Julie McLynchy

I am delighted to be a parent governor at Linden Lodge.  My daughter has been a pupil at the school since 2017, accessing the very specialist curriculum and teaching in the Alba Centre for deafblind children.  We live in Hampshire so I am very aware of the challenges that the school and parents face when parents don’t live close to school and aren’t able to visit in-person regularly.

Kieran Travers

I am married to Mike and have lived in Tooting for almost 25 years.  I grew up in Ireland and have family in London, Ireland and Canada, including two teenage grandchildren.  I retired in March 2019 after almost 30 years as a Local Authority Social Worker with Child and Family support services.  

I have been a Governor at Linden Lodge since September 2020 and a Trustee at Southfields Academy since September 2021. I am the designated safeguarding lead in both roles.

Career History
I graduated with an Honours degree in Social Studies and a post-graduate qualification in Social Work from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland in 1990.  Prior to that I had qualified as a psychiatric nurse. 

My career has almost all been in Local Authority Child and Family support services, in particular in “front line” child protection services. I have been a case holder, a senior practitioner, a team leader, a principal manager and an independent reviewing officer with Local Authorities in Birmingham and London.  

For the final 2 years of my career I worked as a Family Court Advisor employed by the Child and Family Court Advisory and Support Services (CAFCASS).  I was based in central London working primarily at the Family Courts in Holborn.    

I earned a post graduate Certificate in Child Protection, a Diploma in Child Protection and a Masters Degree in Leadership each from the University of East London based at the Tavistock and Portman Clinic in London.   I was awarded a MA in 2015.  

Interests
I love to read, exercise and do voluntary work.  I am a keen swimmer and a beginning tennis player.  I enjoy travelling, reading, music and politics.

Winnie Williams

My name is Winnie Williams. I first learnt about Linden Lodge when a VI teacher made home visits for my granddaughter when she was a few months old.  After joining the school's weekly family coffee mornings, I got involved in delivering various creative art forms for Family Fun days and various other school events.  This progressed into my granddaughter's admission to early Years and is still here 14 years on. 

My engagement with parents, families, and the school community for the past 14 years  has included providing my combined expertise in sensory arts, community engagement, and cultural outreach and has supported the development of creative events. It has been my passion to have contributed to curriculum enrichment, working collaboratively with families and school communities to promote joyful, inclusive, and meaningful learning experiences.

Joining the PTA (C@LL) and subsequently, becoming a Parent Governor, has supported the promotion and value of residential facility of the school for the wider school community. 

Career History

I am an Artist, Entrepreneur and Community Development Practitioner whose career spans creative leadership, sensory arts, cultural engagement, and social enterprise. My early work involved delivering community programmes across music, dance and movement, art, and wellbeing initiatives, with a specialist focus on African cultural art experiences. It involved engaging with both children and adults in educational and various other settings.

After completing leadership and project-management training with the School of Social Entrepreneurs, I became a Fellow and co-founded community support initiatives for orphans, widows, and vulnerable children in rural Africa. These experiences strengthened my commitment to supporting vulnerable groups and expanded my practice into culturally diverse, community-centred work, including collaborations with the Natural History Museum.

My professional background also includes Nursery Nursing and Shop Floor Common Core Fashion Cutting at London College of Fashion, Southgate Campus. As a member of NICE, I worked with PCT Community Development Groups, which enhanced my understanding of public health, community wellbeing, and best practice.

As a Parent Governor, I support the development of creative and sensory programmes, contribute to curriculum enrichment, and work collaboratively with families and school communities to promote joyful, inclusive, and meaningful learning experiences.

Libby Dawson-Pickett

I am a mother of a little boy, and live locally to Linden Lodge. As a school governor, I am particularly focused on the finances. 

I am a chartered accountant and I work for KPMG LLP. I have worked in the financial services sector for over a decade. More recently, I have focused on regulatory and public policy changes impacting professional services and the companies they work with. 

I am an active member of my professional body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales (ICAEW). I am the Chair of the Business Law Committee and a member of the Technical Strategy Board. 

Adam Ockelford

I first came into contact with Linden Lodge in 1980, when I volunteered in the evenings, undertaking musical activities with the residential children. When I finished my course at music college, I then taught at Linden Lodge for around 10 years. In 1992, I went to work at the RNIB, where I became Director of Education, running their schools and colleges and inclusive support services. I am currently Professor of Music at the University of Roehampton in the School of Education. I provide the music every year on the summer vacation scheme through the charity I set up around 30 years ago called The Amber Trust, which supports blind and partially sighted children in their pursuit of music across the UK. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Ockelford

Maeve Carroll

As a Senior Associate at Debate Mate Training, I design and deliver leadership development and communication training. Whilst studying a Master’s degree in Sociology, I specialised  in the UK education system,  examining  the policies and structures that shape education.  

I went to school locally to Linden Lodge, and I am very impressed by the quality of care and support they are able to deliver to the students.   I am very interested in supporting local schools and ensuring that every student has access to opportunities that empower them to succeed.

My experience in education policy, alongside my work in professional training, enables me to advocate for an inclusive, high-quality learning environment for all.