Governors

Melanie is a solicitor in the real estate practice area and handles the full range of property transactions including sales and purchases, leasing and development work for a wide range of clients. She studied law at Queen Mary, University of London and has worked in the City of London since she qualified in 1982 . She is currently a Partner at international law firm, gunnercooke llp, where she has worked since 2020.

Melanie has been a  governor at Palmers Green High School for more than 20 years and prior to becoming Chair in 2021, was vice chair and chair of Education Committee.

In her spare time Melanie enjoys ballet, opera, walking by the sea on the south coast and spending time with her family. She has two grown up daughters, one of whom is a teacher.

Anthony started his professional life as an Engineer working for what was then British Rail.  He subsequently transitioned to the insurance industry where he has held a number of UK and International roles focussing on data, analytics and business transformation.  He currently works for Cover-More Insurance, a subsidiary of Zurich Insurance, with a focus on the strategic partnership with Booking.com.

In his spare time, Anthony enjoys cooking, theatre and loves travel and visiting new places.  So far, he has visited 50 countries, which is only 25% of the total, so there’s still a long way to go!

Anthony lives in North London, is married to Alison and has two daughters.

John is retired Chartered Surveyor, working originally for a large industrial and commercial property firm in the City, then his own local practice. He has been a Governor for quite a time now.

He’s currently Chairman of the Buildings Committee and involved with both the Finance and Health and Safety Committees. Over the years we have had a number of successful projects to improve the School and enhance the pupil experience – with lots more planned!

Our meetings are usually in the evenings, but on the occasions when the School is open, he is always impressed by how confident the girls are.

Anna Averkiou is an experienced journalist, media consultant and trainer with a strong commitment to education and community engagement. A former PGHS pupil, she achieved her childhood dream of becoming a journalist, starting as a Junior Reporter on the Enfield Gazette before going on to cover global stories for leading international broadcasters such as the BBC, CNN, Associated Press and Reuters.

With expertise in crisis communications, media training and strategic storytelling, Anna now advises businesses, charities and public sector organisations around the world on media engagement and reputation management and trains young people to work in the creative and news industries through workshops and mentoring.

She sits on several not-for-profit boards, is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UK-Cyprus Enterprise Council and advises The Security Institute on media engagement. Having experienced the benefits of an all-girls education, Anna is grateful to be able to give back and support PGHS’s future and its continuing excellence.

Gary is a former architect, retiring in 2024 after 37 years of experience, including 14 years as Chairman and 50% owner of the practice. Specialising in housing, arts buildings, and commercial projects, he has designed a wide range of buildings in the UK and abroad, including schools and their refurbishments. He was also responsible for the practice’s Health & Safety policy, technical management systems, insurances, risk management, office maintenance and Business Continuity Plan.

In addition to his architectural career, he served as a non-executive director of the Wren Architects’ Insurance Mutual for 9 years, contributing to appointments, investments, and strategic decisions.

As a school governor he brings a wealth of experience in design, business management, and governance. His two daughters attended the school from the beginning through to Year 11.

Karen has been involved in education for over 40 years, primarily as a PE and Geography teacher at a local maintained school. Since retiring from teaching, she has continued her passion for education as an Educational Visits Coordinator at the local secondary school, where she has worked since 1987.

Both of her daughters attended PGHS school, giving her a strong personal connection to its values and community. Serving as a governor since 2016, she is committed to ensuring that all students receive the best possible education and opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom. Her experience in organizing school trips has reinforced her belief in the importance of experiential learning. She is dedicated to supporting the school’s leadership, staff, and students in maintaining high standards and providing enriching educational experiences.