Global Academy
Global Academy’s Governing Body consists of dedicated and experienced governors from the media and entertainment industry, who bring a wealth of expertise to support and challenge the school. They are committed to working closely with the Principal, staff, parents, and students to develop a successful school that prepares students for a career in media and entertainment.
How the Governing Body works
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What are the Governors' main duties?
Set and review the school’s budget and development plans
Set the strategic direction, policies, and objectives of Global Academy
Monitor and review the curriculum, behavior, and safeguarding outcomes for the students
Be a critical friend, challenging and supporting the Principal
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View Key Documents
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Contact our Governors
To contact the Governing Body, please reach out to Kirsty Leith, Chair, at chair@globalacademy.com
Meet The Governors
Kirsty Leith
Director of Public Affairs, Global
Chair of Governors
Member of the Finance, Audit and Premises Committee, Teaching and Learning Committee and People Committee
Kirsty is a senior policy and public affairs advisor with twenty-five years’ experience across government, voluntary and private sectors. Prior to joining Global in 2014, she spent ten years at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, working on a range of policy areas. Her personal highlights include working on the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, appointing the Poet Laureate and leading on Darren Henley’s reviews of Music and Cultural Education with the Department for Education.
Kirsty is also a board member of Coppafeel, the breast cancer awareness charity!
To contact Kirsty Leith – please email chair@globalacademy.com
Desaray Ellis
Senior Partnerships Manager, Global Media Group
Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee
Desaray is a former teacher with a passion for education. She believes it is important to provide people with opportunities to learn and grow, while also fostering platforms for innovative ideas and creative thinking.
Desaray aims to ensure that Global Academy is both supported and challenged to deliver the best possible education for all students.
Darren Singer
CFO at Inspired Thinking Group
Chair of the Finance, Audit and Premises Committee and Member of the People Committee
Darren has had a longstanding interest in education and has served for 12 years as Vice-Chair and Chair of Finance for the Excellence in Education Trust, a multi-academy trust comprising two primary schools in Brent.
Professionally, Darren works as the CFO of Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) and previously held the role of CFO at Global Media.
Outside of work, Darren has two children, aged 21 and 18, and is a keen hiker and cyclist.
Anna Wood
Pro Vice-Chancellor (online), UAL
Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee
Anna has worked in strategic leadership roles in higher education for over a decade. Her last three roles have focused on establishing online learning departments within universities and publishing. These roles have included responsibilities for academic strategy, course development, platform creation, and leading high-performing, dedicated teams to deliver digital education at scale.
Alex Martin-Carey
College Admissions Tutor, Central Saint Martins, UAL
Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee and the Marketing and Recruitment Committee
Alex is a writer, theatre maker, and educator. She works as a College Admissions Tutor at Central Saint Martins, UAL, where she supports the Art and Performance programmes by helping match students to the courses best suited to them.
Dr Maliha Miriam
Diploma Professional Studies Screen School Coordinator
Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee
Originally a History graduate from UCL, Dr. Maliha Miriam earned a PGDip in Animation from Central Saint Martins in 2011. She worked in various roles within the animation industry, contributing to productions such as Channel 4’s The Snowman and the Snowdog, CBeebies’ Hey Duggee!, and projects for the Royal Opera House.
In 2024, she completed her PhD, titled A Study of the British Animation Industry’s Approach to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion 2000–2020, under the supervision of Professor Chris Pallant from Canterbury Christ Church University.
Dr. Miriam joined UAL in 2022 and is currently the Diploma in Professional Studies Coordinator for Screen School UAL.
Olivia Jones
Director, Group Finance, Global
Member of the Finance, Audit and Premises Committee
Olivia is Director, Group Finance at Global, where she leads financial strategy and oversight across the Group. She is responsible for supporting sustainable growth and ensuring strong financial governance across the organisation.
Olivia began her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, where she spent nine years in the Technology, Media and Telecom team, advising companies on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions.
She holds a First Class BA in Modern & Medieval Languages, specialising in Russian, from the University of Cambridge. Olivia grew up in London and has two young children. She is passionate about supporting a London-based academy and ensuring the city offers all young people access to high-quality education and opportunity.
Anne Shooter
Member of the Finance, Audit and Premises Committee, People Committee and the Marketing and Recruitment Committee
Anne Shooter has a background in editorial and commercial communications, spanning 30 years. She is a respected writer and editor, whose byline regularly appears on consumer features in The Times. Previously, she helped run the commercial team at dmg for eight years, working with some of the UK’s best-known brands to create engaging digital, print, audio and video partnerships.
During the coronavirus pandemic she led the content strategy and execution for the Government’s advertising campaign across the UK press, covering more than 400 national, regional and specific community publications. Anne was also communications Special Advisor to the previous Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lucy Frazer KC MP, and has been a consultant for companies such as Diageo, M&S and Waitrose.
A trained chef, with two published cookbooks, she is currently training to be a psychotherapist at London’s Regent’s University.
Lucy Darby
Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee
Lucy Darby is Branded Entertainment Director at Global Media, leading innovative collaborations such as the recent Global Team GB partnership.
She began her career in the commercial team at Capital Advertising (pre-Global days!) before retraining as a teacher, driven by a passion for helping people realise their potential.
Returning to Global three years ago, Lucy now combines her commercial expertise with a commitment to nurturing talent, fostering confidence, and supporting individual growth through the Global Academy and across the business.
Victoria Elliot
Parent Governor, Year 10 Parent
Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee
Victoria is a passionate educator and drama professional with a rich background in both performance and teaching. Trained as an actress at the Sharon Harris School of Drama and The Sylvia Young Theatre School, Victoria has appeared in numerous TV shows and films, gaining extensive practical experience in British television. She holds a BA (Hons) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Drama and English and has been teaching English and Drama in secondary education for 15 years.
After several years as a literacy specialist, Victoria now leads the KS2–3 transition process at an oversubscribed secondary school in Hillingdon. Alongside teaching, she is also a LAMDA teacher, preparing students for accredited acting examinations. Currently pursuing her NPQSL (National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership), she is on track to complete it in early 2026.
Outside of her professional life, Victoria is a proud mother of three. She is thrilled to join the governing board of The Global Academy and looks forward to collaborating with school leadership and fellow board members to make a meaningful impact.
Candice Ringsell
Parent Governor, Year 12 Parent
Member of the Finance, Audit and Premises Committee
Candice has worked in the gaming industry since 2000 and has witnessed first-hand the sector’s rapid evolution into a major global entertainment force. With extensive experience in marketing production, she has led the delivery of creative assets to media channels worldwide.
Candice is passionate about the transformative role of education, particularly approaches that move beyond traditional classroom learning. She believes in equipping young people with the practical, real-world skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing world — a value that aligns closely with the mission of Global Academy.
In addition to her professional background, Candice served for four years as a governor at her son’s previous secondary school, gaining valuable insight into the responsibilities and expectations of educational governance.
