Governors

Paula Gooder is a celebrated speaker and writer on the Bible, particularly on the New Testament. She seeks to communicate the best of biblical scholarship in as accessible a way as possible. Paula has worked for the Bible Society as their Theologian in Residence and for the Birmingham Diocese as their Director of Mission Learning and Development.  As Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, she oversees the Cathedral’s education programmes, including Schools and Families and the St Paul’s Institute (for adult education). 

A member of the General Synod of the Church of England (2005-2015) and a member of the Women in Episcopacy drafting group and steering committee (2006-2014), Paula is passionate about ecumenism and has been a  member of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission since 2011. 

Previously a member of the Finance Committee and Chair of the Girls’ Voices Programme, Paula is our Chair of Governors and can be contacted on chair@spcs.london.sch.uk

The Very Rev Andrew Tremlett, is the Acting Chair of Governors. He joined the Cathedral in September 2022, and was previously the Dean of Durham Cathedral. He has extensive experience in supporting the work of schools, and in Cathedral foundations, St Paul’s being his fifth Cathedral.

Paula has been a solicitor for 30 years and in the past 20 years has worked with a wide variety of organisations, including education, faith and charities, supporting them in connection with safeguarding and child protection, particularly following disclosure of abuse. She is a partner at the law firm Clyde & Co LLP as well as being a non-executive director at CHPK, a multidisciplinary, professional building consultancy. She is an active mentor and an advocate for equality and diversity.

Paula is our Lead Safeguarding Governor and serves on our Education Committee. She also attends our Online Safety Committee (previously Filtering and Monitoring Committee).

Gavin Ralston’s professional background is in asset management, and he left full-time work at Schroders in 2023. His role there over forty years encompassed senior business and client-facing roles in the UK and globally.  He is now a non-executive director, a qualified executive coach and a trustee of several charities, including Cathedral Music Trust and Peterborough Cathedral, where he is Canon Treasurer.

He also sits on the Finance and Resources Committee of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and is a trustee of the Mitchell City of London Educational Foundation.

He was previously a Chapter member at St Paul’s Cathedral, and his two younger children both attended the Cathedral School; he currently chairs the Audit and Risk Committee at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Gavin is Vice Chair of the Governing Body and chairs the Finance and Resources Committee.

Simon Robson Brown has 25 years of investment and equity research experience with leading financial institutions and fund managers based in the City of London. Currently Head of Real Assets (Europe) at the Fund Administrator Citco. Previously he was Head of European Listed Real Estate and Portfolio Manager for relevant strategies at Morgan Stanley and CBRE Investment Management. He has also worked in various real estate research and analyst positions at UBS and Citigroup. He was a Board member of the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA) and served on the EPRA Reporting & Accounting Committee. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, and has a MA from St John’s College, Cambridge.

Simon is a member of the Finance and Resources Committee and serves as our Lead Governor for Health and Safety.

Andrew joined the governing body in 2022 and brings a wealth of experience in education and choral music. A professional singer, he was most recently a Bass Lay Clerk in the Choir at Winchester Cathedral and continues to sing regularly in cathedrals and as a soloist.

Andrew has worked across both the state and independent sectors, holding headship roles in each. A former boarder and chorister at Peterborough Cathedral, he was previously Head of St Edmund’s Junior School, Canterbury, which at that time educated the choristers of Canterbury Cathedral. Since September 2022, he has been Head of The Oratory Prep School in Oxfordshire.

In addition to being a current chorister parent, Andrew specialises in teaching and learning, curriculum design and assessment. He has recently completed an MSc in Educational Leadership, with a focus on school improvement in both the state and independent sectors.

Andrew serves as Chair of the Curriculum and Standards Committee.

Edward Wild read Theology at Keble College, Oxford and subsequently taught Religious Studies and Politics at secondary schools and worked for national charities. He has advised a wide range of charities, schools and membership bodies on senior and board appointments since 2004.

He has been the Managing Director of Wild Search since 2010 and has edited a range of publications on education governance, groups and international schools. He is also an Independent Assessor of public appointments.

He is a trustee of the Royal School of Church Music, Chair of the Nominations Committee of St Edmundsbury Cathedral and a member of the Nominations Committee of Salisbury Cathedral. He is also a member of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal Advisory Board.