We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Chair of Trustees, Sandy Forbes. Sandy is a distinguished banking and corporate lawyer with a proven track record in senior leadership positions.

We look forward to Sandy bringing a fresh perspective that will help guide St John’s into the future and through the second half of our current strategy which, alongside almshouse provision and supporting children and families, has a key focus on narrowing the academic attainment gap at the end of Key Stage 2. Through our ‘Best Start in Life’ initiative, we work closely with local primary schools, early years settings, and partners to provide targeted support that ensures every child under 12 has the opportunity to grow up healthy, happy, and well-educated.

Sandy brings an impressive track record, including 18 years as a partner at the national law firm Burges Salmon LLP. Over the past decade, she has held senior leadership roles as Group General Counsel and Company Secretary at National Express Group plc  (now Mobico Group PLC) and Rotork plc. Sandy currently serves as a Board Director at Bath’s Holburne Museum and previously dedicated eight years as a Governor at the University of the West of England, where she also served as Deputy Chair of Governors. Having lived in Bath for over 25 years, Sandy has developed a profound understanding of the challenges facing our communities and the inequalities that persist across the region.

Sandy Forbes says: “I feel privileged to become Chair of a charity with such a long and rich history, yet one that remains firmly focused on supporting its community both now and into the future. As we celebrate our 850th anniversary, we aim to build on the successes of the past five years and expand our vital support to all of St John’s beneficiaries across the region. I look forward to playing my part in this next stage of the journey and contributing to its continued success.”

Catharine Brown, Interim CEO at St John’s Foundation, says: “We are delighted to welcome Sandra as the charity’s new Chair of Trustees. She brings not only a wealth of professional experience but also a forward-thinking perspective. This will be invaluable to the charity as we push forward with our important work to support all our beneficiaries, whilst also nurturing the people, partners and culture at St John’s.”