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Rose is passionate about changing lives and life-chances for the better and is proud to be Chair of Governors at St John’s College. She began her career as a teacher for children with SEND, is a former director of Children’s services in four authorities across the country authorities (two in the South East, one in the West Midlands and one in the South West), has worked as a DfE intervention adviser and served as a non-executive CCG director. 

Rose is an English graduate, an executive coach (ILM Level 7), and an experienced leader with extensive experience in designing, leading, and facilitating leadership and development programmes. Recent examples include programmes addressing equity with system leaders, managers and practitioners across a London Council area and reducing racial disparities with a number of regional adoption agencies, as well as leading equality, equity, inclusion and diversity sessions with leadership teams, governors, and trustees, co-leading a number of ‘Women in Leadership’ courses and leading LGA peer reviews. 

She is a Staff College Associate, and co-authored ‘Leading in Colour: the fierce urgency of NOW’, published by The Staff College, designed to be both an urgent call for action and a helpful resource to support leaders across the public sector be and stay inclusive, diverse, and fair and wrote the Staff College publications ‘Just Fair’ and ‘Just Heart, Just Hope, Just ßäßäӰԺ’ on racial disparities across the Youth Justice system and permanence for global majority children, respectively. She is one of the facilitators on the Women in Leadership programmes.

Rose is an active Chair of Governors, a trustee for a Multi-Academy Trust and serves as a Laurel Trust trustee, a national charity supporting research and innovation by schools serving areas of multiple disadvantages. She is the Independent Person for her local council, and a Samaritans volunteer. 

Linda joined Ambitious about Autism in August 2013. She has worked with autistic people or people with disabilities for the last 20 years. Linda is a qualified post-16 SEN lecturer and spent the first five years of her career working in Further Education (FE) colleges. She then moved into the charity sector where she set up and managed a number of services to develop the skills of autistic people and those with learning disabilities. These services included independent travel training, supported employment, and a variety of lifelong learning and social enterprise schemes. Linda is motivated by her belief in the abilities of people with learning disabilities and how support can help them to reach their full potential.

My teaching career path began in secondary schools then further education colleges, specialising in vocational and academic studies. Achieving a postgraduate diploma in Management Studies enabled me to progress into curriculum leadership. Transferring my focus to the independent specialist sector was a very positive move, gaining highly relevant experience in senior management roles at a specialist college in Surrey before working at St. John’s College.

Leading and contributing to the work of a dedicated transdisciplinary team of staff here, where learners achieve significant outcomes that make a real difference to the quality of their lives continues to be an absolute privilege.

Mohit is the CEO of a technology and strategy consulting group based in Brighton. With a career based in enterprise and entrepreneurship, Mohit is passionate about technology and innovation as well as improving access into the work place for young people.

Stephen has a child at St John’s College and joined the Governing Body in November 2023.

I'm a community governor and proud of my city. I want to help ensure that its Youth get every opportunity to be the best they can be, both personally and professionally.  

I've worked with young people most of my life. First as a Detached Youth Worker in Hastings and St Leonards, then as a Attendance and Welfare officer in Southampton before I became a Head of Year 7 and 8 in Bexhill. I now run training courses for people working with 11- to 25-year-olds on classroom management, restorative practice, antibullying, and professional conduct, as well as giving talks in schools on nonviolent conflict resolution. In my spare time I like to get involved in my local community. I moved to Brighton seven years ago and found it to be such a welcoming, diverse and creative place that I am proud to call my home. So, I now look to its future by aiding and ensuring its youth get every opportunity possible.

Bio coming soon.

Paul is the Director of Education for Ambitious about Autism, supporting the work of our schools and colleges. Prior to joining the organisation in 2024, Paul was Director of Education for a Multi Academy Trust of special schools and has also been Head of a Residential Special School, achieving Outstanding OFSTED ratings for both education and care. Throughout his career, Paul has worked within a variety of SEND settings in education and care, and before retraining as teacher, was a senior social worker for children and families. Paul completed his Doctorate in Education through the University of Reading and is also a Trustee of The Elliot Foundation Academy Trust.

Jo is an education professional with more than two decades of experience in facilitating group discussion, debate and decision-making. Currently she is teaching Politics and Citizenship at Brighton and Hove Sixth Form College. Jo has a background in psychology and politics and interest in mental health and wellbeing in education, inclusive education for neurodiverse and low income students, decolonising the curriculum and education for sustainable development.

 I am a mum of three and I live along the coast in Worthing but originally from Kent – so not far! I love cooking, walking my dogs, travel, art, interior design, films, and being a mum.

I have worked at St John’s College for over three years. I started as an LSW, became a tutor after six months, and began my new role as the Operations Coordinator and Placement Review Assistant in September 2024. Prior to this, I worked for a year in a SEN primary, ran my own childcare business for 15 years, and briefly became an emergency foster carer for two siblings.  Having a career that is rewarding and valuable within our society is vital to me, something more than just a ‘job’.  St. John’s has given this to me. I entered teacher training with an intention to focus on SEN at the end of it so being at the college has fulfilled my dream. I am beyond grateful for the opportunities I have been given and the chance to push myself to my full potential. I also get to work with an incredible bunch of colleagues every day; I learn so much from them and also from our amazing cohort. It’s a privilege to support our learners, to witness their resilience and determination every day, to share this small window of their lives, and do our best to help them reach their full potential.  

I am delighted at this opportunity I have been given; to support the staff and learners and have the chance to make a positive difference. I am honoured to have been voted in and I look forward to making positive contributions.