books.
Mrs Harriet Nicholson, MA (Oxon), MSc is a member of the KES Prep committee. An Old Edwardian herself, Harriet left King Edwards in 2005 to study History at Oxford University followed by Management at Southampton University. A senior communications planner, Harriet has crafted and delivered marketing strategies and activations for multiple blue organisations within UK, EMEA and emerging markets. She is currently a strategic lead at a global integrated marketing agency, working with brands such as Activision, B&Q and Bacardi. Harriet is married with two pre-school aged children.
Councillor Neville Penman is an elected member of Hampshire County Council representing Totton North and Netley Marsh. As part of his role as Councillor, he is Chair of the Children and Young People Select Committee.
Mr Ian Rudland is Vice-Chair of Governors, Chair of the Buildings, Grounds and Sports Committee and the Health and Safety Governor. He joined Vail Williams, chartered surveyors, in 1979 working throughout the business and was elected as CEO in 1999. Ian led the business through significant growth before retiring from the role in 2015. Ian went on to found RDL Consulting in 2016 which is a business consultancy company specialising in the delivery of strategic and management real estate services to large corporate occupier organisations. Ian’s professional interests and studies include the impact of emotional intelligence within modern business. Within this field he is a published author and visiting lecturer at Reading University. He is also the founder of a learning and development programme for senior real estate executives and business managers. The programme aims to develop and encourage breakthrough ideas, strategic thinking and entrepreneurial behaviour within the corporate real estate function. Outside work Ian is a keen rugby supporter and sailor.
Mr Toby Steele, FCA is a member of the Finance Committee and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales. Starting his career in accountancy practice in Milton Keynes, Toby relocated to Hampshire in 2005 as Finance Director for a global pilot training organisation headquartered in Southampton. He subsequently joined Southampton Football Club in a similar role, becoming Managing Director of Saints in 2017. Toby is married with two children, one of whom attends King Edward's and the other attends KES Prep. His outside interests focus on a variety of sports and a love of music.
Miss Virginia Stuart-Taylor MA is a member of the Education and Welfare Committee. She is an alumna of KES Prep School and King Edwards, spanning her whole education from ages 3-18. She works in the UK Government, leading teams focused on UK-EU relations, following previous roles in trade policy, foreign policy, international negotiations and diplomatic engagement. Prior to that, she worked in business management and strategy roles in the Telecoms industry at Telefónica/O2. She's an active volunteer, mentoring and supporting young people, and she was previously a Trustee of a youth development charity. Her passions include foreign languages and travel, which she has cultivated while living in 6 other countries across Europe, South America and Asia, and visiting over 65 countries. She is also an award-winning travel writer.
Mrs Wendy Swinn BDS. LDS.RCS. is a member of the KES Prep Committee. Having qualified initially as a Dental Therapist, Wendy worked in the Community Dental Service where she became Co-ordinator for Dental Health Education. She then trained and graduated from the University of Wales as a Dental Surgeon in 1987. Since then Wendy has worked in hospital services, NHS Practice, industry and is currently working as a partner in Private Practice. Wendy enjoys swimming, walking, cycling and music. She is married with two adult children, both of whom have attended KES Prep and King Edwards.
Dr Alan L Thomas, MA, PhD (Cantab), CBiol, MRSB. is a member of the Education & Welfare Committee. He was born in Newport in South Wales and attended St Julian’s High School. He read Natural Sciences at Cambridge where he later also did a PhD. He completed several years of postdoctoral research in Fetal and Neonatal physiology before he moved to the University of Southampton in 1977 to work as a Biochemist. At Southampton he has continued his research and also taught on both the Sciences and Medical courses. At various times he has been Assistant Dean of Sciences, Assistant Dean of Medicine and has been responsible for admissions for science and medicine. Alan enjoys travelling and reading.
To contact the Chair of Governors, please email: chair@kes.hants.sch.uk
