Dami Ayeko

Dami was appointed as a trustee in 2022 and is on the Investment and Fundraising committees.

What drew you to apply for a trustee position?

I had been volunteering in the education sector for some time in various guises; including as a school governor and a mentor for the Diana Award. When an opportunity to join the Central Foundation Schools of London as a trustee opened up, I was quite simply intrigued.

It is not often you come across a foundation which supports two schools. A board of governors something I was familiar with, a board of trustees I was not. Upon doing a bit of research I was fascinated with the long history of the Foundation and the two schools and wanted to be part of something which would help sustain the legacy and impact of the Foundation.

In addition, I was given a tour of the boys’ school – which was a building site at the time – the excitement and anticipation for the new facilities made me aware that the relationship between the schools and the Foundation was something special and unique. I had to be part of it.

Which of your skills, knowledge and experience do you find you draw on most for your trustee work?

I probably lean into my experience in the financial services sector the most, particularly during Investment Committee meetings.

What do you enjoy most as a trustee?

Joining events at the schools whenever I am able to. It really drives home the reason I read through the board papers, attend the meetings and make sure I listen and ask questions.

What’s your proudest trustee moment as a trustee to date?

It's not a moment, but a culmination of moments. I am most proud of the recent strategy which was a team effort by the trustees and the executive. It is a testament to what focus on the objectives of the Foundation, and the willingness to be open-minded, creative, and determined can deliver. All of our decisions and what gets prioritised are firmly grounded in this shared strategy.   

What’s your favourite memory of your own school days? How does this translate to your trustee work?

I enjoyed having options. At my school, a range of subjects were offered at GCSE and A-Level because the school had the facilities and staff for them. There was also a range of extra-curricular activities. I pursued piano lessons and group speech and drama. A range of school excursions near and far was something else I enjoyed. All of these helped me to become an adult who feels like there are still lots of opportunities and a range of options of how I can spend my time – resulting in a life rich with experience. I hope that my work in the Foundation can enable students at the two schools to feel like they have options, not just in their academic pursuits but also in activities which enrich their lives. 

What might you say to anyone thinking of partnering or supporting the Foundation?

Reach out, there are many ways you can partner or support the Foundation. If you speak to the CEO or one of the trustees we can let you know how you specifically can further the mission of delivering a uniquely brilliant education to our students.

What do you want your legacy as a CSFL trustee to be?

Quite simply, I want to leave the foundation in a position where it is adaptive and resilient so it can continue to operate for another 150 years and beyond.

Tom Doherty 

Tom was appointed as a trustee in 2024.

What drew you to CSFL to apply for a trustee position?

As a former pupil of Central Foundation Boys’ School, I have fond memories of the excellent experience and education I received. I want to ensure that all pupils across the Foundation feel the same sense of excitement for the opportunities available, and are able to approach their futures with the same sense of hope that I felt.

I owe a great deal to the Boys’ School for the foundations it provided a young working class boy from a council estate and the values that it instilled in me. I hope that I can ensure pupils across the Foundation are afforded the same.

What do you want your legacy as a CSFL trustee to be?

As trustees, our role is to ensure the two Central Foundation schools are in the best possible position to serve new generations and are ready to adapt to new advancements in technology and economic changes.

I will aim to ensure that young people leaving our schools are ready to face the future, with the skills to obtain good and exciting jobs that fulfil them for years to come. I hope that our schools can be more outward looking, connecting more with each other and with the many businesses and organisations on their doorsteps to ensure pupils know about the opportunities that exist and feel they are obtainable. And finally, I hope that our schools will provide a wide range of skills to prepare young people for the wider world and help them build the confidence to find their voice and use it.

What’s your favourite memory of your own school days? How does this translate to your trustee work?

I attended two programmes as a pupil that boosted my confidence and I now realise they were key skills to learn. These were: a programme called ‘Speak Up, Speak Out!’ which aimed to improve our public speaking, and a business competition in which we were the only state school and we beat all the other participants! These events highlight the importance of learning a wider set of skills to be ready for the working environment and to help provide foundations upon which young people can build their confidence.

What might you say to anyone thinking of partnering or supporting the Foundation?

Do it! This is a great opportunity to give back by helping guide young people as they work towards their own futures. Plus you get to do so alongside many interesting people with varied backgrounds who can all learn from each other's perspectives.

Hilary Evenett

Hilary was appointed as a trustee in 2022 and is on the People & Nominations committee.

I came to the Foundation through Central Foundation Girls’ School, one of the schools it supports. The school is based in Tower Hamlets, and I work for a law firm based in Canary Wharf, so I had responded to a request from Tower Hamlets for volunteers to act as school governors. I was delighted to become a governor: it is a vibrant school, which has a calm but welcoming atmosphere, as soon as you walk in.

The pupils face a number of challenges, but the school offers them a wide range of activities and opportunities. The head teacher is a hugely impressive and very dedicated leader.

