Financial Management for Schools - Speakers

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.

Justine Berkeley, Managing Director, SBM Services (UK) Ltd

Justine is an experienced business manager and chartered accountant committed to demonstrating the significant impact the strategic management of support functions can have on organisational improvement. Justine has experience in both the public and private sector, previously working for Suffolk and Essex Local Authorities managing their financial management traded services and has seven years’ experience working as a school business director. Justine owns and manages SBM Services Ltd, provider of consultancy services and the SBM Toolkit. Justine is a Fellow of the Institute of School Business Leaders, a Specialist Leader of Education, won the award of School Business Manager of the Year and recently received an award from the ISBL for outstanding contributions to the professionalisation of school business leadership.

Nigel Brunning, ISBL Fellow and School Resource Management Adviser, Finance and Operations Director at South East Essex Academy Trust

Nigel has been in his role as Finance and Operations Director at South East Essex Academy Trust (SEEAT) since 2015. He is a school resource management adviser and a Fellow of the ISBL. Before joining SEEAT he had a number of commercial roles in the private sector as chief operating officer of a UK listed plc and finance director of a number of private equity backed companies. He previously headed one of KPMG's London Transaction Services groups and was a motorcycle courier in central London for five years. He is a chartered accountant and has a MBA.

Steve Edmonds, Director of Advice and Guidance, National Governance Association

Steve’s role includes the development of high quality guidance for NGA members and supervising the delivery of high quality advice to NGA GOLD members and supporting NGA’s work on good governance practice. Prior to working at NGA Steve was Governor Services Manager at Birmingham City Council.

Phil Geraghty, Founder of Crowdfunder.co.uk

Phil is a leading authority on rewards crowdfunding, having launched and managed the growth of the UK's leading rewards crowdfunding platform, Crowdfunder.co.uk. Under Phil's leadership, Crowdfunder has helped 25,000 businesses, social enterprises, co-operatives, charities and individuals raise over £60m. Phil has also raised more than £3.5M for his own business through Equity Crowdfunding and has more than 2,000 shareholders. 

Robert Gould FRICS, Partner, Barker Associates

Robert is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a Partner heading up Barker Associates’ Education sector team. Robert works with academies, multi-academy trusts, colleges and universities to deliver capital projects and surveying services including condition surveying and estate planning. He also assists education clients in applying for capital funding and advises on energy efficiency strategies.

Chris Jermy, Head of Business Development, Zenergi Ltd

Chris has worked in the energy industry for 14 years, predominantly supporting the education and local authorities with a diverse range of energy related projects including utilities procurement, energy management, auditing and renewables. Chris is an accredited domestic and commercial energy assessor with a degree in Environmental Sciences and shares a passion to support customers to take control of their energy expenditure.

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, Nickii is also a published author and a regular contributor to Optimus Education.  Nickii is keen to help school leaders at all levels develop the skills and confidence to embrace the complex challenges facing schools today.

Daryll Middleton, Founder & CEO, teaglo

Daryll is Founder & CEO of innovative edtech company, teaglo – the teacher social network for progressive educators and schools around the world. Before teaglo, he was a consultant and director of sales at the world-leading edu-marketing agency, Finalsite, where he helped top schools around the world develop brand and marketing strategies to drive student enrolment and teacher recruitment. 

Justin Smith MInstF, Chameleon Training and Consultancy

Following a career spent in private sector business development and marketing, Justin moved into the education sector more than 18 years ago and has worked in three 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 £6 million in additional income for schools and is a member of the Institute of Fundraising and an ISBL Fellow.

Tom Wallace, Senior HR Consultant, Browne Jacobson LLP

Tom is a senior HR consultant within Browne Jacobson LLP’s employment team and has more than 10 years’ experience working with schools, academies and multi-academy trusts. Before joining Browne Jacobson LLP, Tom spent a number of years working with one of the largest multi-academy trusts in the UK. Tom has managed and led on a variety of large scale restructures, including a multi-million pound restructure affecting 400 staff. Tom has also advised on numerous executive pay reviews, contracts and bonus schemes.