Governors’ Introduction
Adit Mehta – Chair of Governors – Co-opted Governor
I am a local resident that joined as a co-opted Governor and member of the Finance and Staffing Committee in October 2023. I care deeply about adding value back into our community and I believe that a strong education early in life is crucial in setting a solid foundation for a successful future.
I work as an Investment Professional and have over a decade of experience in finance & investment, risk management and governance.
Ana Andres del Valle – Governor – Chair of Finance & Staffing
Ana Andres del Valle, Ph.D. is an experienced professional with a diverse background spanning scientific research, entrepreneurship, and senior leadership roles. Her primary focus outside the corporate world is her role as a school governor, where she has leveraged her expertise to make a meaningful impact on education. She has volunteered as a Community governor for over 7 years.
As a school governor, she has helped schools manage effectively Head Teacher transitions, OFSTED appraisals and unexpected logistical changes. In the past, she has been part of resources and school performance committees. She currently chairs the Finance Committee at Phoenix Arch School.
Ana has 20 years of professional experience in the tech industry. She has transitioned from scientific R&D to serving as CTO of her own startup, TidyChoice, and currently works as a Solutions Architect at Stripe. She has also held senior roles such as Head of IT R&D and Associate Director – Strategy and Architecture at Jones Lang LaSalle, as well as Senior Researcher – Manager at Accenture and Research Lead at VICOMTech. Additionally, Andres del Valle is a Digital Communications and Computer Science Expert for the European Commission.
Born in Barcelona, Spain, Ana has lived in various parts of the world, including the United States, France, and now resides in London, England.
Cara Conquest – Co-opted Governor
I’m Cara Conquest and I joined as a parent Governor in October 2021, a year after my son started at Phoenix Arch. I have been so impressed with the school, especially managing the complexities of the pandemic, and wanted to get more involved to see how I could support the staff. I work as a Sales Director in book publishing and a big part of my role in my day to day is working across departments, getting the best out of teams and coaching for success.
As a headteacher of Phoenix Arch School, I am committed to upholding our school values, providing professional leadership, strategic insight and accountability for the day-to-day running of the school. This role provides a wonderful opportunity to work in close partnership with governors, ensuring they have a clear and informed understanding of school life, priorities and impact.Through regular updates and newsletters, governors are able to see the rich and varied experiences offered to our pupils, including curriculum-linked school trips, community visits, residential experiences, music concerts, performances, enrichment workshops and outdoor learning opportunities. These experiences play a vital role in developing pupils’ confidence, independence, communication and life skills and reflect our commitment to a broad, ambitious and inclusive curriculum.
By sharing these insights, I support governors to make informed strategic decisions that strengthen provision, celebrate pupil achievement and ensure Phoenix Arch continues to provide meaningful opportunities for pupils to belong, achieve and thrive within our specialist context.