Staff
Executive Group
Fran Russell
Executive Director
Fran is a former solicitor and experienced senior charity executive. She was a senior leader at Greenwich Waldorf School during its development from early years' initiative to thriving school providing particular expertise in organisational and business development. During that time she was a member of the Schools Group at the Greenwich Children's Safeguarding Partnership. After leaving Greenwich she was an inspector with HM Inspectorate of Prisons where her work included inspecting quality of provision, safeguarding and child protection at secure facilities holding children.
Fran initially trained in civil legal practice going on to specialise in human rights and judicial review where she advocated for children in the prison and care systems. She was Assistant Director at the Howard League for Penal Reform and founding director of its children's law department, winning the Liberty/Justice Human Rights Award; and was senior legal advisor at Voice (now Corum Voice). Fran previously worked as a special advisor in the UK Parliament and researcher for the civil liberties organisation Liberty. She has also worked in the Middle East and the Caribbean on human rights issues. Other work has included Associate Independent Complaints Assessor at the Department for Transport and Interviewer for the Independent Review of Workplace Culture at Save the Children UK (2018). She has twin girls who were educated at Greenwich Waldorf School.
Kath Bransby
Education Coordinator
After working in publishing and health administration, Kath began her teaching career in state education, working as a teacher and senior leader in early years and primary for 15 years. During this time, she trained as a Waldorf kindergarten teacher, and introduced many aspects of the pedagogy into her work. This innovation was recognised by Ofsted, the local authority and teacher training partners, and she began delivering training in storytelling, literacy, outdoor learning and craft more widely in the north of England. Kath represents the UK at the European Council for Steiner Waldorf Education (ECSWE), and in 2025 was elected to the board. With Martyn Rawson, she has co-edited an updated curriculum for UK Waldorf schools, has co-written a number of articles and a book for Routledge (Oct 2025): 'Crafting a Curriculum of Coherence: Lessons from Steiner Waldorf Education'.
Kath also works as a senior lecturer in teacher education at Sheffield Hallam University, where in 2024 she completed her master’s thesis, ‘Why Waldorf?’, an exploration of parents’ and carers’ reasons for choosing Waldorf education for their children.
Sam Greshoff
Early Childhood Coordinator
Sam studied Renaissance History at Warwick University between 1985-1988 and then went on to a career in the organisation of Medical Conferences working for the Royal Society of Medicine, Royal College of Physicians and Teenage Cancer Trust. For over twenty years she has worked as a Parent and Child Group Leader and Kindergarten Teacher and has coordinated training and continuing professional development for educators working with children from birth to seven.
Sam began working for Waldorf UK in 2017, collaborating with Janni Nicol to support early childhood settings. In 2021 she completed an MA in Childhood and Youth Studies (Merit) focusing on the experience of children under the age of three in early childhood settings. She has undertaken the Trauma Informed Schools Diploma and is currently undertaking Play Therapy training. Sam is also a core tutor on the Holistic Baby and Childcare Course and the NESWEC Kindergarten training.
Valerie McDonough
Business and Finance Manager
Valerie has a Commerce Degree from University College Cork and an MBA from Ulster University. With more than 20 years in the banking sector and in business development, she moved to Holywood Steiner School to support the delivery of Strategy 2025 as Development Manager before joining Waldorf UK in January 2024. Her core skills are in financial analysis, strategic planning, management and marketing.
Outside of work, Valerie is a mum of three young adults who at various times turn to her for support! She is a keen club athlete and active member of her local athletics club. She also loves to crochet.
Consultant
Janni Nicol
Early Childhood Coordinator
Janni worked as a Waldorf Kindergarten teacher in South Africa and Cambridge, where she was the founding teacher of the Cambridge Steiner school. She worked for the SWSF for over 20 years, before retiring from the Early Childhood Coordinating role in 2022. She was instrumental in starting the SW Foundation Degree at Plymouth University and teaches on the NESWEC EC kindergarten training course. She lectures internationally and has written a number of books on Steiner Waldorf early childhood education and care. She is the editor and publisher of KINDLING, Journal for Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood.
Janni continues to represent the SWSF on IASWECE (international Kindergarten Association) where she is also a board member. She holds a number of other trustee roles and works as an advisor and mentor to the SWSF.
