GSA Team

Lindsey Hughes is Headmistress of Channing, a 4-18 independent girls’ school with just over 1,000 pupils in Highgate, North London. Stepping into headship in September 2020, her first task was to reopen the school after lockdown. Since that time she has expanded the number of pupils on roll, led a substantial curriculum review and spearheaded a thriving education partnership with local charity Highgate Newtown Community Partners (HNCP).

Moving into teaching after a brief career in communications and charity work, including as administrator of Sir Peter Lampl’s Sutton Trust, Lindsey started her career in the state sector before moving to the independent sector. She has worked in all-boys, coed and, in the second half of her career, in all-girls schools. She was previously Deputy Head at Lady Eleanor Holles School and Director of Students at St Helen and St Katharine.

Lindsey has served as Vice-Chair of the GSA Education Committee and the GSA representative on the Council of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), where she sat on the Curriculum & Assessment Committee. She is President of the GSA in 2025-26

Helen Jeys is the Head Mistress of Manchester High School for Girls (MHSG), a role she has held since 2020 following her earlier tenure as Head of Alderley Edge School for Girls. Helen has a First-Class Degree in Theology from Durham University, where she also received the Bishop Robertson Award for Academic Achievement. She completed her PGCE at Cambridge University.

A passionate educator and accomplished musician, Helen holds a Performance Diploma in cello and is also a pianist. Her academic interests lie in philosophy and character education. Helen has authored two philosophy textbooks and writes frequently about girls’ education and Aristotelian approaches to Education. Helen began her teaching career at The Manchester Grammar School and has since held leadership roles at Malvern Girls’ College, Hulme Grammar School for Boys, and Manchester High School for Girls.

Helen is currently Chair of the Education Committee of the Girls School Association. She has been elected as the President-elect of the Girls’ School Association for 2025-2026 and will serve as President from September 2026.

Alex read Chemistry at St Edmund Hall, Oxford and subsequently obtained her PGCE at the University of Bristol. Alex has over twenty years of academic and pastoral experience gained at leading girls’ schools, both day and boarding. Her previous roles include Head of Science at St Mary’s School, Ascot and Head of Sixth Form at Wimbledon High School. She joined Woldingham School in January 2015 as Deputy Head and became Headmistress in September 2016. She joined JAGS as Headmistress in September 2020.

Alex takes an active interest in sport and, having very recently retired from her local hockey team, enjoys cycling and walking, especially in the company of her husband, Chris and Scrumpy, the cocker spaniel.

I was delighted to join GSA as Chief Executive in January 2026. With 30 years’ experience in education across Northern Ireland, Italy and England, I bring over two decades of school leadership experience at every level, including Executive Principal and Improvement Partner roles. My career has included serving as Headteacher of an outstanding 11–18 academy of more than 1,200 students.

My work has always been grounded in a child‑centred philosophy, shaped early on by my time in one of Northern Ireland’s pioneering integrated secondary schools in the 1990s. My commitment to empowering girls, young women and women in leadership has been life‑long.  I hold a deep respect for the work of Heads and the crucial role they play in shaping futures. I am a trained coach and a long‑standing facilitator on national leadership programmes, including the NPQH, and I am passionate about leadership development and supporting leaders at every stage of their journey. I also serve as a governor at my local village school.

Beyond work, I love to travel, especially to Italy, and when time allows, I enjoy skiing, yoga and tennis.

I became a GSA Member in 2011 as Headmistress of Bolton School Girls’ Division and soon learned how important it was to be part of a collegiate, collaborative Association in which the value of girls’ education was celebrated and supported. A proud Member of the North West Region, I joined the Education Committee, becoming Chair in 2014, and then went on to become GSA President in 2019. I also represented GSA on the ASCL and ISC Boards.

I joined the Secretariat in January 2022 as Membership Director, in which role I am privileged to support Members and offer advice where I can. I also enjoy getting to know new Members at New Heads’ Induction and attending Regional meetings or Head to Heads to hear of Members’ concerns and aspirations. I work alongside the Safeguarding and Pastoral Committee, including helping to organise the Pastoral Excellence Conference, and the Junior and Prep Committee.

I am a Governor at a GSA Boarding School and an HMC Day School, a Trustee of a state school Academy Trust which offers Alternative and mainstream provision, a Governor of the University of Greater Manchester, and an Associate Non Executive Director for my local Community and Mental Health Trust.

As Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive, I support the CEO and Officers’ and Council leadership team, providing high-level executive support and helping to enable the delivery of GSA’s strategic vision.  I manage the CEO’s fast-paced diary – where careful planning often meets the occasional last-minute curveball.  I coordinate executive board and committee activity, lead servicing our flagship Education and Higher Education and Futures committees and oversee office management and HR functions.
Having been with GSA for over 19 years, I bring continuity and insight into how the organisation has evolved.  I take pride in keeping things running smoothly, and making sure the leadership team can focus on the big picture – even when the day has other ideas!
I’m a passionate believer that every child has potential, which can be unlocked by brilliant teachers who can recognise and nurture it.
Outside of work, family is at the heart of my world: I’m married and a proud Mum – roles that have given me plenty of practice in negotiation, organisation, and thinking on my feet (often simultaneously).  I also enjoy experimenting with different cuisines, singing, and the occasional indulgent shopping trip!

