St Christopher’s is an educational charity and its governors act in a similar way to non-executive directors, serving the school on a voluntary basis.
The composition of the board reflects the wider requirements of the school, with each governor offering skills and expertise in a specific area, reflecting the school’s evolving needs. We are extremely fortunate to have leading educationalists, including the current heads of Godolphin and Latymer and Notting Hill Prep and the former chief executive of the Girls’ Schools Association, as well as governors with financial, legal, psychological and scientific, design and marketing backgrounds. A number of the governors are current or past parents, although the number of current parents is capped for governance purposes.
The governors’ main purpose is to act as guardians for standards at the school and to ensure compliance with governance. They seek to ensure that pupils are given the best possible, broad and creative education in surroundings which are safe, conducive to learning and fit for purpose. In addition, they must safeguard the financial health and wellbeing of the school and, together with the school’s senior leaders, must plan strategically for the future. Governors usually serve for five years and then, if willing and re-elected, may serve extra terms before retiring. This ensures balance, continuity and rotation.
Our Chair of Governors, Silvia Fiaccavento may be contacted directly: chairofgovernors@stchristophers.london or via our Bursar and Clerk to the Board of Governors, Richard Edwards : bursar@stchristophers.london
St Christopher’s School, 32 Belsize Lane, London NW3 5AE
We hold regular breakfast meetings where parents can get to know the governors in person.
Chair Of Governors
Silvia is a senior lawyer at the Bank of England where she leads the Bank’s legal work on insurance regulation and is a legal member of one of the Bank’s decision-making committees. She has 30 years’ legal experience across the City, UK government and financial-services regulators. Her experience includes corporate goverance, risk, and strategic, organisational and people leadership. She holds undergraduate degrees in Political Sciences and Law from La Sapienza University, Rome and is qualified as an “avvocato” in Italy and a solicitor in England and Wales. She has focused on lecturing and training throughout her academic life and professional career. Silvia grew up in Italy, lives with her husband near St Christopher’s and has two children, one at university and one recently graduated. She has had a deep love for St Christopher’s since her daughter’s joyful time at the school.
Deputy Chair of Governors
Anya was a commissioning editor at Penguin before becoming a freelance editor and writer. She edits an annual schools guide, and mainly writes on schools and education. She is an academic support volunteer for IntoUniversity. She has three children, and her daughter was at St Christopher’s.
Kunle began his construction career whilst studying for a MA at the University of Leeds. In 2004, Kunle set up Illustrious Homes, an award-winning Construction and Design Management Company delivering residential refurbishments, education and sports centre refits, and countless high-end private renovations.
Kunle is also a property columnist for the Architects Journal and Evening Standard. He regularly contributes to national papers and appears on Times Radio as their property expert.
Kunle also presents property TV shows for Channel 4 and ITV. He is the founder of the architectural practice Barker-Walsh and is the Masterplan Consultant for Related Argent on their £8 Billion scheme, Brent Cross Town.
Kunle has two daughters, both of whom attended St Christopher’s.
Chair of Education Committee
Vivienne has spent all her career in girls’ independent education, working at Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls, Godolphin and Latymer School for Girls and Guildford High School. She became deputy head of South Hampstead High School in 1997, and from September 2004 until December 2015, she was Head of Francis Holland School Regent’s Park, during which time she oversaw an expansion in the school’s roll and considerable improvements to its site and facilities. After two years as director for a schools’ consultancy, Vivienne was the chief executive of The Girls’ Schools Association from 2017 to 2020. In addition, she has served as an accredited ISI schools’ inspector from 1999 to 2015, and for more than 25 years, Vivienne has been a governor, of day, boarding, prep and co-educational schools. She was awarded “Best Head of a Public School” (Tatler Awards) in September 2014. In January 2021 Vivienne was appointed Chair of the Schools Advisory Panel for the Black Business Institute (BBi).
