From a family of teachers, Brian is aware of the importance of education and the opportunities that good teaching offers. After a post graduate degree in the States, he qualified as a barrister. Brian practiced for 30 years in crime before becoming a Judge at the Old Bailey in 2001. He had the privilege of being the senior Judge and Recorder of London. Brian has been able to serve on The Portal Trust board for a number of years and as a former Chairman was able to institute a number of reforms for better training and accountability. He is pleased to be part of the wide contribution that the Trust has, and continues, to make.

Anton was appointed as a Governor in May 2024, having been an Ambassador from March 2021. Anton has a passion for improving the academic standards and access to quality employment opportunities for children and young people in inner- City London; he serves as a Governor of Bow School and previously led Clifford Chance LLP’s pro Bono relationship with The Difference , an educational charity which exists to improve the life-outcomes of the most vulnerable children by raising the status and expertise of those who educate them.

Anton was born and raised in Tower Hamlets and educated at Bow School and Tower Hamlets College (now New City College, Tower Hamlets) before studying law at the University of Cambridge. Anton is an asset finance lawyer and Partner at international law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.

Trevor is Rector of Stepney, and has a background in business and social enterprise. He wrote the business plan which started St Martin-in-the-Fields restaurant, bookshop, market and gallery and was the first General Manager. He also planned and built the conference centre and guest house at St Matthew’s Westminster. Trevor believes that the energy, discipline and professionalism of the commercial world are vital in the voluntary sector.

Sophie is a Common Councilman for the City of London, first elected in 2009 and holds the position of Deputy Chairman for Licensing. For her day job she currently works for a global technology company and has previously worked for a global fund manager; communications agencies; in the Policy Unit of the Institute of Directors; and for an executive search firm in New York. Educated at her local state schools in Hayes and Hillingdon, Sophie read American Studies at Brunel University before completing a Masters in International Political Economy at the University of Leeds. Outside of professional life, Sophie has held positions as Chairman of Finance for a local authority school, and as a Governor for both the City of London and Christ Hospital schools, as well as a trustee for the independent charitable trust, Trust for London. She is also currently a Non-Executive Director for the Ulysses Trust.

David Hogben chairs the Audit and Risk Committee. He has a background in telecommunications, and was a key player in the privatisation of the UK telecoms industry and subsequently advised governments and telcos internationally. He has a proven track record to managing director level in regulation, compliance, strategic development, customer service, business planning and corporate governance.

A keen supporter of providing outdoor learning opportunities for young people, David was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community for his work in making sailing accessible to all.

Denise Jones has lived in Cable Street, Wapping, since 1967. She trained as a Graphic Designer at Brighton College of Art. She is also a qualified teacher and taught in junior schools in Tower Hamlets. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of East London in 2008 for services to culture and regeneration in East London and is a Freeman of the City of London 2002.

She owns a small business, Brick Lane Bookshop Ltd that promotes literature through author events in the shop and in schools. Her independent publishing company BLB Press Ltd runs an annual short story prize, promoting new writers work in published short story collections and podcasts.

She served as a Labour Councillor for St Katharine’s and Wapping Ward from 1994-­2022. She is a former Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader, Lead Member for Culture and Heritage, Adult and Health, and the Civic Mayor and was Chair of Mile End Park Partnership that built the £27m Millennium Park. She led on changing LBTH libraries into Idea Stores. She has been Chair of the Mayor’s Loneliness Taskforce since 2018, working with local partners to find ways to alleviate loneliness for people of all ages in the borough.

Denise is a co-­founder and Director of the Rich Mix Cultural Centre that celebrates the diversity of multicultural London through arts and educational programmes, She is a Board Member of Young V&A, Trinity Buoy Wharf, Aldgate & Allhallows Foundation, Create London, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, and a Director of Mulberry Academy Trust.

She has served on the Boards of Tower Hamlets NHS Primary Care Trust, Arts Council London, Museum of London and Docklands, Wilton’s Music Hall Trust, Visit London, Tour East, Whitechapel Art Gallery, CIDA, Eastside Arts, Half Moon YPT, ALG Culture & Tourism, Greenwich & Docklands Festival, Women’s Library Council, Heritage of London Trust, TH Homes, East End Homes, Cultural Industries Development Agency, St Katharine’s and Shadwell Trust. East End Community Foundation and East London Foundation Trust (health).

As Rector of St Botolph without Aldgate, Laura is an ex-officio Governor of The Trust. Since ordination in 2000, Laura has been involved with early years, primary and secondary schools, independent schools and higher education both inside and outside London. Laura is also Governor of The Aldgate School. Her particular interest is access to education for kids from the poorest backgrounds.

Jenny Moseley was Assistant Vice President of the National Geographic Society with responsibility for marketing the Society’s products, including National Geographic Magazine, across Europe. She is also an experienced fundraiser, working for a number of national charities as a direct marketing consultant. She has been Chairman of the Direct Marketing Association UK and a Vice President of the Federation of European Direct and Digital Marketing. Jenny’s current career is as Director of permission marketing data protection consultancy, Opt-4.

Sarwar is a solicitor and currently Group General Counsel & UK Company Secretary of a global company. Motivated by a desire to give back, he is passionate about the power of education to transform lives. Sarwar previously served as a Global Fellow of the Prime Minister, as well as a Governor at the London School of Economics, where he read Law as an undergraduate. Sarwar holds an MBA from BPP Business School. He is also a Governor of Stepney All Saints School.