Term from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2029

William Collier is Deputy Director of the Student Life Directorate at the University of Kent, providing strategic leadership and management oversight of cross-portfolio teams spanning curriculum design, quality and standards, technology-enhanced learning, libraries, careers, employability and student success to drive and enhance educational outcomes. He is a former academic with extensive experience in teaching, learning and higher education leadership, bringing a strong track record of academic excellence and educational development across the student lifecycle.

William has been a Trustee Board member since October 2021 and Chair of the Trust Board since October 2023. He demonstrates a deep commitment to the transformational power of education and has a passion for leading meaningful change that raises students’ aspirations, enriches their learning experiences, and improves outcomes.

Term from 9 January 2026 to 8 January 2030

Clare Allison has been a UKAT Trustee since January 2022. She has been Head of Outreach & Widening Participation at the University of Kent since 2021 and has 15 years’ experience working with schools and colleges to support learners, from underrepresented groups and those who face disadvantages/structural barriers, to consider Higher Education progression.

Through her work at the University, Clare is a Board Member of the Kent and Medway Progression Federation and the Care Leaver Progression Partnership. As an active member of the UKAT Trust Board, along with her experience in the wider education sector, Clare brings her experience in strategic development, people management and problem solving.

Term from 18th November 2025 to 17th November 2029.

John joined the UKAT Trust Board as a Trustee in November 2025 and brings a strong commitment to education, community sport, and local engagement. As a parent of three children, one currently attending Chatham Grammar, he offers valuable insight into the experiences and priorities of UKAT families.

John is an active volunteer within the local community, serving as the Director of Junior Hockey at Gillingham Anchorians Hockey Club. In this role, he leads the development and safeguarding of junior players and supports wider participation in grassroots sport.

Professionally, John is a Divisional Managing Director within the Connells Group, where he oversees two estate agency brands operating across Kent, Surrey, London and Hampshire. He brings extensive experience in senior leadership, people management, strategic planning, governance, compliance, and operational delivery.

With a blend of professional expertise, community involvement, and lived parental experience, John makes a strong and well-rounded contribution to the UKAT Trust Board and its work.

Term from 5 January 2023 to 4 January 2027

Lisa Dickson is a Professor of Law at the University of Kent and is the Head of Kent Law School. She is also the Deputy Director of the Division of Law, Society and Social Justice (LSSJ).

Lisa has been a Trustee Board member since January 2023. Lisa has a strong background in education, scholarship, and curriculum development having acted as Director of Education for both Kent Law School and LSSJ.

Lisa’s education focus lies in working on co-production with students and leading educational change that reflects student needs and ambitions.

Term from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2029

Richard Ebanks was a partner in a very large dental practice in Chatham for over 30 years. He was involved in all aspects of the business, including personnel, business development and finance. He now continues to work as a dentist in a different practice in North Kent.

Richard was asked to become a Governor for Brompton Academy by the Local Authority in 2010, as he had taken a keen interest in all aspects of education, later then becoming chair. As a Trustee, he has been involved in the oversight of the academies within the trust but with an emphasis on the Discipline Panels.

Richard is a local resident and, when time permits, is a keen amateur rugby referee.

Term from 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2027

Being Updated.

Zaid Mahmood is currently the Students’ Union President at Kent Union based at the University of Kent (UoK) in Canterbury. He studied at the UoK’s Medway campus from 2018-2022, Zaid subsequently moved to Canterbury. Zaid’s time in Medway was formative during his university career. He worked with the UoK and Students’ Union to improve the experience for students in Medway and has been involved in the wider community through various volunteering roles, employment, and family ties.

Zaid is honoured to be a part of the UKAT Trust Board to help bring a new perspective. He aims to work with Trust members in ensuring that UKAT academies provide their students with the best possible education and remove barriers for them to progress into higher and further education routes.

Zaid states that “Academies such as Brompton Academy and Chatham Grammar are the backbone of the community in Medway, and they give young people from all different backgrounds, the opportunity to grow and develop themselves.”

Term from 9 September 2025 to 8 September 2029

Oliver Martin has previously been a parent Governor for Chatham Grammar and is now a co-opted Trustee on the UKAT Trust Board. During his time as a Trustee, he has been an active member of the Trust Board getting involved in discussing a wide range of topics including the vision of Chatham Grammar and the Trust, the curriculum, wellbeing and mental health, Sixth Form provision, development of the Senior Leadership Team and marketing of the UKAT academies.

Oliver is currently Regulation and Strategy Director at South East Water where he brings a range of skills to him in his role on the Governing Body at UKAT. This includes people management, strategic planning, governance, compliance and quality assurance. Oliver is a local resident and his children have attended Chatham Grammar.

Term from 2 October 2023 to 1 October 2027

Neil Oliver’s experience is finance based as a qualified Chartered Accountant and previously Assistant Director of Finance at the University of Kent for 29 years. Prior to joining the University, he worked for Ernst and Young (EY) and then KPMG (both international firms of accountants providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services).

Neil has been a Governor, now Trustee, and has been involved with the financial aspects of the Trust since it was established in 2010. Neil’s current role on the Board of Trustees is Chair of the Finance and Staffing Committee and the Link Trustee for Finance across the Trust.

Appointed 19 February 2024

Allan has been in education for 3 decades and in senior leadership for many of those. He has served as Head of Sixth Form, SENCO, Assistant and Deputy Headteacher, Headteacher, Executive Headteacher and Director of Education for Ongar. He has also had the opportunity to work in several educational settings including Primary, Secondary, University Technical College and Further Education.

He has been a Headteacher for over a decade including taking two schools out of special measures to good or outstanding. He was fortunate enough to lead one school to become the third most improved school in the whole country in 2017 - overturning a Progress 8 score of -0.54 to +0.1 in one year.

Allan has worked in inner city London schools for 10 years and in deprived, rural Essex for eight and has worked for two of the biggest academy groups in the country.

At heart, he will always be a teacher by trade and still loves to be in a class of 30 students delivering English or Drama education.