Introducing the leadership team at St Joseph’s College

After a number of years working in the UK Ports and Logistics sector at Main Board Executive level for Private and PLC listed organisations, including positions as Chief Operating Officer of Forth Ports Ltd and Managing Director of the Port of Tilbury London Ltd.

Perry stepped down from his Executive roles in 2017, currently he is the Vice Chair of the Dover Harbour Board and Senior Non-Executive Director. Non-Executive Director of High House Production Park, Purfleet, also advises a number of businesses through his consultancy business, Glading Consultancy Ltd and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport.

A former St Jo’s parent, Perry’s youngest daughter left the College in 2019 after attending from Years 7 to Upper Sixth. He has been Chair since January 2018 and can be contacted at [email protected] or in writing to St Joseph’s College, Belstead Road, Ipswich IP2 9DR.

Christian is a qualified accountant (FCCA) with over 20 years of experience in the industry, having spent 12 years in the fuel card sector and 11 years in manufacturing. For four years he was a Vice-President of Finance in Toronto.
Christian is currently the Chief Finance Officer for a local firm, Metro Supply Chain UK, based just outside Bury St Edmunds.
Christian attended St Joseph’s from 1983 to 1990. He has a keen interest in most sports and is involved with local charities.

He has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since January 2021.

With a varied career as a Sales and Marketing Director in health & leisure, property services and independent education, Chris also runs his own consultancy, developing marketing strategies for public sector organisations. His work has
centred around building and nurturing high quality relationships and delivering tangible value.

Chris moved to Ipswich from Kent in 2010 and has two sons at St Joseph’s – both in the Prep School.

He has worked with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and supported Suffolk Young Chamber.
Chris has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since December 2021.

Kevyn is a Chartered Internal Auditor with over 20 years’ experience in a variety of sectors. He is currently Head of Assurance and Risk for the Low Carbon Contracts Company. In his spare time, Kevyn is a member of Essex Scouts and a scuba diving instructor. He currently has one son in the Senior School and one son who has left St Joseph’s College and is at university in Falmouth. Kevyn has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since May 2019. 

John is a quantity surveyor and project manager and now works part-time as a consultant with local practice Castons, having been a senior partner at the firm for over 20 years.
In his spare time, John enjoys playing golf and is a season ticket holder at Ipswich Town Football Club.

John is a former parent having put his two sons through the Senior School and has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since October 2014.

Phil attended the College in the mid/late 1980s before studying Estate Management at the University of Greenwich. After a brief spell working for Adnams Brewery and marketing services companies in London, he was elected a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2005.
Phil specialises in commercial property and advises on agency disposal/acquisition, development consultancy and landlord and tenant issues across the Eastern Region. He is currently a Director of Savills based in their Chelmsford Office. Phil has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since November 2014.

As a dual-qualified nurse and midwife, Emma has worked in healthcare for 41 years. She has held senior clinical leadership posts for the past 20 years in acute hospitals in the East of England and London. Emma has experience as an Executive Chief Nurse, Director of Infection Prevention and Control, and Board Safeguarding Lead. Her current post is as Director of Midwifery at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, leading women’s health service across two hospitals. Emma was a former chair of the Quality Assurance for the National Screening Committee. Emma has two grown-up children and lives in Cambridge. She has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since February 2023.

Patrick was born and bred in Ipswich and has many years of experience in the business and people sector. He is still actively involved as Chair of the family business he set up in 2002 as well as other personal/ business interests in the sporting/events world.

Patrick is an ambassador for local commerce, charity and education, is a Patron of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and a strategic partner of Norfolk Chambers of Commerce. 

He has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since January 2023.

Julie is a Managing Director in the financial services industry with over 30 years’ experience working in global markets and wealth management banking operations. She has worked extensively overseas in Hong Kong, India and Japan. She works at Banque Nationale de Paris Paribas having previously worked at Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank. Julie is a Non-Executive director (NED) of BNPP Trust Corp.

Julie has been publicly recognised and is a passionate advocate for diversity, equality and inclusion in the work place and beyond. Julie has studied legislation, needs and equality regarding special education needs relating to dyslexia and other SpLDs.

Julie has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since January 2024 and has one son in the senior school.

Gemma Stronach is currently Deputy Headteacher at Felixstowe School, leading on Quality of Education. In this role she oversees all Continuous Professional Development, Teaching and Learning, Quality Assurance and Early Career Teachers and Trainees. As well as this, Gemma line manages Sixth Form, Exams and SEND. Gemma has proven success in four very different schools, from a large three-tier secondary school in Sandwell, to a Worcestershire two-tier school, to a rural Suffolk Community school, to Felixstowe. More recently, Gemma has been part of the Senior Leadership Team to achieve its first Ofsted ‘Good’ in June 2024. Linguistically gifted, having commenced her teaching career as a Modern Foreign Languages Teacher over 16 years ago; Gemma has full understanding and insight in what it takes to make a true difference in the classroom. Gemma has worked in schools in a pastoral capacity, as well as curriculum, enabling her to have a broad view of how to ensure students flourish both academically and holistically.

