Meet the Governors

Katy Cornish’s career has encompassed a wide variety of roles in the public and private sectors, in the UK and internationally. Through her senior roles, Katy has acquired a breadth of people management, change implementation and strategic delivery experience. These form the linchpin of her career as an executive coach and consultant.

Katy was educated at Guildford High School and the University of Nottingham. Based in Cobham now, she has travelled extensively and looks forward to family adventures in far-flung corners of the world with her two children, as they grow. Katy’s interests include spending time with friends and family, reading and baking.

Originating from the Swansea Valley, Gareth gained personal experience of an independent school when educated at Llandovery College.

Following an initial degree in Human Resource Management, he completed his PGCE in Primary Education at Aberystwyth University and a Masters in Educational Leadership and School Improvement at Cambridge University.

Throughout his career, he has worked in independent prep schools across the home counties. Now in his second Headship, he has been a Headmaster since 2008. Gareth is a trained ISI team and compliance inspector and an active member of IAPS, currently as District Representative for North London and a member of both the Board and Membership Committee. He is also a trustee of the IAPS charity, iTrust and a Governor of a Secondary Academy in Buckinghamshire where his daughters attend.

He is married to Lisa and has three daughters and a Sproodle called Humphrey, all of whom keep him busy.

Gareth loves watching and playing sport, enjoying rugby, football, cricket and golf when time permits. As an ardent follower of Swansea City, the Ospreys and Welsh rugby, he appreciates that life has its ups and downs.

Ian began his career in the City in investment banking, and following this, moved into the education sector to teach. His roles have included housemaster, senior tutor, deputy head, and Headmaster at various schools including Millfield, Wellingborough and Llandovery College. 

Following his role as Head of Llandovery, he became CEO of Gabbitas Education, worldwide educational consultants. Since 2017, he has been executive Chair of Haileybury schools in Kazakhstan and continues to consult on various overseas projects for UK independent schools. He is also a contributor to numerous publications such as The Times, The Daily Telegraph, schools’ magazines, and the Huffington Post where he offers his views and expertise on education. 

A graduate of Durham University, and a member of The Association of Corporate Treasurers, Hilary’s first career was in the City where she worked in Investment Management for a major pension fund.

Hilary worked as an independent school Bursar for 14 years, at both The Study, Wimbledon a leading prep school for girls in south-west London and at Longacre School near Guildford. In addition, Hilary has Local Authority finance experience, as well as experience in bursarial experience in the state sector.

Hilary is currently a free is freelance consultant providing bursar support in the independent sector with a particular interest in Prep schools.

Alex Hutchinson has been Headmistress at James Allen’s Girls’ School since September 2020. With over twenty years of academic and pastoral experience, gained at leading girls’ schools, both day and boarding, Alex’s previous roles include Head of Woldingham School, Head of Sixth Form at both Wimbledon High School and Central Newcastle High School, and Head of Science at St Mary’s School, Ascot.

Alex was educated at Wisbech Grammar School and gained a degree in Chemistry from Oxford University. During her time at Oxford, she was awarded an Open Exhibition as well as four Hockey Blues and two Cricket Half Blues. She subsequently obtained her PGCE at the University of Bristol and began her teaching career at Clifton College. Alex continues to take an active interest in sport, playing for a local hockey team, and also enjoys walking and cycling.

Tim Jones was appointed as a Governor of Danes Hill School and a Trustee of the Vernon Educational Trust on 13 November 2014.

Tim has more than 30 years’ experience as a corporate lawyer with Freshfields Brockhaus Deringer in the UK and Spain, eventually becoming the London Managing Partner.  On retiring from Freshfields he joined England Rugby 2015 as their general counsel.

Tim is chair of the children’ sport charity Access Sport and of the homelessness charity Connection at St Martins. He is a trustee of Safer London and a director of the Sport and Recreation Alliance.

Tim played rugby to a high level, representing Oxford University, London Welsh, Wales B and Barbarians. Tim is married to Finola and has three sons, the youngest, Conor was a pupil at Danes Hill from 2000 to 2006.

John joined the Governing Body at the end of 2022, after a career of almost four decades as a financial analyst and manager of international research businesses, including at a rating agency, the investment bank Lehman Brothers and the corporate bond research firm CreditSights.

He was educated at Canford School in Dorset and Queens’ College, Cambridge, where a degree in Modern Languages (French and German) included a year teaching English as an assistant at a secondary school in France and developed a lifelong interest in other language studies.

John lives in Wimbledon and is married, with two adult sons. Retirement from full-time work at the end of 2019 has given him more time to enjoy travel and some long-distance walking.

Arash is a private investor involved in property development both privately and through a partnership specialising in residential property.

Arash started his 20 year career in Financial Markets where he spent time as an institutional US equity broker and commodity trader at Prudential securities; Legg Mason; Friedman Billings & Ramsey, Merril Lynch and CFM.

Whilst working in the City, Arash helped set up and subsequently sell his family business which held a portfolio of restaurant chains and commercial freeholds.

Arash is immensely passionate about football with Liverpool Football Club being a close second love after his son and wife (Zach & Soraya).

Arash holds a Masters degree in International Business and Finance from the University of Reading.

Dan Tiller joined the Governing Body in 2022. He has a background in policing, having retired from the Metropolitan Police in 2017 after completing 30 years-service. Dan performed a variety of roles but majored on planning and running firearms operations within the UK, finishing as Specialist Firearms Training Director. He ran training programmes in the UK and overseas, including the US, Singapore, Israel and Europe as well as protection operations for VIP visits from President Obama and the Pope. He was instrumental in planning for the successful 2012 London Olympic Games and has 9 commendations for bravery, leadership and professionalism.

Dan holds a Master of Science degree in Policing, Leadership and Management.

Dan now runs a successful consultancy that provides security advice and training and is contracted to major companies as a Strategic Advisor and Project Manager, roles that have seen him work mainly in the UK, British Virgin Islands and the Middle East in recent years. He is still involved in policing as an advisor for training infrastructure.

Dan has lived locally for 40 years and has a wife and 2 grown-up children. He spends spare time with his family, walking Ozzie the dog and playing golf at his home club of Effingham.