Trustees

Mark Jeffries is the former senior partner of the national law firm Mills & Reeve LLP.  He is now Chairman of N W Brown Group Ltd (an investment management group) and a Non-Executive Director of R G Carter Holdings Ltd and the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust where he also chairs the Charitable Funds Committee. He is a member of Council of the Norwich University of the Arts and a board member of the Norfolk Museums Development Foundation. Between 2014 and 2017 he was a member of the Regional Schools Commissioner’s board for the East of England and NE London. Previous external roles were as an elected member of the CBI Council in the Eastern Region and as a member of the Bank of England’s Economic Advisory Panel for the East of England.

Having been the Chair of Governors at Poplars Community Primary School in Lowestoft for 3 years, David Rich joined the Evolution Academy Trust Board of Trustees in 2017 and is also the Chair of the Academy Finance Committee.  

Outside of his work in education, David holds a number of company Directorships in businesses ranging from Virtual Reality applications, software and data processing.  David is also an associate with a major UK investment broker, raising funds for businesses looking for growth and support.  He is passionate about positive outcomes, both in business and for children.

Drew Whitehead joined Evolution Academy Trust as a Trustee in 2018 following on from the role of Chair of Governors at Eaton Primary School where he oversaw the move from local authority to academy status. 

Drew has worked in the IT and Financial services industries for over 30 years as a Senior IT Leader and Consultant, with a focus on strategic planning and organisational transformation.  Drew lives in Norwich with his wife and has two children who attend Evolution Academy Trust schools.

Keith Philpott is Head of Learning and Development for Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies.  He is a Senior Police Officer with over 25 years’ service in leadership roles within investigation and public protection roles.  He was previously the Vice Chair of Governors at Eaton Primary School, Consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers and a Strategic Analyst at the Home Office/Department of Environment.

Adrian Matthews is the Owner of XE Associates Management Consultancy.  He is also a Non-Executive Director, Chair of the Finance and Business Board sub-committee and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.  Adrian is a member of the Audit Committee for Norfolk Police and Crime Commission and Norfolk Police.   He is a National Trainer for NHS Employers for the NHS Job Evaluation scheme. Previous roles include Director of Strategy and Business Development and Director of Non- Emergency Services for the Ambulance Services.  Adrian was previously Vice Chair of Trustees at Diversa Multi Academy Trust, and a Governor at Angel Road Schools Federation and at Hellesdon High School. Adrian is a Director for Diversa Trading Limited, that deals with the commercial services run by Evolution.

Rhys Jarvis is a Non-Executive, with Sheffield City Region Mayoral Authority as a member of the Risk and Standards Committee.  He is a Non-Executive Vice Chair, with South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority on the Risk and Audit Committee.  Rhys is a Member Advisory Council and previous Board Member for German Industry UK, Vice Chair of REAch2 East Anglian Regional Board.  He is President of the Southwold Museum and Historical Society Charitable Trust and a Fellow of The Institute of Directors.  Previously he was a Non-Executive member of Network Rail and a Council Member of Rail Industry Association.  He held positions of the Chair and Managing Director of Voith Turbo Ltd, Board Member and Head of Operations at Alstom Transport Limited.  He was the Divisional Group Managing Director and Corporate Planning Director at Luxfer Group plc.