Selected governance, board and advisory roles spanning educational, cultural, public and institutional contexts.

Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford

External Advisor

2022 – Present

Gareth Stapleton serves as External Advisor to Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford, providing independent strategic advice to senior leadership and governors on the stewardship, development and optimisation of the College’s historic estate.

The role involves advising on long-term estate strategy within a complex governance, heritage and planning context, balancing academic ambition, financial sustainability and the responsibilities associated with listed buildings located within a protected landscape. Gareth has contributed to campus masterplanning, supporting decision-making around estate configuration, investment priorities and long-term institutional resilience.

His advisory work has included guidance on lease structuring and negotiations relating to historic assets, ensuring alignment between commercial arrangements, estate strategy and the College’s educational mission. He has also supported the renovation and repositioning of student accommodation, alongside the appraisal and development of new residential projects, addressing planning, heritage, operational and financial considerations.

In parallel, Gareth has advised on asset disposal and reinvestment opportunities, helping the College assess value, risk and long-term stewardship obligations within a constrained and highly regulated environment. The role requires close engagement with academic leadership, estates teams, external advisers and planning authorities, operating with discretion and independence at moments of institutional decision-making.

Bloxham School

Vice-Chair of Governors / Governor

2023-2025

Gareth Stapleton serves as Chair of Governors (formerly Governor) at Bloxham School, an independent boarding and day school with a long-established educational, charitable and pastoral mission.

In this role, he provides strategic leadership to the governing body, overseeing governance, fiduciary responsibility, and institutional stewardship across education, safeguarding, finance, estate and organisational culture. The position involves close engagement with the Head, senior leadership team and fellow governors to ensure clarity of accountability, effective decision-making and alignment between educational values and long-term sustainability.

Gareth’s responsibilities include supporting strategic planning, overseeing risk and compliance, strengthening governance practice, and guiding the School through periods of change while maintaining continuity of purpose. The role reflects experience operating within regulated educational environments where duty of care, public trust and long-term institutional health are paramount.

The Queen’s Green Canopy - Tree of Trees

Advisor, Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

2022 – 2023

Gareth Stapleton served as Advisor to the Tree of Trees initiative delivered at Buckingham Palace as part of Her Late Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, operating under The Queen’s Green Canopy programme.

In this role, he provided strategic oversight and governance support for a nationally significant public installation delivered within a fixed ceremonial and security context. Responsibilities included aligning multiple public agencies, designers, fabricators and specialist partners, ensuring appropriate governance, risk management and delivery coordination for a high-profile project operating under intense public and political scrutiny.

The advisory role focused on disciplined sequencing, decision-making and stakeholder coordination across a complex delivery environment, balancing heritage sensitivity, environmental purpose and operational constraints. Gareth supported leadership teams in maintaining clarity of responsibility, managing risk and ensuring accountability throughout the programme lifecycle.

Following the Jubilee celebrations, the project transitioned into its legacy phase, with individual trees distributed to communities across the UK for planting, extending the initiative’s public value beyond the ceremonial event. The role reflects Gareth’s experience advising on complex, cross-sector initiatives where national symbolism, public value and disciplined execution intersect.

Additional governance and advisory roles are available on request.

Photo - Claire Kramer