Naomi qualified as a psychodynamic psychotherapist in 2013 and as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist in 2019. She is a qualified supervisor enabling her to supervise the work of other psychotherapists.
Naomi has a private practice in Clerkenwell, London, seeing adults with a range issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, bereavement and relationship difficulties. She has worked as an honorary psychotherapist in the NHS and as a psychotherapist in the Camden Bereavement Service. She has taught on the Counselling Foundation course at one of the London psychotherapy training institutions. Currently Naomi is also a psychotherapist with The Mediation Space, working with couples to resolve children and financial arrangements through mediation as an alternative to going to Court.
Chair of the Finance Committee
James is an advisor and consultant to governments at the most senior levels in Africa and developer of utility-scale renewable projects and large scale data-centres. Historically a Senior Financier with considerable expertise in the infrastructure sector and equity markets stretching over 25 years and across a number of different economic and market cycles.
James has two daughters, both of whom attended St Christopher’s.
Nina Kingsmill Moore is the Headteacher at Wetherby Preparatory School, an all-boys prep school to 13, located in Marylebone, London. Prior to this, Nina was the Head at Glendower Preparatory School in South Kensington and held the role of Deputy Head at both Lambrook School in Berkshire and Wetherby School in Notting Hill. With a wealth of experience in leadership and a passion for training others, Nina has been a longstanding facilitator of the Preparation for Headship course for aspiring Headteachers.
In addition to her professional role, Nina serves as a Governor at both North London Collegiate School and St Christopher’s School, bringing her expertise and dedication to ensuring high standards of education and governance.
On a personal note, Nina is a proud mum to three children who are either currently at boarding school at Marlborough College in Wiltshire, or just completing a well-earned gap year. She is married to Hugh, who works in finance and has recently authored his first book.
In her free time, Nina enjoys family holidays, whether in sun or snow, skiing, walking her two dogs in the scenic Berkshire countryside, and catching up with friends over a glass of wine.
Chair of the Risk and Compliance Committee
Helen has worked in medical science and health policy for 20 years, leading the Academy of Medical Sciences from 2009-19 and most recently chairing the UK’s first national Committee on Research Integrity. She serves as Trustee and Scientific Council member of MQ Mental Health Research, and chairs the external advisory committee of the Maudsley Hospital Biomedical Research Centre.
She is also a Trustee of Doctors of Tomorrow in Zimbabwe (DOTZ), which provides hardship funding to medical students.
She has one son and two daughters – one an alumna of St Christopher’s and one a current pupil.
Alkit works at CVC Capital Partners with operating responsibility for its investments in professional rugby tournaments. Previously, he worked at The Football Association and was Deputy Chair and Chair of the Audit Committee of England Boxing. Before transitioning to sport, he spent over a decade in investment banking at UBS.
Alkit has a daughter at St Christopher’s and a younger son. In his spare time, he enjoys travel, football, tennis and skiing.
Frances is currently Head of The Godolphin and Latymer School in Hammersmith, and was previously Principal of Queen’s College, Harley Street. She is passionate about combining really high educational standards with warmth, creativity and a focus on personal development. Prior to Queen’s, Frances worked at Westminster School, in a variety of roles including Head of History, running a boarding house, and as academic deputy head. Frances is married with two student-age children, and in her spare time enjoys riding horses.
After more than 15 years in the Energy industry with a strong focus on emerging markets, Marie has returned to academia to study and research security and strategy issues in developing countries.
She volunteers for several UK and overseas charities and has actively supported their fundraising efforts and the expansion of their activities.
Marie has a daughter at St Christopher’s, as well as two teenage sons.
Andrew is an owner of the Academy School, Hampstead and is responsible for all of the curriculum, financial and regulatory aspects of managing the school. He is also an investor in education and healthcare companies, as well as being a passionate promoter of liberal education both here and abroad. Previously, he worked for Kleinwort Benson and Rothschild. He is married to Chloe, head of the Academy School and has two daughters, both of whom are now at university.
