Safeguarding Lead

Non-executive director

Ilona has always been passionate about education and the importance of empowering young people to be aspirational in life and aim for ‘the higher gifts’. Ilona believe that education should offer a breath and variety of learning experiences but must also develop high standards and values. Ilona has a strong faith which is very important to her and this has helped her to lead through service and example.

Ilona qualified as an English and PE teacher in 1976 and went on to teach in secondary schools in London, Birmingham and Bedford until she retired in July 2015. Ilona held the posts of Head of Department, Head of Year, Assistant Head and Deputy Head and during all of these roles she learned a lot, as well as supporting others (students and colleagues) in their learning.

Through Ilona’s senior leadership roles she has worked closely with Bedford Local Education Authority; especially in the areas of, inclusion, behaviour and safeguarding.

Non-executive director

Paul has lived in Stotfold for over 30 years, has a special interest in education provision in the local area and has served as a trustee and governor at BEST for more than 8 years. Most of his working life has been in education as a university academic, researcher and manager. He has also had commercial experience in publishing, including running his own company.  Paul retired from his last position at the University of London in 2016, and now spends most of his time writing fiction. He also leads and facilitates creative writing courses and workgroups. He is a member of the Society of Authors and the Historical Writers Association.  

Executive director

Alan Lee is an educationalist. He is the Chief Executive Officer of BEST, a National Leader of Education, former Lead Ofsted Inspector, academic and public speaker.  As both an Executive Principal and Headteacher he has led schools, across all phases to outstanding status, securing numerous awards and exceptional year-on-year outcomes. As leader of both a National Support School and Teaching School he has successfully delivered school improvement projects across the South East. 

Alan’s doctoral thesis on Distributed Leadership, was the BELMAS Thesis of Year Runner-Up in 2009; he has published a number of papers in different journals (see Boundary Spanners, NCSL: 2010); and, he is remains the only non-US recipient of the Excellence in Educational Leadership Award (UCEA, 2009). Alan has visited, studied and presented papers to a range of audiences in some of the highest performing jurisdictions in the world, including: Singapore, New South Wales and Massachusetts. 

Under Alan’s leadership, BEST has continued to expand and excel.  Alan joined BEMAT (Bedfordshire East Multi-Academy Trust) in April 2016, relaunching the Trust as BEST (Bedfordshire Schools Trust) in September of the same year.  Since then, three further schools have joined BEST, a second BEST Nursery has opened and a new-build Free School – Pix Brook Academy - has been delivered on time and in budget.  Numerous successful Ofsted inspections have been completed and attainment outcomes for students have been amongst the highest in the country.

Non-executive director

Anthony has a passion for education and worked in the Further Education Sector for thirty five years.  Starting as a part-time teacher he went on to become the Quality Director at Bedford College, Curriculum Director at Hammersmith and West London and later Vice Principal of a group of Colleges in Surrey.  He has always believed that students of any age have the right to expect and receive a quality of education that is second to none.

Anthony qualified as teacher gaining his Cert Ed in 1985 and went onto achieve his Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) in 2001.  His career in teaching and educational management took him across the country from the South East to Yorkshire and Anthony continues to run his own management consultancy business in the education sector.

Anthony lives in Northamptonshire with his wife.

Non-executive director 

During a successful 30-year career, David specialised in risk management within a number of well-known financial houses, ending his career with the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development. David has significant experience of leading business reorganisations and consistently promoted best-in class risk management, governance, policies and internal controls in complex financial institutions. He was frequently granted significant personal delegated authority in these institutions.

In early 2017 David took early retirement and became involved in local education. Until recently David held board positions with a Hertfordshire Multi-Academy Trust, and a leading independent school in Hertfordshire. In both institutions David chaired and sat on various committees including Finance and Audit. David is currently a member of Professional Risk Management International Association (PRMIA), and a member of the Institute of Directors

Non-executive director

Nafia worked as Chief Financial Officer for BEST for 9 years before retiring at the beginning of May 2023. She has a BSc (Hons) in Genetics and Maths and started her career in research and statistical analysis for both the Government and the private sector.  Nafia also spent two years with HMRC.  She joined the education sector in 1994 to accommodate her family responsibilities which has given her 30 years of experience in education finance.

While working Nafia also volunteered in the community.  When her children were young she was Treasurer of the local Toddler Group, Chair of the local Playgroup and a School Governor of two schools.  Both of her children were educated locally, including time at Samuel Whitbread.

In her retirement, Nafia serves as a member of the Bedfordshire Pension Fund Board and is providing support with respect to financial processes and governance for a small but rapidly growing company.