Members and Trustees

Christopher White, Chair of Trustees

Appointed – November 2016

Reappointed – August 2020

Reappointed – August 2024

I became a governor at Dorothy Goodman School in 2016 offering the skills that I have to benefit the school. I was the Chair of Governors and the chair of Finance & Staffing Committee for the school and have been fully involved in the transformation to Open Thinking Partnership which is a Multi Academy Trust. I am now Chair of the OTP Trustees and Chair of the Finance & HR Committee.

My background is mainly in finance and business. I joined the Hinckley & Rugby Building Society in 1989 and was appointed to the Board as Finance Director in 1993 before becoming Chief Executive in 2007. After gaining a degree in Economics I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1981 and worked at a number of companies in the Rover Group before joining Hinckley & Rugby. I retired from the building society in December 2018 after 29 years service.

Chris is also the Chair of the Finance & HR Committee and a member of the Audit Committee

Peter Thomas, Vice Chair of Trustees

Appointed – November 2020

Re-Appointed – December 2024

Peter is an NGA consultant and undertakes external reviews of governance and delivers training, development and bespoke support for academy trust boards and maintained school governing bodies. In July 2024 he was awarded an OBE for services to education, specifically in the West and East Midlands

Peter started his career as a teacher of history and politics and was a headteacher for seven years, moving the school from requiring improvement to being outstanding in all categories in three years. The school was regularly in the top 1-3% of all schools for progress between 2012-2017, and twice in the top 100 state secondary schools. He has gained additional experience as an National Leader of Education, as an Ofsted additional inspector and as a pupil premium reviewer. Peter has also worked with the National Schools Commissioner on a project focused on identifying the key school improvement factors that tackle underperformance and which will lead to sustained improvement. With over 30 years’ governance experience as a trustee and school governor in the primary, secondary and university sector Peter has undertaken governance reviews at various schools. Peter was until recently a former CEO of a multi academy trust. He is currently the chair of a single academy trust and continues to work with schools and local education authorities.

Peter is also Chair of the Quality of Education Committee

Simon Love

Appointed – March 2015

Reappointed – August 2020

Reappointed – August 2024

I became a Governor of Dorothy Goodman School in March 2015. I have been fully involved in the transformation to Open Thinking Partnership (OTP) which is a Multi Academy Trust. I am delighted to be Co Vice Chair of the Trustees at OTP and the Chair of the Audit Committee.

I have had a varied careers to date, working in management roles in both the private and public sector. I have a background in law and regulation and felt this would be a good mix of experience and skills to inform my role of Trustee. I currently work as a Senior Manager in the Civil Service. Having heard about the work of the school and now extending this to OTP I’m proud to be part of its Board of Trustees.

Simon is also the Chair of the Audit Committee.

Dean Waddingham

Appointed – February 2023

I became a Trustee of the Open Thinking Partnership in February 2023, as I wished to utilise the knowledge and skills developed over a 40+ year career in financial services for the benefit of my local community, and in particular our young people.

I have worked within many different types of Organisation across the UK, and bring significant Board level experience. Most recently, I enjoyed five years, to May 2022, as Executive Director/ Chief Customer Officer at Hinckley & Rugby Building Society, leading all areas of the Society’s customer and product proposition, including the Digital Transformation programme. I am committed to Continuous Professional Development, critical within an environment of rapid technological change. I am also a Trustee Director of TPT Retirement Solutions.

I have a love of sport, particularly Rugby Union. I played for Leicester Tigers, amongst other teams, before becoming involved in coaching and administration for many years at both junior and senior level.

Dean is also a member of the Finance & HR Committee.

Dr Glenys Jones

Appointed – September 2023

Dr. Glenys Jones is a Chartered Psychologist and an Honorary Lecturer within the Autism Centre for Education and Research (ACER) at the University of Birmingham. She has worked as an educational psychologist and worked on many research projects evaluating the education of autistic children and young people. Glenys has also run workshops and developed materials for teaching staff, parents and carers. She has been the Editor of the Good Autism Practice Journal since 2000 and was a member of the Autism Education Trust Programme Board for 14 years.  Together with colleagues in 2013, she set up an assessment service for adults who thought they might be autistic and worked within that service for 10 years.  She is also a Trustee of Autism West Midlands based in Birmingham.

Glenys is also a member of the Quality of Education Committee

Tom Jacobson

Appointed – January 2024

I joined the Open Thinking Partnership in 2024 and this is my first direct experience of school management, although coming from a family of educators I’m well acquainted with the challenges facing learning establishments.  I’ve run youth groups and worked across charitable institutions catering for children with additional needs (HCPT) so felt this was a good opportunity to support the Open Thinking Partnership.

I have owned my own logistics consultancy since 2006 specialising in the automotive sector, working with numerous multi-national organisations from vehicle manufacturers through logistics service providers and ports both in the UK and globally. I previously spent 20 years in senior management roles with passenger car importers and shipping operators across the full range of sales, logistics and after sales disciplines. My skills are in understanding and improving processes, developing teams and creating and responding to tenders for services and civil engineering projects. Remaining active in numerous sectors I hope to bring relevant commercial and logistical expertise to the role.

Laura Jeffs, Safeguarding

Appointed – January 2020

Reappointed – August 2020

Reappointed – August 2024

My association with Dorothy Goodman began in 1997 when I worked at the school as a Learning Support Assistant. The role gave me the passion and motivation to undertake a teacher training qualification and lead to a career supporting children with SEND. I now have the privilege of being the Headteacher of two specialist nursery schools in Leicestershire. I am also connected to the school from a personal perspective as my younger sister attended Dorothy Goodman School from the age of 5 to 19. As a family we will always be thankful for the education and dedicated support she was able to access at the school. Over the years I have seen huge progress and positive change at the school and am really excited to be a part of the school community as it enters the next phase of its journey.

Laura is also a member of the Quality of Education Committee.

Lisa Bengi

Appointed – January 2021

Re-Appointed – January 2025

My career has been in human resources and learning and development, I joined Hinckley & Rugby Building Society in 2002, and I am currently Head of HR. I am a parent of 2 children who attend schools locally, and believe that every child should have every opportunity to learn and succeed.

Having heard about the work of the schools, I am looking forward to offering my skills and knowledge to benefit the Open Thinking Partnership.

Lisa is also a member of the Finance & HR Committee