Who Are We?

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Governance Connected are a nationwide team of around 35 dedicated professionals, each bringing a depth of experience from across the education and governance sectors.  Many of our colleagues are qualified to at least Level 3 and 4 and have held senior roles such as Head of Governance in multi-academy trusts or have served as company secretaries, giving them first-hand insight into the challenges and opportunities facing today’s governing boards.  A few of our colleagues have also been nominated for NGA outstanding governance awards!

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Governance Connected is run by Liz Bharj, Director, who has over 14 years experience in governance, with extensive and expert knowledge of how Independent Review Panels are run to enable a fair and transparent process within the DfE Guidance for all parties.

 

Founded by Anne Robinson in 2018, we have gained our position within the competitive market through providing a high quality, reliable clerking service.  Our strength is our agility to respond to requests as we often work with clients on an ad hoc basis.  We are very happy to discuss any case before we take it on to ensure we can offer the service that is required.    

We currently support governance in approximately 140* schools and academy trust boards across the country.  By operating primarily through virtual channels, we’re able to provide flexible, responsive, and cost-effective support tailored to the unique needs of each board we work with.

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Governance Connected support schools in all sectors, and academy trusts in delivering confident, effective governance that makes a real difference for children. Our services include high-quality clerking, governor and trustee training, external reviews of governance, and expert support for all panels, delivered by experienced and trained professionals (for Independent Review Panels) who truly understand the governance landscape. 

 

We also partner with GovernorHub to offer secure, user-friendly board tools and knowledge resources at discounted rates. Whether it's easing the administrative burden, supporting strategic development, or ensuring compliance, we help governing boards focus on what matters most—leading their organisations with clarity, purpose, and impact.

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