Effective Financial Management in Schools - Speakers

Andrew Wye, Funding Policy Unit, Department for Education

Andrew has worked for the Department for Education for 40 years, mostly in areas of school funding and, teachers' pay and conditions. Andrew's current responsibilities include work to improve the management of resources by schools and work on the accountability of schools and local authorities.

Matthew Clements Wheeler FISBL, Chair, Institute of School Business Leadership

Matthew is the Chair of the Institute of School Business Leadership and he sits on the National Qualifications Board overseeing the qualifications and curriculum for the SBL profession. He is also a member of the Chartered College of Teaching’s Leadership Development Advisory Group. He has worked in some of the best (and worst!) schools in England and has advised several leading educational organisations on policy issues. He is a respected authority on the non-teaching aspects of running schools and academy trusts, regularly delivering training on, and campaigning for, better management of school resources.

Natalie Perera, Executive Director, Education Policy Institute 

Natalie worked in the Department for Education from 2002 to 2014. After leading on the Department’s spending review bid for children and family services in 2010, Natalie then took up post as the Head of the School Funding Reform Unit where she led on the design of a new national funding formula, allocation of the Pupil Premium, reform of academies funding and funding for universal free school meals. During this time, Natalie led a radical series of reforms to simplify school funding and improve transparency between local areas. Natalie is also a school governor and Director of a Multi-Academy Trust in South London.

Nickii Messer, School Business Management and Leadership Development expert, All the geese

Nickii and her company, All The Geese, specialise in training, developing and promoting school business management and leadership.  A well known national and international conference speaker and author, Nickii is also Operational Lead for the SBM Diplomas at Anglia Ruskin University.  Nickii is keen to help school leaders at all levels develop the skills and confidence to embrace the complex challenges facing schools today.

Russell Dalton FISBL, Chief Operating Officer, The Diocese of Worcester Multi-Academy Trust (DoWMAT)

Russell became a School Business Manager 13 years ago after a full career in the Army.  After leaving the Army he worked at a large High School in Worcestershire and, along with his business team, supported a number of primary schools.  He is now the Chief Operating Officer for a 12 school MAT which is growing. Russell thrives on the entrepreneurial aspect of the role, which has seen him form a trading arm for his previous school which now turns over in excess of £600,000 a year.

Cate Hart, Independent Consultant

Cate has 18 years’ experience as an SBM, in 3 London schools as a member of the SLT and now as an independent consultant, was a Trustee of the ISBL for 6 years, a life member since 2009.  She advised the DfE’s National Funding Formula committee, delivered training for Capita, ISBL, Optimus Education, EDEXCEL and the LA in all aspects of school business management and is a mentor for new SBMs.

Barney Angliss, Lead Project Co-Ordinator, National Star College 

Barney is a teacher, trainer, consultant and researcher in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). A project lead for the National Star Foundation, Barney is also an advisor on SEND, autism and equality to Local Authorities and schools. He has written for TES, SchoolsWeek, SBM Magazine and SEN Leader and appeared on TV and radio.

Emma Hughes, Head of HR Services, Browne Jacobson 

Emma heads up the HR consultancy service for the education sector at Browne Jacobson. Emma has over 15 years’ experience in generalist HR in both the private sector and the public sector. Emma has worked at a senior level in HR for two large multi-academy trusts.

Gill Robinson OBE, Vice Chair, Teaching Schools Council 

Gill is the Vice Chair of the Teaching Schools Council, and CEO of the Interaction and Communication Academy Trust. She has been a headteacher for 25 years (gaining four consecutive ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted judgements). Gill became an NLE and Teaching School Head in Cohort 3 and is also a Pupil Premium Reviewer.

Caroline Collins FISBL, Head of School Business Resources and Strategy, Miles Coverdale Primary School

Caroline Collins is a School Business Leader at Miles Coverdale Primary School in West London where she has worked since 2011 providing strategic non-teaching business leadership. She has had a long working relationship with the Institute of School Business Leadership, of which she is a Fellow and member of the Advisory Committee. Caroline has served on the NAHT SBL committee since 2015 and was appointed SLE for school business management in the same year.

Justin Smith FISBL, Chameleon Training and Consultancy

Following a career spent in private sector business development and marketing, Justin moved into the education sector over 18 years ago and has worked in 3 large secondary schools in Suffolk and Norfolk. The most recent of which was Wymondham College, the largest state boarding school in the country. Justin is a vastly experienced bid writer with a strong track record in raising funds for schools via conventional trust funds, grants and sponsorships. To date Justin has raised £4 million in additional income for schools and is a member of the Institute of Fundraising.

Simon Hepburn, Founder, Marketing Advice for Schools

Simon Hepburn is the Founder of Marketing Advice for Schools. He learned recruitment marketing at Reed and helped companies including Vodafone improve their employer brand. After retraining and spending 11 years as a full-time teacher, he now combines teaching with consultancy and training for schools and related organisations in all aspects of marketing.