Establishing or Joining Multi-Academy Trusts - Speakers

Wednesday 29 Nov 2017
Holiday Inn Wembley, London

Brian Lightman

Education Consultant and former General Secretary of ASCL

Brian Lightman was General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders from September 2010 - January 2016. Now a self-employed leadership specialist, he has a wide-ranging portfolio which includes working with individual and groups of schools providing coaching for middle and senior leaders, professional development and support for school improvement.


Dr Tim Coulson

Outgoing Regional Schools Commissioner and future Chief Executive, Samuel Ward Academy Trust

Before his appointment, Tim was Director of Education at Essex county council. Earlier in his career he has also taught in London primary schools and was Headteacher at William Tyndale Primary School. As the Regional Schools Commissioner for the East of England and North-East London he is responsible for making decisions about the academies and free schools.

In August, Tim will take on the role of CEO for the Samuel Ward Academy Trust


Clare Collins MBE

Head of Consultancy, NGA

Clare leads NGA’s consultancy operation. Clare’s role includes developing the governance review frameworks for both maintained schools and academy trusts and working with multi academy trusts in determining the methodology for their reviews; she also quality assures all the work that is undertaken by the team.  Clare works alongside NGA’s Head of Training Development overseeing the team of consultants including the recruitment of new consultants.

Clare’s background is in governance and trusteeship.  She has chaired the governing board in a number of schools in different phases and in varying stages of their development. Clare has also chaired her local authority Schools Forum, and her trustee experience includes chairing the NGA trust board from 2008-2011.


Nick MacKenzie

Partner, Browne Jacobson

Nick leads the education team on corporate and governance matters and heads up the firm's Birmingham education team. He has particular expertise in developing innovative approaches to academy groups, collaborations in the education sector (including all types of college and school on collaborations and joint ventures) and Teaching Schools.


Joan Binder

Vice Chair of FASNA and Chair of Governors

Joan is currently Vice Chair of FASNA and Chair of the Board of Trustees of a large 11-18 pupil converter academy in Essex. She has been involved in governance across all phases of schools for over 30 years. With a professional background in education Joan has taught in both the secondary and primary secondary sectors and in the adult education service. She has a BTECH Higher qualification for chairs of governing bodies.
Joan edited the FASNA book ‘Effective Governance – greater accountability for raising standards’ which has received ‘outstanding’ reviews. An update focusing on ‘Effective and Accountable Governance in Multi Academy Trusts’ is now available.


David Bond

Financial Controller, Lion Academy Trust and Lion Education TrustEducation Consultant

David became Financial Controller for the Lion Academy Trust and Lion Education Trust in July 2016.  Previously working at Barclays, for over 13 years, where he was Assistant Vice President for Strategy, Governance and Operations with additional responsibilities for finance.  As a qualified project manager, he supported a global team in the utilisation of IT platforms and remote teams to create efficient, cost-effective, and scalable solutions.  David now brings this experience to the educational sector.


Karen Burns

Chief Executive and Executive Principal, Carillion Academies Trust

Karen joined the Trust in April 2015 as Executive Principal to lead two new targeted basic need academies in Tameside.  Following a successful Deputy Headship involving the amalgamation of two schools in Stockport, Karen’s position before joining the Trust was as a highly effective Headteacher of a primary school in Ashton.  In January 2016 Karen was promoted to Chief Executive of the Trust, alongside her Executive Principal role.  Under her leadership the Trust is now growing following the successful opening of the two new academies, with several existing schools working through the conversion process to join the Trust.


Naseem Nabi

Partner, Veale Wasbrough Vizards

With over 10 years experience of the education sector, Naseem is well placed to advise you on all aspects of employment law. Naseem predominately advises independent schools and academies. She has particular expertise in acquisitions & mergers and associated TUPE issues, restructuring and redundancy. Naseem is well versed in tackling sensitive staffing and incident management issues in a pragmatic and commercial way.
Naseem also advises the firm's academy conversion clients, supporting them through the conversion process during consultation with staff and trade unions and post conversion advisory work.


Matthew Clements-Wheeler

Business Manager and Deputy Head, Bordesley Green Girls' School

Matthew Clements-Wheeler leads the support staff at Bordesley Green Girls' School; an outstanding school in Birmingham. He has previously worked in a school in special measures and a high-performing grammar school. Matthew is passionate about sharing best practice and has delivered training for SBMs in the UK as well as working with the South African Education Department. Matthew currently chairs the NASBM Governance Review Committee and has previously served as a regional judge for NASBM's National Support Staff Awards.


Karen Wespieser

Head of Impact, National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) Clements-Wheeler

Karen is Head of Impact at NFER. She leads a team pioneering new approaches to getting evidence acted upon across educational policy and practice, through commissioning new research and engaging extensively with external stakeholders. Recent work from her team includes Capacity for Collaboration, and A Tale of Eight Regions. She is the founder of #UKEdResChat, a regular twitter chat for those interested in all aspects of educational research. In her spare time Karen is a school governor and a mum of two.