Building and Maintaining Strategic Governance - Speakers

Emma Knights Chief Executive, National Governance Association

Emma Knights is Chief Executive of the National Goverance Association (NGA) - the leading charity for guidance, research, advice and training for school governors and trustees. Prior to her appointment in 2010 she was joint CEO of the Daycare Trust. Before that, she worked in a number of roles in the voluntary sector, particularly in the Legal Services Commission, Citizens Advice and the Local Government Association. As well as leading projects on child poverty and educational attainment, Emma has written on a wide range of topics and is coauthor of the Chair’s Handbook.

Caroline Collins, FNASBM MA(Ed) Specialist Leader of Education, Head of School Business Strategy & Resources, Miles Coverdale Primary School

Caroline Collins has been Head of School Business (School Business Manager) of Miles Coverdale Primary School for 7 years and works closely with the SLT and governors on a daily basis. Prior to this Caroline worked in Governor Services at a large LA. Her role involved advising Governors, Heads and Clerks on discharging their statutory duties and she wrote a number of guidance publications, worked closely advising county councillors on governor appointments, arranged forum briefings for governors as well as wrote, published and delivered a number of training programmes for governors and clerks. In addition to this Caroline was the assessor for clerks undertaking the BTEC national accreditation programme.

Matt Miller National Leader of Governance and Chair of Governors, Highlands School

Matt was selected in the first cohort of National Leaders of Governance (NLG) in March 2012 and mentors and coaches Chairs of Governors in schools across north and east London as part of the ‘System Leadership’ programme. As the ‘Strategic Lead for Governance’ in Enfield Local Authority, he has developed and implemented a Local Leader of Governance (LLG) programme. Matt is also the Chair of Governors at an ‘outstanding’ north London secondary school which has presented an interesting range of challenges since it opened its doors as the country’s first purpose built PFI School in 2000.

Linda Talbot Lead Advisor for Leadership and School Effectiveness,  EES for Schools

Linda has over 20 years’ experience across all primary age ranges including subject leadership. She spent 10 years as a Primary headteachers, 5 years as a Primary School Improvement Partner, 2 years as a School Improvement Adviser and 3 years as an Education Adviser. Amongst her areas of expertise are leadership development at all levels, supporting school effectiveness, headteacher performance management and developing performance management systems to support school improvement. Linda has designed the framework for Optimus Education’s Effective School Governance Award.

Mark Blois Partner & Head of Education, Brown Jacobson LLP

Mark Blois heads up the Education team at Browne Jacobson and has more than twenty years’ experience as an education lawyer. He has been recommended as a leader in his field in ‘Chambers UK’ and ‘Legal 500’ for more than ten years and was designated a National Leader of Governance by the NCTL in 2015.  He has previously served as a member of the Regional Council of the Learning and Skills Council, as a Director of the National Governance Association and on the Board of a 157 Group FE College. Mark is currently the Chair of the L.E.A.D Academy Trust, a large multi-academy trust in the Midlands and is also a long-standing Teach First mentor.