Governance - Phoenix Autism Trust

The Phoenix Autism Trust is an independent registered charity and incorporated company by guarantee. It has grown out of Phoenix School in Tower Hamlets. Phoenix School is an outstanding education provider for young people with complex autism and related Special Educational Needs. In response to a growing need in the borough and at the request from the local authority, PATH (Phoenix Autism Tower Hamlets) was established in September 2015 to develop a specialist 19-25 further education provision in partnership with New City College.

Stewart Harris MBE (Chair of Trustees)

With over 30 years’ of experience as the Head Teacher of Phoenix School, Stewart is an influential figure who has overseen tremendous growth and change at Phoenix School. Stewart was instrumental in founding Phoenix College as PATH in 2015, and guiding us towards independence in January 2021.

Mike Wojcik

Mike is Chief Executive of Queen Mary University of London’s Student Union. He is an experienced leader with a proven track record in business transformation, governance, shaping and achieving strategic goals within commercial, charitable and higher education sectors.

Andy Lusk

Andy Lusk has been a children’s and adult’s social care, safeguarding and SEND professional since the mid 1970s. Having retired as Director at Ambitious about Autism he returned to consulting work where he supported the creation of what is now Phoenix College. He is the safeguarding Trustee on the Phoenix Board.

Jonathon Caunt

Jonathon is a solicitor-advocate and a Senior Associate in the litigation and dispute resolution team at Clifford Chance. Through Clifford Chance’s long-standing relationship with the NAS, he has represented families of children with autism at SEN Tribunals (and consulted in relation to a number of other SEN tribunal cases), and has been an Associate Governor at Phoenix School since 2017, and a director/trustee of Phoenix School for Autism Charitable Trust since 2019.

Dr Tina Sode

Tina, a dedicated and passionate professional, possesses almost 35 years of experience in the education sector. She has held significant leadership positions in various Colleges and Local Authorities, and presently serves as the Acting Head of Special Educational Needs in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Committed to social mobility and equality, Tina’s dedication, coupled with her proven track record in education improvement and cultivating robust transition partnerships, positions her to provide invaluable insights to advance the mission and vision of Phoenix College.

Michael Samuels

Coming from a Real Estate and Finance background, where he held a number of senior roles, with both Private and Investment banks, Mike now has a number of roles with local charities, and schools around East London. With an Autistic grandson he has a particular interest in SEN education.