Robert is a Bristol born solicitor and until recently Managing Partner and then Senior Partner of TLT, a national law firm headquartered in Bristol. Robert is a member of the Council of the Law Society of England & Wales (President 2016/17) and a member of its Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Robert has been involved with a number of organisations focussed on education and is determined that all students have the opportunity to achieve at the highest level. Robert is the named Safeguarding Governor for Merchants' Academy.
Laura Marshall
Governor
Laura works to assist students in finding the right path for them into further education or employment. Laura is committed to helping nurture and develop the potential of youth at Merchants' Academy.
As Managing Director of Icon Films, a Bristol based television documentary company, Laura is responsible for its strategic commercial development and for the personnel development of the team. Laura is also on the Board of Bristol Old Vic, a beacon of excellence, making theatre with and for the people of Bristol.
Doug Jennings
Governor
Doug Jennings has worked in the Recruitment and Outreach Team at the University of Bristol for thirteen years and has been heavily involved in supporting Merchants’ students in their applications to university. The team which Doug works in have established extremely strong links with the Academy and a unique outreach programme for Merchants’ Academy students. This programme provides assistance with post-16 learning and an insight into higher education study. In particular it has supported the progression to university of multiple students from Merchants’ Academy in recent years, including to the University of Bristol. Doug therefore works very closely with Merchants’ Academy Sixth Form.
Karl Tucker
Governor
Karl is the Executive Chairman of Yeo Valley Farms Production Ltd and has been with Yeo Valley since 1996 having joined from the Quarrying Industry and before that having served in the British Army. Karl has been a key member of the leadership team that has seen Yeo Valley grow to be the UK’s largest organic food brand and one of the largest, independent, family owned dairy businesses in the UK. Karl became Executive Chairman in February 2019 having been Managing Director since June 2017 and prior to that Joint MD from November 2013. Prior to this Karl was the Finance, IT and Procurement Director since 2006.
As well as his role at Yeo Valley Karl sits on the SW CBI Council and is Chair of the SW CBI’s Food and Drink Council as well as being a Director of the Heart of the South West’s Local Enterprise Partnership.
For 11 years, until November 2018, Karl was a trustee of ‘Young Bristol’, a charity that runs and supports a number of open access youth clubs and two outdoor based activity centres together with running a number of positive activity programmes for the young people in Bristol. Karl has recently joined the board of trustees of ‘Feeding Bristol’, a charity working to eliminate food poverty and food insecurity in the city of Bristol. He is looking forward to joining the Board of Governors of The Merchants Academy.