Our Governance

Miriam McKay (Old Blue) Chair of Council and Treasurer.  Miriam runs her own corporate communications consultancy business. She has spent her career working in the City of London and has a wealth of experience in marketing, communications, PR and global investment markets. Miriam is Chair of the Campaign Board and Nominations and Remuneration Committee, and is a member of the Finance and General Purposes and Investment Committees.

Jamel Banda is a senior banker and current Head of Treasury at Ghana International Bank PLC, headquartered in the City of London. He has over 15 years’ experience across global markets, corporate banking and risk, specialising in trading, restructuring and sales. Jamel has worked with many Government and parastatal institutions, with particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. He is a Governor of the City of London Freemen’s School and a member of the City of London’s Community and Children’s Services Committee.  Jamel is a member of the Campaign Board.

Alex Barr has 30 years investment management experience and is a senior figure in the industry. He is Head of Sarasin Bread Street, the private markets investment arm of City based asset management group, Sarasin & Partners LLP, of which he is also a Partner. He has previously held global and investment leadership roles at Aberdeen, Deutsche Asset Management and Janus Henderson, having started his career with Franklin Templeton. He is a member of the Investment Committee.

Nick Bensted-Smith spent more than 30 years as an investment manager. He is a Justice of the Peace in Kent and a member of the Court of Common Council in the City of London focussing on investment, finance, education and law enforcement. He is a Liveryman and Court Assistant of the Worshipful Company of Loriners, and a Freeman of the Goldsmiths. Nick is Chair of the Investment Committee.

Judy Evans (Old Blue) is a consultant plastic surgeon. She is a trustee for several charities and the first ever female Honorary Secretary of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Judy is a member of the Education and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committees and of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee.  She is Council’s safeguarding representative.

Diana Garnham (Old Blue) was formerly CEO of the Science Council and has worked closely with the science and academic communities for many years. She retains her interests in STEM education and skills and is on the Board of the Construction Industry Training Board as well as a Further Education college group. She has developed a portfolio of roles including governance and strategy consultancy support for not-for-profits. Diana chairs the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is a member of the Education Committee and the Campaign Board.

James Maclean (Old Blue) is co-founder and CEO of the Land and Water Group of Companies.  He is a member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.  He is Chairman of Bluecoat Sports and Christ’s Hospital Enterprises Limited.

Neil Maidment (Old Blue) is a Non-Executive Director at Lloyd’s of London and Ecclesiastical Insurance Group plc. He has over 35 years’ experience in the insurance market and was Chief Underwriting Officer of Beazley plc. He is a member of the Audit & Risk and Investment Committees.

Gurinder Sumra (Old Blue) is a business counsel to CEOs and senior leadership with significant front-line commercial experience of business development (including M&A) and business transformation, in addition to an extensive finance management background.  Gurinder is a member of the Audit & Risk Committee.

Ben Vessey has recently retired as Headmaster and CEO of Canford School. Prior to this he was senior Deputy Head at Christ’s Hospital.  From 2018 he served as a Council Member of the HMC and was Chair of the HMC Professional Development subcommittee. He is now Director of the HMC Projects educational charity working in Central and Eastern Europe. Ben is a member of the Education Committee.

Jenny Williams is a retired teacher. Her teaching career included twelve years at Christ’s Hospital as Head of Chemistry and, most recently at the British School Muscat, Oman. She is a member of the Education and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committees and is the Council representative for Health and Safety.

Sue Woodroofe is an experienced Headteacher, having been Principal & CEO of The British School of Brussels and, more recently, The Grammar School at Leeds. Sue served as Chair and Vice Chair of HMC from 2023-25. In 2025, she was named TES Independent Headteacher of the Year. She also has experience as an ISI inspector. Sue is Chair of the Education Committee.

John Yeomans (Old Blue) has been a hands-on angel investor since 2009, specialising in data and communications businesses. Previously he had a career in telecommunications. He is director/chairman of several growth technology businesses and mentors’ entrepreneurs. John is Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and a member of the Campaign Board.