About Governor Services
We have a national reputation for excellence in providing advice, support and training to governing bodies, advisory boards and their clerks
Meet the team
Maureen Bax
Senior Governance Adviser
Maureen has been a governor, in the primary sector since 1995. During this time she trained various police forces in diversity and managing relationships. She joined the service in 2007 and became a secondary governor in 2013. During this time she has chaired two interim executive boards in both primary and secondary schools.
Both schools were significantly under performing and had been placed in special measures and have now been judged as good.
Maureen has worked in schools closely with senior leaders and governors, improving communication and relationships. She is an accredited TAP trainer and is also accredited to deliver the People Intelligence ‘Co-acting Styles’ training on working as a team. She has coached and mentored many new chairs of governors on how to develop their teams and engage positively with school leaders.
Maureen is an associate member of the Association of Education Advisers and is currently a chair of governors in two large Hampshire secondary schools.
Sara Falk
Governance Adviser
Sara joined the Governance team in March 2024, bringing over 12 years of experience as a school governor, including more than eight years as a Chair of Governors. She has served on various governing boards, covering secondary, primary, and pupil referral units, as well as interim executive boards.
Sara holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and has a background in Management and Marketing Consultancy. She is also the founder of the Andover-based charity Kids on Track, which offers after-school clubs, holiday clubs, and mentoring for children from disadvantaged areas. Sara is passionate about ensuring that every child has access to a world-class education.
Jenny O'Keefe
Senior Governance Adviser
Jenny joined the Governance team in September 2021. Jenny has over 20 years of experience as a school governor including the main governor roles, and seven years as Chair of Governors.
Jenny is qualified to post-graduate level and, before joining the service, was employed in the banking industry. Jenny’s particular interests include developing teams, communications/training and strengthening processes.
Jenny is accredited through the Chartered Governance Institute, with respect to Academy Governance.
Helen Whiting
Governance Adviser
Helen was delighted to join the Governance team in the Spring of 2024. Before entering the world of education, Helen spent 15 years working in HR for the pharmaceutical industry, and has extensive experience in recruitment at all levels, developing and delivering training, and supporting managers to resolve complex issues. Qualified as a post graduate member of the chartered institute of personnel and development, Helen has maintained a strong interest in the transformational power of personal development and enjoys supporting governors through coaching and training.
Coming initially to school governance as a parent, Helen has gone on to spend over 12 years governing in the primary sector and has been lucky enough to hold most of the GB roles during that time. Helen is currently chair of an infant/junior federation in north Hampshire.