Trustees

SMART’s Board of Trustees is legally responsible and accountable for all statutory functions and for the performance of all schools within the Trust.

Governance structure and lines of accountability

The Trust Board is responsible for the three core governance functions.

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
Holding the Executive Team to account for the educational performance of the Trust’s schools and its pupils, and the performance management of staff.
Overseeing and ensuring effective financial performance of the Trust.

Trust Board:

Lee Hallam

Trustee and Chair of the Trust Board

Trustee Responsibility: Chair of Trust Board

Having relocated from London in 1999 to Devon I then moved to Cornwall in 2009. I have had a Senior Leadership and Board level career across a number of sectors from Financial Services, Charity Services, Technology Care and for the last 6 years I have worked in HE.

I have been a Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute for a number of years and hold Undergraduate and Post Graduate qualifications in Operations Management, Leadership, Marketing and Coaching & Mentoring.

I joined the Trust board as the Risk and Audit Trustee and am delighted to have recently been appointed as the Chair for the Trust Board.

In addition to my role at SMART I am also the Treasurer for an Exmoor Pony Charity and a Board Director of an Events and Conferencing Business. I am currently employed full time as the Director of Commercial Operations for the University of Exeter and Falmouth University based at their Campuses in Falmouth and Penryn.

Marcel Aarts

Trustee

Trustee Responsibility: Finance Trustee, Resources and Audit & Risk Committees

After completing my bachelor’s degree in economics in 2012 in my native country of the Netherlands, I moved to London where I completed an MBA in 2013. My working life started in Management Consulting where the primary focus was to help clients in the financial sector to deliver large scale processes & IT change programmes. In 2017 switched from Management Consulting to work in the Treasury department of a major European bank. In my current job, I work with a global team to deliver the infrastructure that is necessary to meet the global regulatory requirements placed on our Treasury department.

In 2018 I was fortunate to be offered options to work flexibly, which allowed me to move with my wife back to her home county of Cornwall. I was privileged to earn my British Citizenship in 2019.

I am delighted to have been appointed as finance trustee for SMART as this provides me with an opportunity to use the skills that I have developed through my career for the benefit of our local community.

Jamie Crisp

Mr Jamie Crisp

Trustee

Trustee Responsibility: Learning Trustee, Chair of the Learning Committee

I spent 24 years in the military as a senior non-commissioned officer in the British Army and was a specialist PT instructor as well as a senior tactics instructor, conducting operational tours around the world before joining Duchy College.

We are proud to be part of our local and rural community, offering young people the opportunity to study subjects that enthuse their passion for our rural landscape, which secure them future employment. We are passionate about supporting our learners’ personal and professional development at every stage of their careers.

Lydia Lawson

Trustee

Trustee Responsibility: Staff Health and Wellbeing Trustee, People Committee

I grew up in East Cornwall, and attended Liskeard School and Community College, I have now relocated back to the area from Bristol where I began my career as an Occupational Therapist. Whilst in Bristol I worked in various NHS mental health services and most recently managed an eating disorder service in conjunction with Bristol University. I now work for Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust as Professional Lead Occupational Therapist for inpatient and specialist mental health services.

I would like to use my experience of supporting those struggling with their mental health to enhance staff and pupil wellbeing and resilience and have a specific interest in leading staff and services compassionately. I have a young family that are currently enjoying their education at a local primary school.

Jody Chan-Penney

Neill Toms

Born in Cornwall and grew up in the Plymouth area until I became a member of the RAF as part of the Mechanical Transport section. On getting married to my wife, we decided to return to Cornwall where we have founded our own business and grown a wonderful family together.

I have worked with key delivery partners on large scale projects in the region over many years, handling all aspects of training, cost management, health and safety and project management within the construction industry.

Over my career in a commercial environment, I have honed my skills and training to operate a strong and stable business with a proven track record.

Verity Campbell-Barr

Having completed a BSc in Sociology at the University of Plymouth, I went on to do my MA in London and PhD at Kent, both having an educational focus. Following this, I spent three years as a policy researcher, before feeling the pull back to Plymouth, taking up a lecturing post in Early Childhood Studies in 2008. I have since become a Professor in Early Childhood Education, advocating for the importance of quality educational experiences from children's earliest age in support of their lifelong learning.

Beyond my role as a lecturer, I am an active researcher, focussing on issues related to the quality of early childhood education, particularly the professional knowledge and skills of the workforce, child-centred pedagogy and the curriculum. In my role at the University of Plymouth, I also over see the Institute of Education, which covers everything from a BA in Education to a PhD. I have been fortunate to travel with my professional role, visiting schools and preschools around the world, often taking my son with me, who also attends Liskeard.