Meet the trustees

Mike started his working career in 1970 in the Lloyd’s Insurance market in the City of London. Firstly as a Broker then moving to a Lloyd’s Syndicate. He changed direction in 1997 to become self-employed setting up his own photography business which had been a hobby since school days. He specialised in portraiture , commercial work and Wedding photography for the next 20 plus years. Mike has been coming to the Buckingham Summer Festival concerts since about 1999 and has seen it develop over those years, becoming a Trustee in 2015.

John's career began in the aircraft industry, followed by a stint at Oldbury Nuclear power station  and then moved on to the Chemistry Dept at Bristol University as Chief Technician in the Inorganic Chemistry Dept. A few years later he decided to avoid the long and expensive commute to South Kensington and joined a company in Chesham that supplied equipment to measure harmful gases and vapours in the workplace. Soon after his retirement, he discovered the lunchtime concerts that Professor Alan Brooks put on in the Radcliffe Centre. Before long Alan invited him to help at the Summer Festival. He became a trustee about 3 years later. John is an enthusiastic volunteer Gardener for The National Trust, Stowe. 

Farokh is a film maker. He lives and works from his own film studio at his farm near Buckingham where he raises organic sheep and keeps honeybees. He studied graphic design in England in the Seventies and completed his film studies at London International Film School where he studied Film Art Direction. He joined the animation industry in London’s Soho where he produced and directed more than a thousand international Animation and Special Effects TV Commercials from 1983-1993 and won many international awards for his work. These days Farokh specialises in Animal Action Direction for TV drama and cinema commercials and feature films. His indulgence is making high quality art documentaries for the international Television market.  

 Jane’s career has taken her from senior roles in the University of London and at The Law Society to non executive roles in a strategic health authority, Healthwatch England, the Care Quality Commission and Citizens Advice, both nationally and regionally. She is active in the Buckingham community as a town councillor, chair of the Friends of the University, the CAB, Rotary and a trustee of the Alm houses. She is a patron and long time supporter of the Festival with her husband, Howard.

Chris’ professional journey began in music. Trained at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University and Conservatorium of Music, Monash University, Chris worked for over a decade as a freelance musician and music teacher, before progressing into senior management roles at specialist arts institutions including the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance and Ravensbourne University.

For the last ten years Chris has worked at The University of Buckingham, where he is currently Registrar and Chief Administrative Officer. As a university leader, Chris has overseen governance, compliance, and institutional resilience at Board level and delivered transformation at scale while preserving organisational culture and reputation.