As I got more involved with the school I began to see how much it benefits from support from the Foundation, so when the Foundation was seeking an additional trustee from the Girls’ school,  I was very happy to volunteer. In my new role as chair of governors at the Girls’ School and as a trustee, I hope to be even more involved in helping the Foundation understand the context in which the schools it supports operate and how best to target their valuable support.

My own secondary school was a formative experience for me, providing me with not only a brilliant academic education which enabled my career but also extra curricular experiences which have laid the foundations of my interests to this day, as well as a solid group of friends (for over 50 years, now!). As a governor, I know that the Girls’ School can provide similarly formative experiences for its girls, and as a trustee I want to help the Foundation support that.

Amandeep Rehlon

Amandeep was appointed as a trustee in 2022 and is chair of the Finance & Audit committee. 

What drew you to Central Foundation Schools of London to apply for a trustee position?

I'd been a trustee of a small charity a number of years ago, and had been looking to do another role. I was attracted to the Foundation because I have an interest in education - my mother and my wife are both teachers, and I have two young daughters. This represented a chance to use my own skills and experience in this field. It is also a role that is connected to my employer, the Bank of England, which is one of the nominating bodies for the Foundation.

Which of your skills, knowledge and experience do you find you draw on most for your trustee work?

It draws on quite a few! I've mentioned the family interest in education. I am a qualified chartered accountant by background and was a treasurer before for a charity, so that is useful experience.  But the role of trustee also draws on other skills, around strategic thinking, problem solving and approaching issues from a different perspective.

What do you enjoy most as a trustee?

Hearing directly from the schools.  The Boys' School and Girls' School have different histories, ambitions and challenges, but one thing they have in common is brilliant and inspiring leadership. Jamie and Carla are amazing headteachers, and it is both fantastic to hear about the achievements of the schools and their students, but also humbling to hear about the challenges they face. Understanding how what we can do as trustees can help deliver better educational outcomes for the students is the most important part of the role, and very motivating.

What’s your proudest trustee moment as a trustee to date?

I'm not sure I've done anything myself yet to merit being proud!  But it was great to see the facilities that have been built at the Boys' School with the Trust's support, and I'm sure the Girls School Sixth Form Centre will also be a great addition.

What do you want your legacy as a CSFL trustee to be?

To have helped, in whatever small way, to give students at the schools opportunities that they would not have otherwise had to reach their full potential.

What’s your favourite memory of your own school days? How does this translate to your trustee work?

It is a cliche that you never forget a great teacher, but it is true in my case. Two teachers in fact, Mr Marston and Mr Drury were two different but equally fantastic, challenging and thought-provoking teachers who inspired me to study at university, which has shaped me into the person I am in so many ways.

That said, I was the first in my family to go to university, and in many ways was still very naive about life after school. The two Foundation schools are very diverse and will include, for example, many children whose parents didn't go to university, and I'd like to think the Foundation could help students make more informed choices as well as achieve their academic and personal potential.

What might you say to anyone thinking of partnering or supporting the Foundation?

Stop thinking about it and do it! You won't regret it, and will make a huge impact for future generations.

Mike Yershon

Mike attended the Boys’ School in the 1960s, became a governor in the 1980s and was appointed as a trustee in 2019. He is the Fundraising chair, and on the Investment and Finance & Audit committee.

What drew you to CSFL to apply for a trustee position?

When I retired, I resolved to put my time into putting back into my roots. So putting back into the school is right at the heart of that and it’s what I enjoy so much of being a trustee.

What’s your proudest trustee moment as a trustee to date?

My proudest moment as a trustee is linked to the impact I've had on the atmosphere within the organisation. When I arrived, I noticed the atmosphere was quite formal, with very little camaraderie among the trustees. So I took it upon myself to go around and introduce myself to each of them, which certainly shook things up. I remember attending a presentation by the head of the Boys’ School. When he finished, I started applauding—something that was apparently unheard of in a trustees' meeting. At first, no one joined in, and there was this awkward moment, but then gradually everyone followed suit. That simple gesture of recognition began to shift the energy in the room, bringing a sense of warmth and appreciation that has continued to grow.

What do you want your legacy as a CSFL trustee to be?

In the end, I want my legacy to be about securing our financial health while making wise investments that set us up for continued success and growth.

When I first joined, the biggest issue  was the Boys School building project and whether we could afford to do it and it was in danger of not being funded. From my business point of view, I could see we weren't going to run out of money. Thankfully, the board chose to invest in the project. Now, we not only have the facility we envisioned but have also maintained a strong investment fund.

Which of your skills, knowledge and experience do you find you draw on most for your trustee work?

Because of jobs I've held in media, I understand how to run spreadsheets and how to manage cash flow, and so I really understand the business side of being a trustee. I bring that very much in here, because I'm on the Investment Committee and the Finance Committee and the Fundraising Committee. I also kick started the website redevelopment.

What might you say to anyone thinking of partnering or supporting the Foundation?

Stephen Brown, the chair and Sarah Gosling, the CEO have created such a great team and sense of togetherness. You’ll be working with people that have immense talent. It's just a tremendously deep fulfilment that you get out of it that makes it very worthwhile.