Meet Christ's Non-staff Governors
Johanna Brotherstone was elected as a parent governor in December 2021; her two children are Christ's students. Jo studied Politics and Social Policy at Newcastle University, and started her career in politics, before moving to journalism. She is a senior news editor at Sky News, having previously worked at BBC News for 20 years. She is a champion for equal representation in the media, and a passionate supporter of apprentices and trainees. Jo has lived in Brentford since 2009 and attends St Paul’s Church where she is a Sunday school leader.
Nicky Browne was appointed a foundation governor in 2023. She has lived in Richmond for over thirty years, attends St Mary Magdalene church and sings in the choir. Nicky has a degree in Philosophy and Theology from the University of Oxford, a PGCE from the University of Cambridge and MBA from Manchester Business School. She has worked chiefly as a self-employed writer having published nine novels for young people. She has a doctorate in Creative Writing and has taught at a number of universities. She currently tutors for Oxford University’s continuing education programme. Her four children attended local schools and she spend some years as a parent governor at a local primary school. She is passionate about the transformative power of education.
Sam Burnett is an employment lawyer who worked for a number of national and international law firms in the City before joining a global legal, regulatory and business information company as an employment law professional support lawyer. She also has a background in accounting and school finance as well as 6 years’ experience in school governance clerking. Sam has been a Christ’s School parent since 2016 and is committed to supporting the school to provide the best possible opportunities for every one of its students, including fostering inclusivity. Sam has lived in Richmond borough for 16 years and attends All Souls Church, St Margarets. She was appointed as a Richmond Team Ministry foundation governor in September 2021.
Penny Cox was appointed as an SDBE foundation governor in June 2021. Penny has lived in Richmond for over 30 years and attends Holy Trinity Church. Penny has an MA in Effective Learning from the Institute of Education. She is a retired primary school headteacher and was honoured to receive an MBE for services to education. Penny is a strong advocate of the state education system and the extra dimension that a school with Christian values can bring to all members of its community. She is committed to working hard to support the school's pursuit of excellence for all its pupils.
Cary Depel has lived in the Putney/Roehampton area since 2007. He has an undergraduate degree in Accounting and Finance, and graduate degrees in US law, UK law, Philosophy, and Comparative Religions. He is an English solicitor and American lawyer by background. He has been a long-standing parishioner of St. Peter’s Ightham, where his children were baptised, and an occasional attendee of All Saints Putney Common. He is a co-founder and director/chairman of a stem cell-derived therapy business and a healthy bread business. He has worked in the City in Financial Services and Mining and has served as the Chairman of The Institute of Risk Management. He has also served as Chairman of the British Olympic Wrestling Association and the Scottish Olympic Wrestling Association. He is an ardent fan of the Church of England segment of our state school system.
Dan Evans is a parent governor, currently with two children in the school and one at Holy Trinity primary. His career has been at the Department for Education in a variety of roles, including early years finance, special educational needs and more recently the school curriculum. He joined Christ's Board of Governors in November 2019, having been a governor at Windham Nursery School for 9 years, most recently as deputy chair, and as chair of the resources committee.
Katy Johnston was appointed a foundation governor in June 2019. Katy has lived in Richmond for over 10 years and attends Holy Trinity Church. She has a degree in Modern Languages from the University of Oxford and an MA in Systematic Theology from King's College London. She worked in publishing and investment banking, before retraining as a secondary school teacher after her daughter started school. Katy is a trustee of the Riverbank Trust, a local charity, and of the West London Deaf Children's Society. She believes in the importance of the best possible educational experience for children of all needs and backgrounds, and is delighted to be on the Governing Board of Christ's School.
Fay Johnstone was appointed a foundation governor in October 2018, representing the Richmond Team Ministry. She has lived in and around Richmond for most of her life, and attended school in the borough. Fay has a BSc(Hons) degree in Psychology from The Open University, and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development. Fay is currently undertaking a senior HR interim career, with projects including Director of People & Services at The Complete Education Services Group, an organisation providing education to neuro-diverse pupils, and Interim People Services Delivery lead at the Nursing & Midwifery Council. Fay has spent over 30 years leading and managing HR functions in both the private and not-for-profit sectors, including in medical royal colleges, social research, social housing, further education, real estate and FM consultancy, travel and defence research. Fay has worshipped and sung in the choir at St Mary Magdalene for over 40 years, and occasionally deputises for the Director of Music. Fay has previously been a foundation governor at a junior/primary school in the borough.
Caroline Pusey has been a Local Authority governor at Christ's since 2017. She has lived in Kew for many years and her children attend local schools, including Christ's. She enjoys supporting her local community and has a strong commitment to ensuring high quality education for all. Professionally she has degrees in International Relations from Birmingham and Aberystwyth and has worked for over 20 years in central government in a large variety of roles, the majority of which have been in the Ministry of Defence. She has worked in a job-share partnership for over 10 years and has, for the last four years, worked for the Department for Education where she leads work associated with the recruitment and retention of teachers.
The Revd Canon Wilma Roest moved to Richmond in 2016 to be the new Team Rector of the Richmond Team Ministry and Vicar of St Mary Magdalene. An aspect of that role is to be governor at Christ’s School, which Wilma greatly enjoys. Wilma has a background in musicology (University of Utrecht) and education (teacher and teacher governor in various state primary school). She was ordained in 1999 and has since served in various Church of England parishes in South London. Wilma is passionate about the ethos of Christ’s School and its connections with the local community. In her free time Wilma enjoys travelling, snorkelling and underwater photography, and the occasional very slow run in Richmond Park.
Peter Sharp entered teaching in 2004 and has taught in maintained and independent schools, including as Director of Teaching & Learning and Deputy Head (Academic). In the summer of 2021 he stepped down from his full-time role in school leadership to pursue his enthusiasm for supporting schools and students as an educational consultant. While living locally he worshipped at St Mary Magdalene where he learnt about Christ’s School and has been a foundation governor since November 2017. He has particular interests in leadership, the professional development of teachers and life-long learning.
Martin Walsh qualified as a chartered accountant 30 years ago. He has spent his senior career in finance and operations roles in media and, most recently, in education. He and his family have lived in the Richmond Borough for over 20 years. He is a trustee of a charity supporting school staff who suffer financial hardship and previously held trustee roles in a large local sports club and a students’ union.
