Trustees
Martyn Jones
Chair of Trustees
Martyn is a Part 1 Chartered Director and a Full Member of the Institute of Directors. He currently works as an independent Chair, Non-Executive Director, Board Adviser and Mentor with a number of companies. His background is in very large organisations but since 2010 he has worked exclusively with smaller businesses, charities, professional bodies and educational establishments. His specialisms are in Leadership, Governance and Change Management and he is also currently Chair of Governors at a Primary School. He is trying to use his skills and professional experience to help the Sea View Trust and its constituent schools and college become as good as they can be.
Dave Wallbank
Trustee and Chair of FARR
Dave is a Chartered Civil Engineer by profession, a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and is currently the Managing Director of a multi-disciplinary Civil and Structural Engineering Consultancy. Following his graduation from the University of Leeds in 1988, he has over 30 years’ experience as a project manager and team leader for a wide range of projects both in the UK and overseas. He has greatly enjoyed his time as a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Ambassador and is now wholeheartedly committed to his involvement with the Sea View Trust. He supports all the academies and the college as they seek to provide the best possible opportunities for our pupils and students.
Emma Taylor
Trustee and Chair of CQ&S
Emma studied Law at Lancaster University before becoming a solicitor in the Rossendale Valley specialising in civil litigation. After starting her family, she completed her teaching qualifications and became a law teacher. She is currently Head of the A’ level Law Programme at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School. As a parent to a child with autism who attends our Tor View School, she understands the challenges faced by those caring for children with special educational needs. Emma is committed to tackling food poverty, some of her outreach volunteer work involves providing food and clothes to the homeless in Manchester. She also runs a food bank called the Rossendale Food Box Scheme supporting lots of local families. Emma has previously served as a Parent Governor and is now a Trustee for The Sea View Trust so that she can use her personal and professional experience to support both staff and parents wherever possible.
Jan Ashbridge
Trustee
Jan is currently a Principal Lecturer (PGCE Primary and Partnership Development Lead) in the Institute of Education at the University of Cumbria. Her career in education started in 1991 when she graduated from St Martin’s College Lancaster and became a primary school teacher. She has taught in schools in the Burnley and South Lakes areas and subsequently moved on to become a Senior Advisory Teacher for Early Years for Cumbria Local Authority. Jan eventually returned to St Martin’s College (now the University of Cumbria) to work in teacher education and development. Her specific area of strategic responsibility is for the PGCE primary programmes and she still retains a teaching commitment for English curriculum and the teaching of systematic synthetic phonics.
Norman Gibson
Trustee
I am a Chartered Civil Engineer by profession with quite a varied career to date. This includes Project Director of a Vocational Training Institute responsible for training 1600 students with 250 staff. I have also established and subsequently managed a subsidiary of BAE Systems with P&L responsibility, including dividend recommendation to Shareholders. Consequently I believe I can bring value to the Board of Sea View with my Business experience, specifically Governance, Finance, and Project Management. Academically I have a BSc (Hons) degree in Civil Engineering and an MBA Master’s degree. I am married to a retired Science teacher and have 4 grown up children and 3 grandchildren.
Helen Irwin
Trustee
Helen is a Human Resources Specialist and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Having gained experience from within a broad range of industries, Helen has headed up HR Teams and managed complex people related change projects. More recently, Helen has been supporting organisations from a consultative perspective, focussing on employee reward and organisation design. Helen is also involved with apprenticeship, coaching leaners along their journey. Helen is also an active member of the PTA at her daughter's school. Having recently joined the Sea View Trust Helen is looking to use her skills and experience to help the trust grow and develop in line with the strategic priorities.
Craig Procter
Trustee
Craig is a Chartered Internal Auditor and has over 20 years of experience in this area. His background is predominantly in Financial and Retail services. He currently heads up an Internal Audit Function for an online retailer that also offers consumer credit products. As well as being an experienced Internal Audit professional Craig brings a wealth of knowledge in other related areas including Risk Management, Compliance and Governance. Despite always living in Lancashire, and being a born and bred Lancastrian, he has spent his working life in Yorkshire and so is looking forward to giving something back to his home County. Having recently joined the Sea View Trust Craig is looking to use his skills and experience to help the trust meet its strategic aims.
Meena McDonald
Trustee
Meena completed her Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing Management, and kicked off her marketing career in the publishing industry. She then went on to play a strategic marketing role at Fuji Photo Film, being instrumental in their Student and European Press Awards as well as developing numerous promotional campaigns. Following a year of backpacking around the world, Meena worked for worldwide advertising agency McCann Erickson handling large corporate clients. Headhunted by Glasgows, Meena spent a decade organising worldwide conferences for major government departments including G8 events, as well as managing complex European R&D funding projects. Now running her own agency “Meena McDonald Marketing” she has the freedom and flexibility to work with clients she can make a real difference to.