MEET OUR GOVERNORS

ST VINCENT’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

1 Pierrepoint Road, Acton, London W3 9JR

 Chair of Governors - Mrs Mary Umrigar -  mumrigar@stvps.co.uk

Clerk to the Governing Body - Mrs Catherine Hughes - khughes@stvps.co.uk

Governor Biographies

Mr Michael Arthur (Parent Governor)

I have lived and worked in Acton since 2008. I trained as a Maths teacher in 2002 and have worked ever since in state schools in Australia and England. I am currently the Head of Sixth Form at a local secondary school with prior experience as Head of Maths of a large department. I am committed to ensuring that every student maximises their potential in school and ensuring that teachers continue to develop and refine their practice. As of September 2021 I have two children in the school.

Mrs Pat Brady (Staff Governor) 

My links with St Vincent’s started in 2001, when my eldest of five children joined St Vincent's. As a parent, I was an active member of the PTA and a parent volunteer.  In 2015, I joined the School Office Team, with key roles such as Attendance, School Welfare Officer, and most recently Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.  With this experience, I bring to the Governing Body a rounded perspective of the children and families that make up the St Vincent’s community. I am interested in all areas of the school curriculum, especially the strategies that enable our children to reach their full potential both academically and emotionally.

Mrs Evadne Cookman (Foundation Governor)

I have lived in the local community for many years. My children and niece all went to St. Vincent’s. This is my second stint at governorship at this school.  In the past I have been fortunate enough to have been able to contribute to the life of the school as a member of the Parents Association, parent governor and chair of governors.  During my time as chair of governors I was closely involved in the first four classroom brick built extension and nature area in the playground. My working background is in the National Health Service (NHS), specifically, Clinical Neurophysiology which deals with disorders primarily affecting the brain, muscles, and nerves. In addition to this, I contribute to the judicial system and have been a magistrate for over 20 years.

Alex Cornell (Local Authority Governor)

I was educated at the Leys School Cambridge before completing a Degree in Economics at Durham University. My professional career has been as a Management/Strategy consultant for 8 years at KPMG, Santander and Aon before leaving the City to join Dixons Carphone as an Account Manager in 2018. I live in Acton with my wife and two children. I am a keen sports fan - mostly Rugby (I briefly helped coaching Wasps U18 at Twyford), Football and NFL - and have assisted in the Alumni/University/Careers programs at the Leys over the years. 

Jules Faulkner  (Foundation Governor / Chair of Curriculum Committee / Personal Development / Well-Being)

I joined the governing body after six years as a parent at St Vincent’s, during which time I was a regular volunteer involved in various aspects of school life. Prior to motherhood, children and families were at the heart of much of my work as a producer of documentary films covering subjects ranging from adoption to child protection. I’m especially interested in the positive impact which access to the arts has on children’s learning and am passionate about the joy of reading!

Ms Marcella Phelan MBE (Foundation Governor / Safeguarding and Child Protection)

I am a former senior manager at Ealing Council Children and Families service, with an extensive background in social care and safeguarding. I have lived and worked in the area for many years and in 2018 was awarded an MBE for services to young people in Ealing. I am also a Trustee at Brentford FC CST and Chair a local Youth Mentoring Project.

Jonathan Powell (Co-opted Governor / Chair of Resources Committee / Health and Safety) 

Jonathan joined St Augustine’s Priory as Bursar and Clerk to the Governors in January 2017. He was co-opted as a Governor of
St Vincent’s in 2018. Born in Sydney, Jonathan was educated at Wellington College and read modern languages at Southampton University before serving in the Royal Navy. In 1990 he moved to the not-for-profit sector and from 2000 to 2016 was CEO of three charities. Jonathan is a Magistrate on the West London bench, a role he has fulfilled for more than 20 years.
He lives in West Ealing, is married and has two children. His wife, Sarah, works in the pharmaceutical industry.  Their daughter works for Barclays Bank in Canary Wharf and their son has recently completed a degree in chemistry at Durham University.

Emma Shanahan (Foundation Governor / Behaviour and Attitudes/ Personal Development)

I am a full-time parent of 2 children and have been part of the St. Vincent’s school community since 2013. I have a son who previously attended St Vincent's and a daughter who is currently at the school. I was a Parent Governor under the last Headship and am now a Foundation Governor.
I studied Humanities and worked in Journalism and Finance. I am originally from New Zealand with an international upbringing and broad education. I am heartened by our diverse, inclusive school community and have watched the children propelled from infancy to wing-toting teens. I am delighted to play a strategic role in the further evolution and betterment of the school.

Ms Jenifer Travassos (Parent Governor)

I am a parent Governor with St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School in Acton since 2021 and an active member of the school community since 2017.  I worked in the banking sector for a couple of multinational banks and now taking time off from my
active career, looking after my 3 children. My eldest daughter is studying medicine and my other two children are in High school and Primary school.
I reside in Ealing Common and am a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes in Acton.
My interest in becoming a Governor was driven by my desire to contribute to the school and local community, while gaining a greater understanding of education as I understand education influences individuals to play an important part in progress and development of our society.

Mrs Mary Umrigar (Chair of Governors)

I  joined the Governing Body as a former career Local Government Officer,  working across Ealing Council's Childrens and Adult Services with a lead responsibility for performance and Government inspection  support. In addition I managed the statutory complaints function for the services, along with project managing a range of operational and strategic projects. I am a local Ealing resident with a keen interest in children's education and the opportunity education delivers to enable all our children to reach their potential. 

Dr Sophia Varadkar (Curriculum, Medical/Welfare)

Dr Sophia Varadkar is a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist and Deputy Medical Director at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, where her clinical work focuses on the care of children and young people with epilepsy.  She completed her undergraduate degree at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland and her postgraduate medical training in Dublin and London.  She has a PhD in Neuroscience from University College London.  Originally from Dublin, she now lives in the local area with her husband and two children.  Sophia loves to cook for family and friends. Her guilty pleasure is classic rock music.   She is delighted to join the team of Governors at St Vincent's Catholic Primary School

St Vincent's Catholic Primary School

Governing Body 2021 /2022