SEA Team

The SEA is led by Dorothy McLaren, Founder of the SEA, who is ably supported by wonderful team members Gemma, Adèle and Susan who work part time to ensure that members’ needs are met and that our events, activities and training run smoothly.

Please address any questions you may have to [email protected] or to one of the team members and we will get back to you promptly.

  • Dorothy McLaren, Chief Executive Officer

    Dorothy McLaren is the founder and current strategic advisor to the Schools’ Enterprise Association and is delighted to be able to help schools through the work of the SEA supporting their commercial and enterprise teams as they develop and grow the increasingly important co-commercial offer.

    Dorothy has led organisations in a variety of senior leadership roles in marketing, communication and general management across a wide section of industry in the UK, Asia and Africa.  For the past 10 years, Dorothy has focused on the schools’ sector, initially as the founder of School Trunk, which provides a modern professional storage solution for boarding schools. Having consulted widely across the schools’ sector Dorothy has the unique advantage of both an in-school and broader industry perspective. Dorothy is a Governor of Ernest Bevin College in South London.

  • Gemma Gardner, Manager: Membership and Marketing

    Gemma’s career started out in Sports and Legal Marketing in London and Oxford; following a break to focus on her two children she went into the education sector and worked in schools both in supporting roles and as sports coaches.

    Following the closure of schools due to Covid, Gemma decided it was time to update her marketing skills and was delighted to start working for the School’s Enterprise Association in 2020, responsible for their social media.  This role has now expanded and includes website and database management, marketing, events, dealing with enquiries as well as the day to day liaising with members.

  • Adèle Greaves, Partnerships Manager

    Adèle has over twenty years’ experience of promoting and managing various companies. More recently at The Mill Hill School Foundation in North London, as Marketing Director from 2010-2012 and then Director of Commercial Operations until the end of 2023.
    Adèle has been a great supporter of the SEA since its inception and strongly believes that the sharing of information and experience within this unique sector will ensure that best practices are developed to give schools the confidence to maximise the commercial return from many underused school buildings, whilst balancing this with the educational needs of the pupils. Having served as Chair of the SEA Committee from 2019 to 2021, and then as a Special Advisor until 2023, she continued to inspire us with her invaluable advice and guidance.
    We were delighted when Adèle joined us in 2023 as Professional Development Manager. She has now handed this role to Susan to focus on the role of Partnerships Manager, working with our Corporate Partners and Professional Advisors as well as our NGB’s, NGO’s, Charity groups and other associations.
    Adèle continues to support us at Advisory meetings and Conferences. As the focus on Commercial activity increases as a necessary part of school use, we are pleased to have Adèle as part of the team in an industry that she knows really well.

  • Susan Harris, Professional Development and Events Manager

    Susan plays a key part in organising engaging events and first‑rate training, joining The SEA in summer 2025 as Professional Development and Events Manager.  Previously she was Training and Events Manager at AGBIS supporting governing bodies, having moved there from Queenswood School in Hertfordshire, where she led UK and International pupil recruitment. Prior to that, Susan held leadership roles at The Engineering Development Trust, including Programme Manager and Director, working closely with prestigious UK university outreach teams and commercial partners to provide opportunities to inspire young people into STEM careers.

  • Ben Hope, Head of Research

    Ben joins the SEA to lead on strategic research initiatives, working closely with the team to deliver valuable data and insights that will help members make informed decisions, understand how the sector is evolving and plan for the future.

    With over a decade of research experience, Ben began his career at global market research company Kantar working across a range of sectors. His experience includes the education sector, designing and managing research projects that deliver actionable insights and support commercial success.

    Most recently, Ben was Associate Partner and Campaigns Team Lead at H/Advisors Cicero, part of the Havas communications group, where he developed and delivered thought leadership campaigns for major national and international clients.

    Ben is excited to bring his analytical skills, strategic thinking and experience to the SEA and its members.