Bill Browne is Professor of Statistics at the School of Education, University of Bristol. He grew up in South Wales before studying for all of his degrees in the mathematical sciences department at the University of Bath. After studying he held postdoctoral research positions at the Institute of Education in London before lecturing in the School of Mathematics at the University of Nottingham. He moved with his family in 2007 to Wrington as he took up his Chair in Biostatistics at the School of Veterinary Sciences in Langford before changing schools within the University in 2014. Within the chool of Education he runs the centre for multilevel modelling and has previously been deputy research director. The centre is made up of quantitative researchers who create methods and software to analyse educational datasets. His research is into the development of statistical methods, statistical software and applications of statistics to problems in many disciplines including education, ecology, animal behaviour and veterinary epidemiology. He was also the founding director of the Jean Golding lnstitute for Data Intensive Research, a cross-faculty research institute at the University which he set up in his term of office from 2015-2017. Outside of the day job he is also a governor of Wrington Church of England Primary School.

Dr James Lee is Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of College: Health, Science and Society at the University of the West of England, Bristol.

He began his career as a Tudor political historian and, after some time working in financial services, has worked in Higher Education since 1999 at universities across the UK and abroad. He leads the education innovation portfolio at UWE Bristol, alongside other governance roles in the education and healthcare sectors.

A passionate advocate of learning, teaching, enquiry and critical reflection, he has dedicated his working life to supporting students to achieve the very best outcomes in their journeys by creating the optimum conditions for success. His commitment to students is mirrored by his advocacy for staff support and development.

The Cathedral School has been an integral part of Stephen Parsons’ life for over 50 years. He became a Chorister in September 1962 when Clifford Harker was Master of Choristers and attended the Cathedral School. Cecil Rich was Headmaster, and Douglas Harrison was Dean. Stephen went on to read Law at Leeds University. He stayed in touch with BCS via the ex-Choristers Association and Old Boys and was President of the Old Cathedralians in 1988. He worked in the Defence and Nuclear Sector. Stephen became a Governor of BCS in 2002 and Chairman of Governors in 2004.He led the school’s transition from a fee-charging school (Bristol Cathedral School) to an Academy (Bristol Cathedral Choir School) in 2008. He welcomed the opening of Cathedral Primary School in September 2013, which helps fulfil the vision for a first-class “all-through” educational institution within the shadow of Bristol Cathedral. In 2016 the Cathedral Schools Trust was formed and this MAT now includes 7 Schools [three secondary and four primary schools] and educates 4000 pupils. Stephen became a Deputy Lieutenant of the County & City of Bristol in 2010.He was Chair of Quartet Community Foundation[2009-2014], the LEP Social Enterprise Sector Group[2011-2016] and was Master of The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals [2009-2010]. He has been Chair of the Cathedral Trust since 2013. In 2019 Stephen was installed a Capitular Canon of Bristol Cathedral and is a member of Chapter.

Roger has served as a Deputy Lord Lieutenant in the City and County of Bristol and served as the city’s High Sheriff during 2018-19.  He was awarded the MBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours list. 

He taught for 19 years in Bristol secondary schools including time as a headteacher before becoming Director of Education at the Industrial Society and then Director of the Heads, Teachers and Industry Trust. In these roles he was responsible for delivering government and private sector contracts across the UK and globally on education leadership, employment of young people and corporate social responsibility for businesses.   He is particularly proud of working with Zulu schools and communities in South Africa 

Throughout his career his commitment has been to promoting social mobility in young people and engaging business with the education sector.   Roger ran the Ablaze charity in Bristol for seven years.   This initiative saw that business volunteers supported thousands of less advantaged young people in reading, numeracy and as mentors.   It was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary service. 

Mandy is the Dean of Bristol, a role which combines leadership of the cathedral with a place on the Bishop’s staff as the senior priest in the diocese. Mandy comes to Bristol having been Director of Discipleship and Ministry in the Diocese of Southwark with responsibility for the training and professional development of clergy. She also held the role of Canon Chancellor in Southwark Cathedral with particular oversight of education in the cathedral.

Mandy  was brought up in Hong Kong in an army family and educated in Wiltshire. She studied fine art in London before training as a teacher in Exeter where she subsequently spent ten years teaching in the junior department of the Maynard School.

After the call to ordination, Mandy studied theology in Oxford and began her ministry on a deprived estate in Leicester city centre. During this time and her subsequent ministry on a mixed estate on the edge of the city Mandy retained her involvement in education and with children and young people, acting as a school governor and trustee of a number of charities working with excluded and vulnerable young people. Mandy’s partner, Anne, is a former primary school teacher. Together they enjoy theatre, live music and gardening.

Jane's family is Welsh but she has lived in Bristol (except for three years at Aberystwyth University and three years working in London) since 1962.  Jane's mother and her cousins were all school or university teachers so Jane went down a completely different route and became a lawyer.  Prior to Jane's retirement in 2019 she was a solicitor for 40 years;  for over 30 of those years Jane worked specialising in property litigation for one of Bristol's major law firms.

Jane first became involved in school governance in November 2011 as an LA governor of Little Mead Primary School.  When the school became an academy in October 2012, changing its name in due course to Endeavour Academy Trust,  Jane assisted in setting up the Trust and became one of the first trustees and members.  From 2015 to 2020, Jane was chair of the trustees and then remained a member of the Trust throughout and was involved as chair of trustees in adding other primary schools into the trust and recruiting head teachers.  When Endeavour Academy Trust merged with Trust in Learning (Academies) in August 2023, Jane became a member of Trust in Learning.

Jane is currently trustee of a number of charitable trusts including North Bristol Advice Centre.  Jane is also the Safeguarding Officer for Redland Park United Reformed Church in Bristol.  

Hugh retired after a career which started in the private sector and then moved into the civil service, where he worked in HM Treasury, the Department for Local Government and Housing, and finally the Ministry of Justice. He has also run his own consultancy company.   

He has been a Chief Executive of a Government Agency, worked with national politicians and led large teams across the UK and Europe.   

He is passionate about the role that education can play in delivering social justice. To that end he has previously held non-executive roles within the University, safeguarding and Academy Trust sectors.   

He is currently a Trustee of a charity that represents Housing Associations in Wales (Community Housing Cymru) and is a trustee of a pension fund.   

Hugh joined the TiLA Board as a Member and Director in December 2024 and is committed to the improvement of educational opportunities for children and young people.