Our Trustees
Trevor Sterling
Trevor is a Major Trauma Lawyer and Senior Partner at Moore Barlow, with over 40 years’ experience. He also sits on the firm’s Partnership Council and has a leading role in respect of Diversity and Inclusion. Having underachieved and left school at age 17, he became the first black and youngest partner in the history of his previous firm at age 28. In 2021 he was appointed Senior Partner at Moore Barlow Solicitor becoming the first black Senior Partner of a top 100 UK firm.
In 2015, Trevor became involved in the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal, leading to his appointment as Chair following the unveiling of the Mary Seacole statue at St Thomas’s hospital in London in 2016. The statue was the first bronze statue of a named black female in the UK, Trevor subsequently led the Mary Seacole Trust on a number of legacy projects including its education and diversity programmes.
Trevor was awarded Doctorates in 2024, from the University of Law and from the University of Roehampton, recognising his contribution to law and Social Mobility. He was also awarded the Association of Jamaican (UK) National Her Award in 2024.
Trevor recently founded the U-triumph podcast platform showcasing individuals who had “broken-through” and subsequently Co-founded and became a trustee of the Be The Ladder Foundation, established to give support to young people at risk of underachievement through socio-economic circumstance. Trevor is also the founder of the Be The Ladder Awards which is to be launched in October 2025.
Trevor has appeared in the media on numerous occasions, most notably he was involved in campaigns in respect of the Windrush Scandal being the son of Windrush immigrants and an advocate for social mobility.
Matthew Burrell
Matthew is a History teacher and Assistant Headteacher at Frogmore Community College in Yateley. Since qualifying as a teacher, he has worked in a number of different schools across Hampshire. He is passionate about ensuring all young people have a fair chance in life and within these schools has been leading on support for children from under-resourced backgrounds for over 10 years.
Matthew also leads regional panels for staff across schools from the Northeast region of Hampshire on impactful use of their Pupil Premium budget, which is funding provided to all schools in support of students classified as 'disadvantaged'.
Matthew Velada-Billson
Matthew’s journey is a testament to the power of social mobility. Leaving school at sixteen without formal qualifications, he faced a challenging start, but his determination led him to complete a B-TEC in Business Studies at a community college. In 1991, he became the first in his family to attend university, enrolling at Oxford Brookes University to study Psychology and Sociology. However, the shift from vocational to academic studies proved difficult, and he left the course in 1992. Undeterred, Matthew worked in a range of jobs, from being a delivery driver for Nottinghamshire County Council and a National Rail worker in South East London, to running his own painting and decorating business in North London. In 1998, he found his passion for community work, joining a theatre project in East London to support young people with physical disabilities. This experience became a turning point, leading him to roles as a drama co-tutor and later lead tutor in Tower Hamlets. While working, Matthew studied for his GCSEs in Mathematics and English, laying the foundation for his entry into teacher training. This effort culminated in his acceptance to an Access to BA (Ed) course at Lewisham College, which ultimately led to a first-class honours degree in Primary Education from Goldsmiths University in 2005. Along the way, he was recognised with an Academic Excellence Award.
Matthew’s teaching career began in a Lewisham Primary School, where he quickly rose to a senior leadership role. By 2013, he was appointed Deputy Head Teacher at a Southwark school, and in 2018, he became Head Teacher at St John’s Primary School. Under his leadership, the school improved its rating from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Good’ in just two years. Following St John’s closure in 2021 due to falling birth rates, Matthew became Head Teacher at Edgebury Primary School in Bromley. Matthew is committed to giving back, serving as a trustee for the Be The Ladder Foundation, an organisation that helps young people from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve success and overcome socio-economic barriers. His story reflects not only his personal perseverance but also his dedication to uplifting others through education.
Antonia Elsom
I am currently a trainee solicitor at Moore Barlow working in the Major Trauma team. I have first-hand experience of the benefits of education and a university degree and the opportunities it can present. This has given me an appreciation for the advantages I was fortunate enough to have and fuels my commitment to supporting efforts that break down the barriers to education for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
I have been involved in the charity’s implementation and I have assumed a number of operational roles, including project management responsibilities and website development and design. I am also helping to coordinate the Be The Ladder Awards launching in October 2025.
I am involved in various initiatives at Moore Barlow including fundraising and charity events, as well as committee dedicated to young professionals starting their careers.
I am proud to be involved in a charity that is focussing on ensuring children have the opportunity to reach their full potential, and I feel incredibly honoured to be on the Board of Trustees.