Who We Are
Members
Gordon Banks
Graham Chase
Nick Leslau
Bina Omare
Nigel Wray
Trustees
Kate Alcock, CEO
Term of office 1/3/2017 – present (ex officio) 
Kate is the CEO of the Trust and a retired school Bursar. She is an experienced governor in the maintained and private sectors, both at primary and secondary levels. With a long background in senior business management and political lobbying she sits on the Boards of national and local charities. A qualified Chartered Surveyor and HR Practitioner she has acted for many large charities, schools and not for profit organisations over her career. She is also an adviser with Citizens Advice where she works to empower vulnerable people to enable them to find solutions to their problems. A former member of the Derbyshire Police Authority, Kate Chaired the Joint Audit Committee for the PCC and Chief Constable until April 2018 and she manages a small family estate in Derbyshire. At weekends, she can be found at StoneX Stadium and other rugby grounds, cheering on her beloved Saracens.
Gordon Banks, Trustee & Member
Term of office 1/3/2017 – 28/2/2021, 1/3/2021 – current
Gordon has over 19 years’ experience working within the community development and charity sector, 15 years of which have been with Saracens and the Saracens Foundation where he is now Community Director. Gordon has played a leading role in the development and growth of the Saracens Foundation and the charities work to use sport as a vehicle for social change and was instrumental in establishing Allianz Park, the home stadium of Saracens, as an inspiring and thriving community hub site. Gordon has been centrally involved in the creation of the vision of Saracens High School and represents the interests and responsibilities of Saracens and the Saracens Foundation in the Trust.
Dr Mariana Dodourova, Trustee
Dr Mariana Dodourova is Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education and Student Experience (interim), and Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor Enterprise & Innovation at Middlesex University. Having occupied a variety of roles spanning most academic activities, operated in senior positions in the Higher Education sector and consulted blue chip companies, Mariana holds extensive academic, managerial and business experience. She is a member of the London Chambers of Commerce’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Committee and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Mariana is passionate about making high-quality education accessible to all young learners, eliminating differential outcomes and eradicating discriminative systems and practices. In her current role, she works closely across the university campuses, faculties and professional services to support excellent student outcomes, education and student experience for the university’s diverse student body.
Alan Evans, Vice-Chair of Saracens Multi-Academy Trust
Term of office 17/9/2017 – current
Alan is a partner in the real estate team at international law firm Taylor Wessing. He has over 20 years’ experience in a wide range of commercial property transactions, specialising in investment and development projects across the office, industrial, leisure and logistics sectors. Alan is also involved in the firm’s management, sitting on the steering committees for major change projects and being responsible for group support and business development. He is regularly involved in the recruitment of fee earners and support staff. His experience gives Alan the ability to identify and analyse issues, select and manage multidisciplinary teams, and plan and implement strategies for organisations to achieve their goals.
Alan Gray, Trustee
Term of office 1/3/2017 – 28/2/2021, 1/3/2021 – current
Alan has been headteacher of Sandringham School, St. Albans for 16 years and was previously headteacher at The Hemel Hempstead School. He studied Chemistry at Exeter University before completing a PGCE and entering the teaching profession. He has worked at all leadership levels in a range of schools prior to gaining headship. He has significant experience of working with governing bodies and has led major capital projects at Sandringham to improve the quality of educational facilities at the school. Alan is a National Leader of Education and has worked closely with headteachers and senior staff at a number of secondary schools in this capacity to improve the quality of leadership and strategic planning. Alan has trained and served as an additional OFSTED inspector. He currently chairs Hertfordshire Schools Forum, the Alban Federation (ITT provider) and the Alban Teaching School Alliance and has previously chaired other local and Hertfordshire Headteacher groups. Until recently, he was a member of the DfE Secondary Headteacher Reference Group, supporting the DfE with guidance on education strategy. Most recently, Alan has formed the Alban Academies Trust, a MAT serving schools in Hertfordshire. He is executive lead for the Trust and responsible for the improvement in education across member schools. He has significant experience of school leadership and how to create an outstanding learning environment for all. Alan has a variety of interests outside education. He is a licensed Radio Amateur and currently runs a radio club promoting electronics and communications to students at Sandringham. He is also passionate about sport, particularly rugby, and continues to play competitively for Old Albanian Rugby Club.
Louise Jacobs, Trustee
Louise is a qualified executive and leadership coach with 30 years experience in the commercial and not-for-profit worlds. She has worked in financial PR and venture capital and is currently a trustee of Work Avenue and Spread a Smile. Louise has also been Chair of UJIA for over 8 years, building communities and connections with Israel, primarily supporting young people. She is an NED of Lola’s Cupcakes and has been involved with Unitas, the youth centre located in Grahame Park. Louise has extensive fundraising experience.
Lucy Maislish, Trustee
Term of Office: 1/9/23 – 31/8/27
Lucy is a senior legal counsel and Managing Director at global financial services organisation, Macquarie. She has over 15 years’ experience in the financial services sector, advising on risk and governance. As chair or member of committees addressing governance and legal risk, Lucy has developed skills in probing details, challenging assumptions, questioning effectiveness of processes and helping to identify critical issues.
Lucy is committed to diversity and inclusion, actively participating in an employee-led gender balance network and a range of mentoring programmes. She is also a Trustee of Mitzvah Day, a faith-led social action charity.
