Meet the team
Leila Barton - CEO
Leila has worked across the education, charity and private sectors in the UK and internationally, bringing a diverse skill set and a deep commitment to social impact. Since joining Oxfordshire Discovery College in 2023, she has played a key role in growing and developing the charity into the organisation it is today. As a Clore Social Fellow and a parent with lived experience, Leila brings both professional insight and personal understanding to her leadership, ensuring that compassion, co-production and real-world experience are at the heart of the Discovery College.
Ruth Akrigg - Lead Facilitator & Volunteer manager
Ruth has over 20 years of experience in education, including serving as a Headteacher. During this time she has built supportive, empowering spaces for young people. Ruth's passion for wellbeing, inclusion and community engagement will drive her work at Oxfordshire Discovery College.
Matt Slade - Interim Chair
Matt has been in psychiatric services since the age of 14, which is now almost 10 years, and has experienced a range of services. He’s had a range of interactions, both good and bad, and can therefore help shape the College's vital work as it develops. He’s proud to be a part of the Board of Trustees and feels that ODC really meets young peoples’ needs.
Neil Jarvey - Treasurer
Neil has recently joined our board of trustees taking on the role of treasurer.
Ella Buckingham - Trustee
Ella has over ten years of lived experience with mental health services for children and young people, first accessing them when she was nine. Her experiences growing up using these services has left her with a passion for mental health support and making a difference on the board of trustees with the ODC.
Pauline Boerma-Collier - Trustee
After a long career in international development, Pauline has more recently worked as an academic, and as a career and employment mentor both at Oxford University and with a local Oxford charity. She has also had personal experience of caring for young, vulnerable people with mental health difficulties.
Maria Bourbon - Trustee
Maria is a mental health nurse, working in child and adolescent services for the past 15 years. She has clinical experience in a range of settings, and in and setting up new services. With expertise in neurodevelopmental conditions she’s passionate about ensuring that support provided is adapted to needs, meets the young person and families’ agenda, and is increasing young people’s resilience to manage what life throws at them!
Frances Wheare - Fundraising
Frances has worked in fundraising for nearly 20 years. She started out as a corporate fundraiser at a London’s Southbank Centre before moving to Oxford where she spent 10 years working for the University and more recently as Director of Development at Hertford College. In her current role at Dragon School, she is responsible for all aspects of fundraising and alumni relations, and also oversees the school’s social impact activity.