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Governor Biographies
Hugh Brown (Chair of Governors - Member Appointed Governor & Member of the Academy Trust)
Having grown up in Pinner, I now live close to Nower Hill with my partner and our children. With with our eldest two thriving at Nower Hill, and one younger one to follow, Nower Hill is sure to be a big part of my life for many years to come.
I’m an IT consultant by profession, specialising in project delivery, with much of that time spent in education, and the public sector. As well as my professional experience, I bring 5 years’ experience as a governor at another high school, where I’ve chaired the Resources Committee. This experience also includes: being on pay review committee, contract procurement, IT strategy and health & safety, plus more besides – there’s a lot to being a governor!
After spending so long supporting a school that my children don’t attend, I’m really excited to be a governor at my own child’s school. As a Nower Hill governor, I’ll do all that I can to safeguard every student’s right to a happy, memorable and successful time at high school, and to ensure that every child has the very best opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstance.
Raluca Grecu (Staff Governor)
Having grown up in Romania, working in Finance with a strict academic pathway of education, I found myself travelling to the UK to build a new life for myself and my family. I have always been a creative person but was never encouraged to explore this avenue. After joining the Art Department at Nower Hill as a part-time technician a few years ago, I have been able to celebrate and develop my creative skills and passion for new experiences.
I have a daughter at Nower Hill and am now embracing school life as a parent, staff member, and Governor. I'm interested in how Nower Hill has such a positive impact on young people's education and life choices. I advocate for not just the academic route of their education but for those students who are desperately creative and encouraged by others to take a different path.
I'm looking forward to being a part of the governing team at Nower Hill High School, supporting young people to find a bright and enriched future through education.
Kirti Jeram (Co-opted Governor)
I have been a governor at Nower Hill High School since 2019 and am passionate about supporting the school and helping young people achieve their full potential. My son attended Nower Hill before progressing to university following excellent GCSE and A Level results, while my daughter now attends the school. Having experienced Nower Hill both as a parent and governor, I am committed to supporting its continued success.
I currently serve as the Careers Link Governor, reflecting my passion for helping young people explore their potential and make informed decisions about their future. I am also a Bank of America ambassador for Inspire the Future, supporting schools through careers days, CV workshops, interview preparation and careers advice. I particularly enjoy helping young people understand the wide range of career pathways available and connecting education with the world of work.
I have worked in financial services for over 25 years, including at leading global financial institutions, and currently work at Bank of America. I specialise in regulatory governance, with extensive experience in governance, risk, controls, oversight and stakeholder engagement. I bring this experience to my role as a governor, providing an independent perspective and supporting effective governance and strategic decision-making.
I am proud to have served Nower Hill since 2019 and look forward to continuing to support its students and wider community.
Saba Syed (Member Appointed Governor)
I am local to Harrow, born and bred, and a parent of a student in Year 7 at Nower Hill. I was a community governor at Pinner Park Junior School for just under 8 years, supporting the school’s growth under the Headteacher’s leadership. When I became a parent of a Pinner Park student two years later, I had the opportunity to connect with other parents, and benefitted from a network of friendships. With this mutual support and collaboration, we resurrected Pinner Park’s PTA, for which I was the treasurer in the first year.
Professionally, I am experienced in delivery and project management of a range of publishing and digital projects, gaining skills in resource and financial management. I’ve worked in the public sector (health, education, archives) and in the private sector in media, print publishing and online. I am currently the head of business development at the British Library, developing products and services and responsible for a multi-million pound revenue target.
Outside of work, I am involved with Tongues on Fire – UK Asian Film Festival, a local arts organisation delivering an annual international film festival, starting as the festival coordinator and now on the board of directors, as Operations Director. I am also the treasurer, and a founding member, of the Friends of Headstone Manor Park.
I enjoy being part of the wider community and using my experience to support organisations in meeting their strategic objectives, ensuring good financial management and a high standard of delivery. I am interested in seeing the value I could add to an outstanding local high school, with a new Headteacher and new members of its governing body.
Carolyn Hector (Member Appointed Governor)
I have lived in Pinner for most of my life and I am passionate about education and opportunities for all, and I am keen to support this by working in my local community. I am an experienced school governor, previously chair of Pinner Wood school until 2021. I am also the Chair of the St Luke’s Hospice Shops Board, the shops and hospice serves the local communities across Harrow and Brent.
My professional roles are as an experienced marketing and board director for a number of prominent brands and organisations across the Financial Services industry. More recently I have taken these skills and applied them to the charity sector, I am currently Director of Marketing, Brand and Product Development for Age Co, the trading and commercial arm of Age UK.
Claire Larkman (Member Appointed Governor)
I am a CIMA qualified accountant with several years’ experience working across a number of organisations, both in the private and public sectors. I have always had an interest in Education and studied Education with Mathematics at Warwick University, before joining the NHS Financial Management Training Scheme after I graduated. From there I went on to work as a Management Accountant in various NHS organisations, and later for Marks and Spencer in their Head Office.
In 2014 I decided to pursue a career in School Business Management. My first position was in a primary school in Camden, where I studied for the Certificate of School Business Management (CSBM) qualification. Since then I have worked as School Business Manager in two Harrow primary schools including West Lodge where I have been since 2019. In this role I am responsible for all aspects of school business management including finance, recruitment, health and safety and the school office/admin function. I have also implemented a number of new systems to improve efficiency within the school, and have recently managed the transition to new school Management Information and Finance systems.
I have previously served as a parent governor at my children’s primary school and attend Governing Board meetings regularly in my current role.
I have had personal experience of Nower Hill; my daughter was Head Girl from 2021-22 and is now at Exeter University, so I have witnessed for myself the dedication and commitment of the staff and leadership of the school. I am proud to serve as a member of the Governing Board and help support the continued success of this outstanding school.
