Linda Watkins is the Director of Governance at a Multi Academy Trust in the West Midlands alongside freelance consultancy. She has led on governance locally, regionally and nationally. Working with boards for around 30 years and specifically in further education for over 25 years. Linda also has extensive experience in the schools’ sector and has been involved in school conversions, free school bids and mergers. She has conducted governance reviews, offered advice, delivered training and mentoring to governors and governance professionals. She has designed and implemented governance improvements which have been acclaimed by Ofsted and has delivered training and workshops nationally. Linda completed a Level 5 certificate in FE governance from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, a CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Leadership and Management, and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Management Institute. Linda is a finalist for the governance professional MAT Excellence Award, and the Women in Governance, Risk and Compliance Award for the governance champion of the year 2025.
Kay Sandford-Beal has over 30 years’ experience of working in the arts, education and charity sectors, with leadership roles at Tate, the Royal College of Art and Blackheath Conservatoire of Art, Music and Drama. Kay is CIPD qualified and holds an MSc in HR Management from Kingston University Business School, specialising in the development of staff well-being initiatives. She currently works as Director of Governance within the Further Education Sector in London and is also a Consultant to Design Starts ups. Kay was nominated as a Fellow of the Royal College of Art and also invited to become a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She has significant experience of working with and advising boards, through her previous roles as a Governor of Hereford College of Arts, CEO of Blackheath Conservatoire and her current Trusteeship of Hastings Contemporary Gallery, recently leading on the recruitment process for an Interim Director.
Both partners are fully DBS compliant.