I’m a GSA alumna and attended LEH, and am proud to stand upon my mother’s shoulders who attended the school as a 100% bursary student. I’ve seen first-hand how education can positively transform lives.

I’ve spent 30 years making communications count across corporate boardrooms, purpose-led organisations, and award-winning agency campaigns. In service to The Girls’ Schools Association where I work as Head of Media and Communications, I lead national media strategy, manage reputation in a high-scrutiny environment, and provide executive counsel directly to the Chief Executive and senior leadership. My work spans the full communications remit, and I lead the GSA Communications Team on: earned, owned, and partnership media – driving national dialogue on girls’ education, women’s rights, and school leadership; proactive and reactive media relations; stakeholder engagement; brand development; crisis communications; public affairs, owned media, and digital content. Additionally, I work alongside the GSA Inclusion Committee helping to lead Equity Diversity Inclusion and Belonging across our girls’ school to challenge harmful norms and turn values into action.

Outside of work, I’m Mum to two brilliant young people; an elected Parent Governor and Chair of the Education Committee at a selective boys’ grammar school; a published poet; arts enthusiast and keen (but amateur!) gardener.

I’ve had a 20 year career in media working across editorial, photography, marketing and even the odd TV appearance. Six years ago I retrained in social media and have been working in this area ever since. I work with a wide variety of clients ranging from multi-national organisations to start-ups and embrace a number of roles including management, strategy work, advocacy, e-commerce, influencer activity and advertising.

With over 8 years’ experience working in the events industry, I have organised several events from conferences to festivals. One thing is for sure, being an Events Manager is always interesting, fast paced and most importantly rewarding!

As the Conference and Events Manager at the Girls’ Schools Association, I handle all things events, such as; delegate registrations, website management, marketing materials, venue management, programme forming and speaker liaison. I also work with all of our wonderful sponsors and exhibitors!

In my spare time I enjoy being with friends and family, walking our cockapoo Roo, running and exercising, interior design and everything Disney related.

I am a committed advocate for girls’ education, inspired by my own all‑girls schooling and my experience as a parent of a daughter attending an all‑girls grammar school. Before joining the Girls’ Schools Association, I worked as a Membership Manager supporting Learning & Development professionals in UK Law firms, where I quickly discovered how much I enjoyed working with and supporting members within a membership organisation. This followed a 20‑year career in the Global Investment Banking Sector.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my family, supporting my daughters’ theatre and dance activities, and enjoying trips to the theatre.

As the Membership Administrator, I play a key role in supporting the Membership Team with a wide range of day‑to‑day operations while also managing my own independent workload. I take great pride in contributing to the work of the GSA, and I value the variety and pace the role offers—no two days are ever the same.

My background in recruitment and student accommodation provided a strong foundation for this position, allowing me to bring forward transferable skills in communication, organisation, and member-focused service. These experiences have helped me transition seamlessly into my current role and continue to shape the way I approach my responsibilities.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my two children, going on long walks, and exploring new places.

Jules is a firm believer in girls-only education having attended a girls’ grammar school in Buckinghamshire. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1995 after studying Economics at the University of Leeds.

Jules has almost 30 years of post-qualification experience gained in the commercial, charity, not for profit and public sectors. She is currently the Finance and Office Manager for the Independent Schools Council and supports GSA one day a week as a finance consultant. She is also a Director of the Independent Schools Teacher Induction Panel (ISTIP).

Jules enjoys travelling, going to the theatre and spending time with her husband, children and friends.

I have worked in the filed of accounting and finance for about 12 years. At GSA, I am responsible for all aspects of accounting including, purchase and sales ledger, payroll, bank reconciliations, monthly management accounts and budgeting. My role is very varied hence enjoyable!

In my spare time, I like meeting friends and family and having a good natter and laughter!

My work for the GSA comprises research, data analysis and member communications. My research work focuses on turning complex educational data into clear, practical insights that support school leaders and inform wider sector conversations.

I contribute to a range of GSA research outputs, including analysis of national datasets, member surveys and policy developments, as well as producing briefings, reports and supporting media commentary. Alongside this, I oversee member communications, including the GSA’s weekly mailer, helping to ensure members stay informed and engaged.

I also lead the development and smooth operation of the GSA Research Association, a national initiative designed to foster curiosity, research skills and collaboration among pupils in girls’ schools. Through this work, I support schools in delivering student-led research projects and showcasing their findings.

I am particularly interested in the intersection of education, data and storytelling, and in using evidence to demonstrate the impact of girls’ schools and support informed decision-making across the sector.