Board of Trustees

Skills: education; education management; strategic planning; development; careers advice & guidance.

Alison has extensive experience in education and skills development having worked in senior leadership positions in both mainstream secondary and SEND schools over the past 13 years.  Until August 2023, Alison was Director of Development for a Multi Academy Trust in Derbyshire and before then for the Bulwell Academy.  Before moving into the education sector, Alison worked in management roles for the Regional Development Agency, Learning and Skills Council and Training & Enterprise Council specialising in workforce and skills development.

As a leader with responsibility for driving forward school improvement, Alison has experience of multi-faculty leadership, teaching, communications & marketing, and skills development and is also a CDI registered Careers Counsellor.  Alison is also a Director & Company Secretary of a family farm in North Nottinghamshire and Member of the Southwell Agricultural Society.

Mrs Rachael Archer

Rachael is a Director of a local company which has been successfully providing tailored electrical installation solutions for a diverse range of commercial and industrial clients throughout the UK for over 35 years.

Originally trained as a Mental Health Nurse, and having qualifications in both mental health and parent carer peer support, she now enjoys a role as a parent2parent support volunteer with the CAMHS Eating Disorder Team.

Rachael has a 20 year association with Hollygirt, with both daughters having been pupils from Nursery onwards and is very keen to help to continue to maintain the Hollygirt ethos.

Mr Julian Townsend 

Skills: leadership, political sensitivity, diplomacy, risk assessment, communication and interpersonal skills.

Julian has almost 40 years’ experience in local government.  He qualified as an Environmental Health Officer and worked for several district councils as his career developed, culminating as an executive director of a local authority in Derbyshire.  He retired in 2022.

He believes his experience in strategic leadership; effective financial, performance and people management; as well as working with a variety of statutory and voluntary organisations, will assist him in his role as a Trustee.

Skills: leadership, performance , strategic implementation, customer service , risk and cost management

Alison spent her career working for one of the major UK Banks. She started as an A level entrant, completed her ACIB banking qualifications and moved to Nottingham for her first Management position. Her last role before early retirement was Regional Director in Business Banking for two Banking brands.

Alison has a focus on performance and delivering outstanding service to customers, both internal and external.  She enjoys supporting the Head and Bursar as a member of the Operations and Finance committee where her skills and attributes are best served.

Dr Julia (Julie) West MBE

Skills: Biology, Environmental Science, Education, Team Building, Mentoring, Project Management, Communication

Originally a school science teacher, Julie has 35 years’ experience as an environmental scientist, buildingan international reputation in carbon capture and storage, radioactive waste disposal and groundwater quality.  She has led major international scientific projects providing expertise to national and international organisations and was awarded an MBE for her work.

Julie’s interest in science communication led to a British Association for the Advancement of Science Media Fellowship with BBC Radio Science. 

Julie is keen to bring her scientific and management expertise and her communication skills to support Hollygirt.