We’re delighted to welcome Sean Alleyne to the Froebel Trust’s Board of Trustees. Read on to find out more about him.
Sean is an accomplished executive with more than 25 years’ experience in investment banking and financial services. He is currently a Non-Executive Director on the Board of JN Bank UK where he is Chair of the Audit Committee.
So you can get to know Sean a little better, here, we ask him more about his interest in supporting children through education and his decision to join the Froebel Trust...
Q. Why did you want to become a trustee at the Froebel Trust?
A. “I have always seen education as an essential building block in helping individuals access life’s opportunities and fulfilling their potential. I have worked with a number of educational organisations whilst pursuing my career.
“From my experience I had a clear understanding that gaps often develop in educational achievement from a very young age and precedents and biases can often develop and be exacerbated based on this start.
“When I saw this opportunity and got to understand the Trust’s mission, approach and values, I thought it would be a great organisation to work with and I look forward to contributing to its ongoing and future success."
Q. Do you have a personal connection to early childhood education?
“I have four children who are now certainly past their early childhood years! They are relatively close in age and obviously grew up in the same house with a consistent environment. Despite that, they all have a very different approach to learning, different interests but luckily a very broad-based love of learning in their own ways.
“Seeing and treating them as individuals and letting them grow, forge their own paths and make mistakes has been very important. This however, like any young parents, took some time to recognise and understand.
“Having a much broader view of educational achievement and fostering a love of learning and an ability to explore and develop curiosity was important for me and my wife. What we didn’t know then but recognise now is much of this is embedded in Froebelian principles."
Q. What do you feel you’ll be bringing to the Trust?
“I’ve had a long and broad career in finance and banking and some time ago, I recognised I was able to translate and apply some of my experience and leadership to other sectors, particularly education. Aside from being able to apply financial acumen, I bring a wider and thoughtful perspective to the challenges an organisation may face. I am able to help foster strong culture and drive innovation, develop strategy and deliver change where necessary. I also hope my governance experience will help provide effective oversight and support on how we deliver on the goals of the Trust.”
Q. In your career or work so far, what are you most proud of?
“This is a difficult one to answer but for me I would say it is some of the successful teams I have built, not just for the outcomes but for the way they were able to come together often under challenging circumstances, support each other and collectively achieve far more than they could on their own.”
Q. What or who inspires you?
“My family, because of the example and values my parents and grandparents set. My children inspire me for the kind and interesting young adults they have become, my wife for her support and faith in me but also her clear sense of the right thing to do and what matters.”
Q. What do you most like to do when you’re away from work?
“I like spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, travelling and nowadays watching more sport than I play!”
