Parent-led support for Bruern Abbey
Amici Bruerni is led and resourced by a group of parents and past parents who care deeply about Bruern Abbey, the boys and families.
Susan Bolten-Pappas
Role: Trustee
Susan, a trustee since 2021, brings experience in marketing, design, and fundraising. Formerly in LA, NYC, and London’s ad industry, she now focuses on supporting schools. Her son Aiden attended Bruern Prep and is now at the Senior School. Susan is passionate about advancing Amici Bruerni’s mission through impactful fundraising.
Simon Cairns
Role: Trustee
Simon, a trustee since 2022, has two sons at Bruern. Grateful for the school’s support of neurodiverse learners, he values its nurturing community. A fund manager focused on social impact, he leads finance as a trustee and champions inclusive housing for young adults with learning disabilities.
Sean Crosky
Role: Trustee, Member of Bursary Committee
Sean, a trustee since 2022, helped establish the Bruern Abbey Bursary Foundation. A parent of two former pupils, he champions access to Bruern’s support for neurodiverse boys. A partner at K&L Gates, he brings legal expertise and humour—known for hens, snowdrops, and reimagining dress codes with flair.
Eugénie Haniel
Role: Trustee, Member of Bursary Committee
Eugénie, a member of Amici Bruerni since 2024, has two sons at Bruern. With a background in international business and art, she’s worked with UBS and major museums worldwide. Passionate about community, she enjoys family life, playing piano, and exploring live jazz in her free time.
Clare McKeon
Role: Trustee
Clare, mother of a Bruern pupil, joined Amici Bruerni in 2023. A consultant at Christie’s with 25+ years’ experience, she’s also a long-time philanthropist and trustee. Passionate about widening access to Bruern, she supports its mission to offer the nurturing environment her son benefited from.
Lucinda Playfair
Role: Trustee
Lucinda, a trustee since 2023, brings global experience and a deep personal connection to neurodiversity. Based between Oxford and NYC, she leads a US arts nonprofit and supports Amici Bruerni’s mission to broaden access. Her son’s journey at Bruern inspired her commitment to inclusive education.
Courtenay Robertson
Role: Trustee
Courtenay, a trustee since 2023, is an advocate, arbitrator, and Acting High Court Judge in South Africa with 20 years’ legal experience. Her son Matthew joined Bruern in 2022, and she is dedicated to helping more boys benefit from the school’s transformative environment.
Leo Ryan
Role: Trustee
Leo, a trustee since 2024, brings 25 years of global digital marketing experience and a passion for emerging tech. Founder of Beagle AI, he helps small brands thrive with AI. With ties to Bruern since 2019, he champions using AI, VR, and AR to support neurodiverse learners in reaching their full potential.
Helen Speroni
Role: Co-Chair
Helen, Co-Chair of Amici Bruerni since 2021, brings leadership, creative expertise, and a deep commitment to expanding access to Bruern’s transformative education. With a background in architecture and branding, she champions inclusive learning, community engagement, and the growth of AB’s bursary programme.
Siobhan Wren
Role: Co-Chair
Siobhan, Co-Chair since 2021, is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and parent of a Bruern pupil (2018–2023). She brings expertise in safeguarding, governance, and education, and is passionate about supporting the Bruern community, staff, and parents to help children with learning differences thrive.
Mike Wright
Role: Trustee
Mike, founder of Yellow Be Ltd, has 20+ years in fintech, IT strategy, and digital transformation. A trustee since 2023, he brings tech expertise to Amici Bruerni. Passionate about education, he supports access for neurodiverse learners and advises an NGO reaching 250k pupils in South Africa.