Rhiannon Cutler
James Elder
Faith Hagerty
Hannah Lovegrove Campion
Dai Preston
Miriam Rich
Sheridan Voysey
Gemma Woodhouse
Rhiannon leads on strategy, data interpretation and advisory delivery at Baines Cutler, which she co-founded in 2013 in response to growing demand from schools for robust benchmarking data combined with practical, implementable consultancy. Her work sits at the intersection of financial sustainability, workforce strategy and organisational culture.
Rhiannon advises schools on finances, teacher reward and remuneration, fee strategy and whole-school strategic planning. Central to her approach is ensuring that decisions driven by data are delivered in ways that align with a school’s values, incentives and behaviours — particularly where changes affect teaching staff, leadership structures and the relationship between governors and senior leaders. She is known for helping boards and leadership teams move beyond agreement on what must change, to clarity on how change can be implemented successfully and credibly.
In 2016, Rhiannon led the launch of the sector’s first Parental Fee Affordability and Time Survey, which informed analysis challenging assumptions within the Labour manifesto on VAT and independent school fees. In 2018, she launched the sector’s first detailed teacher workload analysis, providing an evidence base for more effective and culturally sustainable approaches to teacher pay and appraisal. She became Managing Director in June 2020.
Rhiannon introduced a consultancy model that places culture and incentive design alongside financial analysis, recognising that long-term viability depends as much on how decisions are experienced by staff and stakeholders as on the decisions themselves. Most recently, she developed the 360-Vision service line, using tailored stakeholder surveys to inform board- and SLT-level decision-making and support change that is both financially sound and organisationally durable.
James Elder MBACP, is a Therapist and Associate Consultant who works as Head Of Clinical Practice for Atrium. James believes that when it comes to wellbeing, productivity, emotional health, and mental health, it is just as important to have a fence at the top of the cliff, as an ambulance at the bottom. Why wait until we have an expensive crisis to solve?
James has worked with Atrium for over a decade, setting the initial standards for Atrium's Therapists. James led the launch and rollout of Atrium's worldwide online counselling service: the first of it's kind pre-pandemic. James creates and delivers seminars and programmes for Atrium's Wellbeing pillar, including Mental Health Awareness programmes for business. James’ deep understanding of the challenges for people in business has informed his work as a psychological coach for C-Level clients across a spectrum of diverse industries.
James is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. He has thousands of hours of experience of therapy practice, and as an Alumni of the University of Greenwich (BA Hons Humanistic Integrative Counselling) went on to deliver the University Of Greenwich’s Humanistic Counselling Degree as a lecturer.
You are just as likely to find James on the frontline, delivering therapy, as running seminars on new insights in wellbeing for business, or in boardroom presentations to Atrium's clients.
Faith Hagerty, founder of The Acting Head, obtained a degree in Drama, Film and Television at Bristol University, before completing her PG Dip in Acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in 2001. Following five years as an actor, she turned her hand to teaching in 2006 and worked her way from Drama Teacher to Deputy Head at St Augustine’s Priory in West London. In 2007, she founded and built her own drama school business Yourstage Drama Ltd and ran this alongside her school career for 13 years, selling it in 2020. In 2021, she joined More House School in Knightsbridge where she was Head for over three years until the summer of 2024.
During her time as Head, she was a member of the GSA Education Committee and still sits on the Society of Heads Futures Group. Since moving on from headship, she has launched The Acting Head consultancy as a way of bringing her leadership experience and drama practice together to assist schools and school associations. She is committed to supporting schools’ most precious resource – their people, and has developed a number of creative programmes for senior leaders, staff and pupils.
Faith qualified as a Graydin coach in December 2024 and offers online one-to-one coaching sessions to school leaders, as well as 360 Appraisals alongside her other Acting Head work. Her coaching work focuses on creative thinking, self-image and wellbeing. She left London last summer and is now based in Nottingham with her blended family of seven.
Hannah is the Head of SEND at ISA, joining in February 2026 and is an established leader in SEND education. She has extensive expertise across a broad spectrum of needs and a proven track record working in specialist and mainstream education nationally and locally, including setting up and running an Independent Special School, as well as working for a Local Authority, overseeing SEND provision. Hannah’s work focuses on strategic improvement: by collaborating with leaders, practitioners, and wider stakeholders to enhance SEND provision, strengthen practice, and build capacity across education systems. Her leadership is driven by a commitment to ensuring high‑quality and accessible support for all learners.
Dai Preston is Headteacher of Arnold Lodge School (a co-educational independent all-through day school for pupils aged 4-18) and Executive Headteacher of Stratford Preparatory School (a co-educational Preparatory School for pupils aged 2-11). Dai has been Headteacher of Arnold Lodge since 2016 and, in that time, the school has grown from 164 pupils to 480 (and is now at maximum capacity). Dai is also an ISA Director and a Team Inspector with ISI.
Miriam is an experienced crisis communications advisor with a long‑standing specialism in education, safeguarding and criminal justice. She works closely with independent schools across the UK and overseas, helping heads and senior leaders anticipate risks, respond with confidence and communicate clearly during challenging or sensitive situations. Her approach combines practical crisis management with a deep understanding of the pressures facing school communities today.
Before establishing her consultancy in 2011, Miriam spent many years in law enforcement communications, beginning as a press officer at New Scotland Yard and later becoming a founding member of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) as head of media relations.
Over the course of her career, Miriam has supported communications for some of the UK’s most high‑profile incidents and investigations, including London’s multi‑agency response to Covid‑19, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the trial of the London nailbomber, the Soham murders, the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the murder of Stephen Lawrence and the Paddington rail crash. This background has given her unique insight into how organisations communicate under pressure and with communities affected by trauma, scrutiny or uncertainty.
Today, Miriam advises a wide range of clients - including leading independent schools and universities, companies with public protection responsibilities and prominent charities. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and regularly speaks on crisis communications, safeguarding and organisational resilience.
Sheridan Voysey is an author, broadcaster, TEDx speaker, and founder of Friendship Lab—the first charity dedicated to making adult friendships thrive. He is a regular presenter of Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2’s Scott Mills Breakfast Show, and has been featured on BBC Breakfast, BBC News, CBC Canada, and in publications like The Times and The Sunday Telegraph. Sheridan is the author of nine books, including the acclaimed titles Resurrection Year and The Making of Us. He is married to Merryn, a medical researcher at Oxford University, and he speaks at events across the globe. www.sheridanvoysey.com | www.friendshiplab.org
Partner, Employment & Education at Penningtons Manches Cooper
Gemma specialises in both contentious and non-contentious employment law and has a keen interest in all aspects of discrimination law. Since her qualification in 2007, she has been involved with a significant Court of Appeal decision, a number of tribunal hearings and appeals to the Employment Appeal Tribunal. She has also provided corporate support in relation to business transfers and reorganisations and advised on the terms of compromise agreements, employment contracts and employee handbooks. In addition, Gemma has provided guidance to clients on the implications of TUPE and the terms of commercial outsourcing arrangements. Gemma advises independent schools and academies on a number of HR and education specific issues, including safeguarding responsibilities and compliance requirements. She regularly writes in the ISBA Bursar’s Review and provides training to schools on employment updates, safeguarding requirements and management of staff including performance management. Gemma hosts several forums for HR directors, managers and Bursars within independent schools. Listed by Chambers UK as 'up and coming', Gemma has been described as having a 'good tactical approach to dealing with HR issues', being 'very swift with her advice' and as an adviser who 'acts in the client’s best interests'. She is a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.