Lee Manning, Trustee, Chair of Audit and Risk Committee
Term of office 1/3/2017 – 28/2/2021, 1/3/2021 – current
Lee recently retired as a partner in Deloitte’s Restructuring Services business and has over 25 years restructuring experience. Lee has specialised in all aspects of corporate recovery, IBR’s, business advisory, administrations and liquidations since 1983 when qualifying with Touche Ross. He joined Deloitte in 2004 after spending over 14 years with Kroll, 12 of those as a partner, during which time he initiated and developed their receivership practice and established as a hands-on advisor to struggling businesses and their lenders covering a wide range of industries operating in the Mid Market. Lee has extensive experience both in advisory capacity and as an administrator in the retail, media, leisure, professional football, catering, manufacturing and property industries and has good experience in both the telecoms and construction consulting sectors. He has regularly provided expert evidence and testimony for litigation support assignments covering issues such as causes of insolvency, breaches of fiduciary duties and the conduct of office holders. Lee is a regular public speaker and lecturer on a range of business finance issues including football finance and retail.
Ian Marcus OBE, Chair of Nominations Committee
Term of office 08/07/2021 – current
Ian graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1981 with a degree in Land Economy. Ian was in the banking industry for over 32 years having previously worked for Bank of America, UBS, NatWest and Bankers Trust/Deutsche, always focusing on the real estate industry. Ian joined Credit Suisse First Boston in 1999 to establish the Real Estate Group, and became Managing Director and Chairman of the European Real Estate Investment Banking.
Ian is a member of Redevco’s Advisory Board, the Senior Independent Director for both Secure Income REIT and Shurgard Self Storage, and a Non Executive Director for Town Centre Securities Plc. He is a Senior Adviser to both Eastdil Secured and Anschutz Entertainment Group. He is also President of the Cambridge University Land Society and a Senior Advisor to two new Businesses, Work Life and Elysian Residences. He chaired the Princes Regeneration Trust for 11 years and is now a Trustee of the Princes Foundation.
Ian is a former Crown Estate Commissioner, a past President of the British Property Federation, past Chairman of the Investment Property Forum, a Fellow of the RICS and for 10 years chaired the Bank of England Commercial Property Forum.
Ian was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in HM Queen’s 2020 Birthday Honours List.
Laurie O’Brien, Trustee
Laurie was appointed 3 years ago as Headteacher of a Junior School in Watford. He worked with former Saracen, Will Fraser, to help establish the values of the school: “Passion, Resilience, Collaboration and Integrity.” The school’s aim is “Making Lives Better.” Laurie has a personal connection with Peter Harvey and will be of particular value as we prepare to open a primary school.
Kevin Perry, Chair of Trustees
Term of office 14/12/2017 – current
Chair from 01/02/23
Kevin was a solicitor for 32 years working as a commercial litigator. For 25 of those years, he was a partner and for a large number of those years he was the head of the litigation department. That meant that among others he developed the following skill sets: strategic thinking; organisational skills; an understanding of the importance of compliance; the highest demands for ethical standards; management of budgets; an ability to challenge people and fight a corner when necessary; good interpersonal skills with an ability to work well in teams, and an ability to take tough decisions when needed.
He has been very fortunate in his career, and has always looked, albeit in a small way, to contribute outside of his day job. This has included being the Chairman of a fund-raising committee for the NSPCC, helping to set up and then become a Trustee of the Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau and sit on its employment and finance sub-committee. He sat on the fund raising committee for sports tours of his sons’ school and he was also the head of Pro Bono in the London office and sat on the firm-wide international committee. Since retiring in December 2021, Kevin has enjoyed spending more time in school and becoming a grandfather.
Anthony Smith, Trustee
Term of office 9/11/2017 – current
Anthony is the deputy headteacher of The Reach Free School in Rickmansworth leading on curriculum and data. His previous SLT roles included STEM, Inclusion and Safeguarding. He was previously an assistant headteacher and school governor at Rickmansworth School. A teacher of maths and physical education, he has held roles leading on progress and achievement, behaviour and promoting the education and well-being of disadvantaged pupils. He is inextricably linked to the Saracens family with his wife working for the Saracens Foundation.
Mitesh Velani, Trustee
Term of office 1/3/2017 – 28/2/2021, 1/3/2021 – current
Mitesh is a Chartered Accountant who trained & qualified with Deloitte’s Banking & Financial Markets division in 2006. Client base included Royal Bank of Scotland, Morgan Stanley & Merrill Lynch. After a 12-month secondment to the Corporate Finance arm of Deloitte, principally working on mergers & acquisitions, Mitesh left the Company to become Director and Co-owner of Moonlight Foods Ltd, a start-up in the FMCG sector. Mitesh joined Saracens in 2010 as Finance Director and moved to Chief Operating Officer and most recently Chief Executive Officer. Mitesh left Saracens in an Executive capacity at the start of 2020 but remains close to the Club. Having grown up in North London, Finchley, Mitesh has a personal attachment to the area and is keen to be involved with the development of educational services in the borough of Barnet.
Committee Chairs
Chair of Trustees: Kevin Perry
Chair of Audit and Risk: Lee Manning
Chair of Governors: Ruth Sack
To view Member and Trustee declarations please click here