Natalie Harling has lived in the Lake District for over 22 years now, having lived previously in the South of England and the Alps. As Director of Business Development for The Outward Bound Trust, an Educational Charity focused on supporting young people to unlock their potential through learning and adventure in the wild. Natalie has spent the past 19 years working within the Education system and a wide range of Senior Leadership Teams across schools in England, Scotland and Wales. She has vast experience of Marketing and Sales strategies and practical experience of implementation. Natalie has had one child who has completed their education at Hunter Hall and another in Upper school.

Despite being born a Yorkshireman, Gerard has made Cumbria his home. He has two children, one who has completed their education at Hunter Hall and the other who is currently in Upper school. Gerard is a consultant eye surgeon who works in the NHS and has his own business providing private eye care under Lakeland Vision Ltd. In his role in the NHS he has been the Clinical Director for the Ophthalmology service for North Cumbria. He is well acquainted in the regulatory role of large and small institutions. Gerard is the Chair of the Oversight and Training sub-committee.

Mark joined Giggleswick as Headmaster in August 2014 and, as a geographer, it’s easy to understand the attraction of the magnificent setting of the school. Born in York, it was a long held ambition to return to his home county. Educated at the University of Liverpool and the University of London, he began his career in banking before moving into teaching and spending the past 20 years in independent boarding schools. As a Housemaster at Sevenoaks Mark developed a strong belief that independent education carries a responsibility to reach out to the wider community, and set up projects in Romania and Tanzania, as well as supporting work closer to home in London. Throughout his time as a teacher he has worked to support wider access to the benefits of schools such as Giggleswick. He has also been a governor at three other prep schools.

  

Nicola has been part of Hunter Hall School since 2008, with two older children having worked their way through the school and who are now enjoying the delights of Keswick School. Her youngest child is in Lower school.  Born in the North East, she moved to Cumbria in 1996.  She has spent 13 years as a HR Professional, at store, Area and Regional level.  Following the birth of her first child, Nicola has worked in the family business which comprises of the processing and sale of Firewood, Agricultural Contacting, farming and the renovation of properties.  Plenty to keep her busy!  Nicola Chairs our Estates Committee, is part of the Health and Safety Committee and is our Early Years Governor.

    

John was brought up in the Eden Valley and has lived in Penrith since his early twenties. After attending Austin Friars School in Carlisle he joined the family Civil Engineering & Road Surfacing business. Wanting to get experience of life at the sharp end he started work in the road gangs & over the next 25 years worked his way up to the top of the business to work alongside his Father. Having built the business up to a substantial size they sold it to Hanson Plc, a global quarry materials company, in 2004. Working at a senior level in Hanson for 3 years John gained great experience of management within a FTSE100 company.

Following 5 years jointly managing a house building firm John then decided to set up his own alternative lending business. After the financial crisis of 2008 he saw a gap in the market and PallisterCo now provides invaluable funding for small to medium sized businesses, mainly in the home construction sector, across the north of England.

John also manages a number of investment portfolios so has a good understanding of finance and the markets which all helps in his role on the Finance committee.

Having had his youngest two children at Hunter Hall, John has a passion to help the board drive the school forward to build on the success it has seen to date.

  

Laura grew up in Windermere and  was educated in the independent sector. She joined Cumbria Police in 2002 and is currently the Penrith problem solving Sergeant. In her role she works closely with the local safeguarding board which lends itself to her position as safeguarding governor.
Laura has a child at Hunter Hall in Upper school.

   

Tracey has lived and worked in the local area for over 30 years and has always been a Human Resource Manager.  She has worked in the Logistics sector, Interiors and Chartered Accountancy.  Tracey has two children now at university but both who attended Hunter Hall School.