Brian Payne

I am a retired senior manager with 40 years’ experience as an Executive Director and Chief Executive in the public and private health care sectors with local, national and international organisations, including 10 years as an Executive Director of the Heath Sector Skills Council. This has given me a good insight into developing and maintaining skills for employment and of the vital importance of primary, secondary and tertiary education in preparing young people for work. I have been a governor of Chipping Ongar Primary School since 2013 including a period as Chair of Governors and Vice Chair . This has given me experience of primary education and of the need to develop high level learning skills right at the beginning of a young person’s education. In 2016 I joined the Governing Board of The Ongar Academy and was Chair of Governors from 2022-2025. I am committed to the children of our local community getting an excellent educational experience at primary school, secondary school and beyond, to give them the best possible life and employment skills.  I am married with two children and four grandchildren. My wife, who is a retired independent social worker, is also committed to supporting local education and has also been a governor of Chipping Ongar Primary School for many years.

David Sykes

I have been a governor of The Ongar Academy since 2020 and I am the current Chair of Governors. During this time we have seen many changes at the school and I will do my utmost to continue the improvements made and strive to ensure that the young people at this school get the best education possible. From the solid foundations in place I expect the school to continue to flourish and provide an excellent education and experience for our students.

I have lived in the Ongar area since 2006 and I am married with two children. I’m a semi-retired IT professional, having worked for a major financial institution in the City of London for many years. During this time I was fortunate enough to travel extensively, mainly to various countries in Eastern Europe. I now work for a local business on a part time basis and I enjoy meeting many of the local people in this role.

I’m a keen follower of sport, particularly football (obsessive), rugby and cricket. My playing days are long over but I attend football matches in the Championship on a regular basis. I’m also a keen follower of the Chelmsford Chieftains Ice Hockey team and attend matches with my family several times a season.

I grew up, and was educated in, New Zealand. I graduated from the University of Waikato in 1987 with a Bachelors degree in Social Science (Geography). I try to get back to NZ most years to visit my family and enjoy the wonderful scenery and wildlife.

Graeme Read

I am married with 2 children. I have been a school governor at TOA for a number of years currently holding the position of vice chair with a link role for safeguarding.  By profession I am a degree qualified Chartered Quantity Surveyor and I am employed as a Commercial Manager for a large privately owned building contractor specialising in the construction and refurbishment of social housing across all London Boroughs and the Home Counties. I manage a team of 15 quantity surveyors of various ages and levels including mentoring trainees studying through degree apprenticeships.

I am responsible for all commercial aspects on the contracts including the management of client relationships, supply chain management, management of commercial risks, contract advice and dispute resolution. In my spare time as well as spending time with my family I am a Scout leader providing a balanced and varied weekly programme of activities and events to 40 Scouts between the ages of 10 – 14. I hold national instructor qualifications for small bore rifle shooting and archery and run training sessions for the Scouts. I also enjoy camping and outdoor pursuits with my family and socialising with friends.

David Lawrie

My name is David Lawrie and I was born and raised in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. I attended Portobello High School until 1974 and then to Heriot-Watt University where I graduated in 1978 with a degree in Building Economics and Quantity Surveying. Incidentally, with over 1,500 pupils, Portobello High School was one of the largest state schools in Europe when it opened in 1963. I became an Associate of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 1982.

I married Julie who was a nurse, also retired now, in 1979 and we have two children and grandchildren:  Circumstances meant that we moved away from Edinburgh in 1982, initially to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne for 2 years before moving to Chelmsford in 1985. I am now retired but worked as a construction consultant specialising in economics and legal aspects of the industry.  My main loves are sport (especially football, squash, golf and rugby), reading, music and spending time with the grandchildren. I’m a massive Newcastle United fan although for a very long time it has been “a labour of love” with so many disappointments over the years.

So why did I become a Governor at the Ongar Academy? At the 1996 Labour Party conference, Tony Blair who was then leader of the Labour Party, stated that his three top priorities on coming to office were "education, education, and education". I fully support what he meant by this, and I wholeheartedly agree with the principals he was driving at. Young people will be the future law makers, wealth creators, peace makers and environmentalists and it is so important that knowledge is accumulated in the early years to ensure that they can make the world a better place for everyone.

Hannah MacLennan

I am a mum of 2 pupils who attend The Ongar Academy.  I have always lived in the Ongar area, attending a local primary school and then attending Davenant Foundation School in Loughton for secondary education.  I started work at Essex Police Headquarters in their recruitment department then moved to an Investment Bank in London where I worked for 12 years before leaving when my second child was born.  I then ran a small furniture  business for 4 years which gave me the flexibility I needed to work and raise a family.  At present I help my partner in his local business with book-keeping and at a security firm as a service maanger.

In my spare time I enjoy playing tennis and going on plenty of dog walks as well as running the children around to their various clubs.

I am new to the governor's role and already had an amazing insight as to all the work that goes on behind the scenes in running the school.  I see my role as looking at all aspects from a "Parents point of view"  I care deeply about the school's success and its role in the community.