About Us
We are a non-profit charitable community benefit society, with a board of directors and CEO with extensive business and education sector backgrounds. We use our broad range of skills and connections to develop opportunities for young people on the Isle of Wight.
Who are Ed-WISE?
We always welcome enquiries from people who may like to know more about our organisation or who have skills that may be interested in sharing. To know more, please fill out our contact form or speak to our CEO, David Thornton, on 07726 342220.
Meet The Ed-WISE Leadership Team
Our Board has a wide range of skills and experience across education and business sectors
David Thornton
CEO Ed-WISE
David’s professional background is in Sales and Marketing, having worked at a senior level in regional press for most of his career. This included 8 years as Advertising Director of Isle of Wight County Press, prior to launching a business consultancy.
He has been a school governor 2010 – 2022, taking various leading committee roles and helping to facilitate the formation of a federation. In 2015 he was elected as a primary schools governor representative on the IOW Schools Forum, and became Vice Chair in 2017. In February 2018 he became an advisory board member of Young Enterprise IOW.
Carla Bradshaw
Chair of Ed-WISE
Carla’s professional background is in international hotel management and finance. She has a general interest in children’s early years and was extensively involved with the NCT (National Childbirth Trust) before her children went to school.
Carla is a leading Education sector professional on the Isle of Wight, working in several leadership roles within schools, on both school governance and operational sides. Carla, currently is CFO for the University of Portsmouth Academy Trust, is a DfE accredited SRMA and runs an education business consultancy.
Carla became a governor in 2008 and has been Chair of Governors since 2009. She has provided support to several other governing bodies, including leading full governance reviews, attending development days as an advisor, and acting as mentor to other Chairs of Governors. She is a prominent member of the IOW Chairs of Governors network, Secretary to the IOW Headteachers Forum and a leading member of the island’s school business managers’ collaborative group.
Eric Hemming
Eric is Chair of Ed-WISE. Eric’s career was in healthcare management and development in both public and private sectors. His experience in corporate governance began when he became a director of BUPA Hospitals in 1981 and has continued ever since, initially with BUPA and its other subsidiaries, and subsequently with a number of companies, some of which were involved in public/private collaboration, in executive and non-executive positions. He has acted as client leading various corporate transactions, including the promotion of a management buy-out and successful exit.
When Eric retired to IOW he became a school governor and later Chair of Governors. He has experience as an academy trustee and membership of the Schools Forum. He is a non-executive director of Healthwatch Isle of Wight.
Mel Lewis
Secretary of Ed-WISE
Martine Raby
Martine is an Islander who studied History of Art with History, and took a post-graduate year in antique valuation. She worked in Cowes at an information service which traced art, antiques and collectables for dealers and collectors, and then as a PA / Events manager and subsequently in logistics.
Through her children she developed an interest in the running of schools, Martine chaired the local PTA and subsequently moved into school administration. She was an experienced Clerk to Governors before becoming a School Business Manager. Martine knows what it takes to keep school finances under tight control, while at the same time supporting ambitious and progressive headteachers to develop their school’s curriculum. With her children at secondary school she now concentrates on running her own long-established family business.
Steve Fairclough
Board Member of Ed-WISE
Kelly Burke
Board Member of Ed-WISE
Colin Haley
Board Member of Ed-WISE
Colin is an experienced head teacher. Colin is currently an Executive Headteacher working across a primary school federation on the Island. Colin has a wealth of experience in the education sector, having worked in a variety of different school settings and brings a broad range of experience to the Ed-WISE leadership team.
Think you could help us?
We always welcome enquiries from people who may like to know more about our organisation or who have skills that may be interested in sharing.
To know more, please fill out our contact form or speak to our CEO, David Thornton, on 07726 342220.