Our Governors

Christian Mahoney was appointed a Foundation Governor in 1999. Mr Mahoney is a Solicitor specialising in property law and is a former pupil of St David’s Catholic College. Mr Mahoney is currently the Archdiocesan representative on the lay committee for spirituality, attached to the Bishop’s Conference for England and Wales. Mr Mahoney is an experienced retreat giver on Ignatian Spirituality and holds retreats at St. David’s Catholic College on a regular basis. 

Mr Mahoney is also a  committee member of the strategic alliance between St David’s Catholic College, Cardinal Newman and  Coleg Cymoydd.

Ian Brookfield was appointed at St. David’s Catholic College in January 2013 as a Foundation Governor. Mr Brookfield has been a full time lecturer at Cardiff University for over twenty years and has considerable ma nagement, administrative and teaching experience to bring to his appointment. Mr Brookfield is a member of the Community, Curriculum and FGB Committees.

Dr Channon was appointed at St. David’s Catholic College in February 2019 as a Parent Governor, having worked as an international development economist (specialising in public finance) for over twenty years and, before then, as Senior Lecturer in economics at the universities of London and Lancaster. He also served previously as a school governor and chair of a school Parent Council. He thus brings to his appointment a wealth of management, administrative and teaching experience.  Dr Channon is a member of the Finance and Resources and Full Governing Body Committees.

Nigel Harris was appointed at St. David’s Catholic College as a Co-opted Governor in September 2017.  Mr Harris has a BSc (Hons) in Management Sciences from Manchester University and is a Chartered Management Accountant.  After retiring he became a non-Executive Director of the Frontier Medical Group having previously been Finance Director and Managing Director.  Mr Harris is a member of the Finance, Estates, General Purposes and Personnel Committee and the Full Governing Body Committee.

Justin McCarthy was appointed at St. David’s Catholic College as a Foundation Governor in September 2014. A graduate of Manchester University with a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and is a Chartered Engineer. Mr McCarthy was a Clinical Engineer in the NHS and retired in 2009 as the head of the Clinical Engineering Department in the Cardiff and Vale Trust. Mr McCarthy now does consultancy work and is very involved in international safety standards for medical equipment. Mr McCarthy is a member of the Community and Audit Committees.

Professor Sally Power was appointed at St. David’s Catholic College as a Foundation Governor in February 2014. Professor Power is the Director of Research Cardiff School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University. Professor Power directs WISERD Education, (Welsh Institute of Social and Economic Research Date and Methods) a major Research project following the progress of 1,500 Children and Young People and the progress through their education. Professor Power is a member of the FEGP and Personnel Committee and Chairs the Curriculum Committee.

John Edwards was appointed at St David’s Catholic College as a Foundation Govenor in July 2019. A former Mining Electrical Engineer who joined The Sussex Police Force in 1971, Mr Edwards is a former Director of the Knights of St Columba. For 8 years he was the Chair of Govenors at St Philip Howard High School, Barnham, West Sussex. Mr Edwards is currently Secretary of The Cardiff Circle (36) of the Catenian Association. Mr Edwards has obtained a Honours Degree in Religious Educational Studies from Brighton University. Mr Edwards looks forward once more to be involved within the field of Catholic Educaiton, especially here in Cardiff. 

Julie Piacentini was appointed at St David’s Catholic College as a Foundation Governor in March 2025.   Following more than a decade’s experience as a secondary teacher in the Catholic sector, Ms Piacentini worked in Higher Education, initially as a Programme Director of Secondary Teacher Education programmes.  Subsequently, she became Director of Learning and Teaching and Dean of Quality and Standards where she was responsible for maintaining academic standards across the University including its transnational partner colleges.   Ms Piacentini has experience of undertaking Section 10 inspections for Estyn and of the Foundation Governor role at St John Lloyd RC Primary School.  She has many years’ involvement with the Music Ministry including in her current parish.  Ms Piacentini is a member of the Student Experience, Academic Standards and Quality Improvement Committee and of the Full Governing Body Committee.