Howard Tuckett trained as a primary specialist teacher, qualifying in 1983. He has experience as a teacher, housemaster, sports coach, ISI Inspector and Headmaster. With a Teaching Diploma and MA in Education, he has over 40 years of experience as an educationalist, twenty-four of those years have been served as a Head at British Prep Schools, including St Joseph’s College, Ipswich, Junior School, (2000-2005) and Caterham Prep School, (2005-2019).
During his time at Caterham, Howard also served as the co-ordinator of the fourteen Prep School Heads in the United Learning Group and an ISI School Inspector. Howard has worked as a Governor of two independent schools, (Portsmouth Grammar School and Greenfield School), and has served as an IAPS Heads’ Training Course Director and Speaker.
Howard moved to Hong Kong in 2019 to found Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong. Howard returned to the UK in mid-2024 and now serves the Wycombe Abbey International Group as their Schools Safeguarding Lead and schools’ Management Advisor.
Howard is married with two children. His son, Gareth, is an Old Birkfeldian.

Claire is an experienced educator with a distinguished career spanning both state and independent sectors. Currently serving as Headteacher of an independent day school in central London, she brings a wealth of expertise. With over fifteen years of dedicated service, Claire has honed her skills in a variety of educational settings, including day and boarding establishments. Her passion for creating nurturing and dynamic learning environments is underpinned by a belief in the potential of every student.
Claire has held significant leadership roles at a nearby boarding school in Suffolk. Her tenure as Director of Sport saw her play a pivotal role in shaping the school’s sporting culture and provision. As Head of Physical Education at two large Suffolk state schools, Claire spearheaded the establishment of a full 15-a-side rugby team at one of the schools, who played at Twickenham, the national home of rugby. Her proficiency in elite sport, gained from her experience as an ex-Premiership rugby player, has enabled her to mentor and advise students on the physical and mental demands of high-performance sports.

Kiri is a lawyer, who has specialised in private client work for more than 20 years and is a Senior Associate at a local law firm, previously having worked at law firms in Hertfordshire, Norfolk and London. Kiri has a son who has attended the College since Year 5 and who is now in the Senior School. Kiri has previously been a Trustee of a local Charitable Trust and lives locally with her partner and son.

Emma studied Law, French and Spanish at University before qualifying as a Lawyer in central London. Emma enjoyed a 16-year career as a Criminal Defence Solicitor and trial advocate spanning Youth Court, Magistrates and Crown Court cases, Judicial Review applications and petitions to the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords.

Emma is now based in Essex and works as a Supervisor at a Citizens Advice Bureau. As well as managing and supporting a large team of advisors, Emma is responsible for ensuring the quality and accuracy of advice and compliance with funding objectives, GDPR and Safeguarding guidelines.

In her spare time Emma enjoys tennis, running and (trying to learn) piano and regularly volunteers for the Complex Casework Team at the charity Refugee and Migrant Action in Colchester.

Emma’s son and daughter have been at the school since September 2021. They are both now at the Senior School.

I have been at St Joseph’s College since year 7 and have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the supportive and nurturing environment here at St Jo’s. I love sport and have been fortunate to represent the College at first team level in both cricket and rugby. I am currently studying English Literature, History and Politics. I am proud to have been appointed Head Boy and I look forward to working with the prefect team to inspire students and make a positive difference.   

I have been at the College for 6 years, beginning in Year 7. I am proud to say St Jo’s has played a pivotal role in shaping me to become the person I am today. The College has aided me through every aspect of life; from exams to wellbeing and it is an honour to present myself as Head Girl. I am currently studying English Language, Spanish and Textiles at A-level and have the long-term goal of working as a director in a leading Marketing and Advertising agency.

I am honoured and proud to represent St Joseph’s College as Deputy Head Boy. I started at the College in September of 2023. I am studying Maths, Economics and History and I was very pleased to see how helpful and supportive all the teachers were. I represent the school on the football pitch playing for the College’s first team. I aspire to thrive both on and off the pitch to represent St Joseph’s College the best way I can.

My journey at the College began in Year 7 when I joined the exciting and nurturing community we have at St Jo’s. Since joining, my interest in science has developed into a passion for a career in biochemistry, and my enthusiasm for sport has really grown. Everyone at St Joseph’s College works hard to provide students with a head start on our futures, and I am grateful to now be working within the prefect team that makes things happen.