Alicia Patel (Parent Governor)
I have lived in Harrow for 11 years and have two children, one who is a student at Nower Hill and one who is due to join shortly.
I have worked in the civil service for the past 17 years and have a varied background in HR operations, data analysis, and resource planning and project management.
I believe every child deserves access to high-quality learning opportunities and am excited to work with the other governors to ensure that Nower Hill High School continues to provide a supportive and enriching environment where all students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Meera Mehta (Co-opted Governor)
I am a procurement and business growth professional with over 23 years of experience across the public and private sectors, supporting organisations to deliver complex projects, manage stakeholder relationships and achieve positive outcomes for the communities they serve. As a Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) qualified professional, I bring a strong understanding of commercial governance, ethical decision-making, value for money, risk management and strategic planning. These skills are highly transferable to school governance, where effective oversight, accountability and long-term sustainability are essential.
In my professional role, I work with senior leaders and multidisciplinary teams to provide strategic advice, manage complex stakeholder relationships and support major investment programmes. This has given me extensive experience in scrutinising business cases, assessing risk, challenging constructively and ensuring decisions are made in the best interests of all stakeholders.
I am also passionate about inclusion and people development and currently co-lead my organisation's Gender Balance Network, helping to promote diversity, mentoring and employee engagement. Through this role, I have developed a strong appreciation of the importance of creating inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to succeed.
As a local resident and parent of school-aged children, I have a keen interest in education and supporting young people to thrive academically, socially and personally. I am actively involved in the local community through volunteering at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, where I support educational and community initiatives.
I hope to bring a combination of professional expertise, community involvement and a collaborative approach to the Governing Board. I am committed to supporting Nower Hill High School in maintaining high standards, promoting inclusion and ensuring the best possible outcomes for pupils, staff and the wider school community.
Miriam Manderson (Member of the Academy Trust)
As a parent of secondary aged children, my vision for education is that there exists true equality of opportunity through an equal status from one school to the next. I am a fellow Harrow resident and a Headteacher of a neighbouring Harrow secondary school, so it gives me great honour to sit on the Board of Trustees at Nower Hill High School.
With over 25 years in education and being a headteacher since 2019, I am fully committed to ensuring that we all continue to provide parents and children with a secondary education service which is second to none. I have worked in the boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent and now I am happy to be giving back to the community in which I live. I speak four languages and believe that languages provide a window to understanding the world. I love working in schools, which have a vibrant and diverse population such as Nower Hill’s and wish I could speak every language on earth to fully engage with our global community! It is an exciting time for Nower Hill High School and I am proud to join the team for the journey.
Reverend Michael Stuart Nattrass CBE (Member of the Academy Trust)
Brought up on Tyneside. Went to Manchester University. Ordained as a C of E priest in mid 1960's and served in 2 colliery parishes before becoming a worker-priest. Worked in the Health and and Safety Executive for 29 years (inspector of factories, training manager, Area Director, Regional Director London and S.East and HM Chief Inspector of Contruction). After HSE for 13 years was a non-Executive director or external adviser to Docklands Light Railway, Transport for London, Crossrail and Costain). Moved to Pinner in 1976. Was a non-stipendiary curate at Pinner Parish Church until 2005 and still assist occasionally. Was a Magistrate in adult and family courts. Interests are classical and jazz music (I ran Jazz at Pinner Parish Church for 20 years), theatre, Bridge, caravanning. Married to Dorothy, who was a probation officer then a social worker. Our 2 children went to Nower Hill, where our daughter Claire was Head Girl.
Michelle Weerasekera (Member of the Academy Trust)
I attended Nower Hill as a student, it was a much smaller school then as you arrived at the age of twelve and left at sixteen as there was no 6th Form. I am married and have three grown up daughters, I have spent time living in Singapore and in Hertfordshire, in 2003 I came back to live in Pinner.
I joined the Governing Board of Nower Hill in 2016 and in December 2020 I was elected as Chair until 2026 when I moved to become an Academy Trust Member at the school. I have been a Magistrate in Hertfordshire for 25 years and sat as a Chair in Family and Criminal Court before retiring in 2026. For ten years, I was the Vice Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children's Board in Harrow where I was appointed as a panel member on a number of Serious Case Reviews and was involved in Multi-Agency Safeguarding Audits. During that time I was appointed by the Secretary of State for Education to Chair an Interim Executive Board to turn around a local school that was judged to be in urgent need of improvement, I was also Chair of a local primary school for six years.
I am passionate about the education, welfare and protection of children and young people, to ensure that they are given every opportunity to succeed and grow into well-rounded individuals. The vision, aim and values of Nower Hill fully support this passion and I am thrilled to be part of the team ensuring that we always have the highest of expectations for ourselves and our students.
Howard Freed (Member of the Academy Trust)
I am married and we have three children. Karen and I are retired teachers and all three daughters are teachers. We have lived in Ware, Hertfordshire, for 30 years.
I worked in London Secondary schools for 36 years including 22 years as Headteacher of Leytonstone School and Nower Hill. I retired from headship in August 2013 and since then I have worked as a coach/mentor with Headteachers and senior leaders and with schools on school improvement and development of leadership capacity, CPD, performance management and reviews of governance.
I am delighted to be a governor at Nower Hill. I loved my 13 years as Headteacher of the school and feel privileged to be able to contribute something to the school in a different capacity as a governor. Nower Hill High School and the community it serves will always have a place in my heart.
Roy McKerracher (Member of the Academy Trust)
Member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
20+ years as finance director of local manufacturing company, with experience also in HR and IT. Education experience includes school governor in Harrow since 2002 and at Nower Hill High School from 2006.
Treasurer for 15+ years of a number of local Harrow charities involved with young people.
