Growing and Developing a Trust - Manchester - Speakers

Karen Burns, CEO, Victorious Academies Trust (Chair)

Karen is an experienced school leader having worked in a multi academy trust since April 2015, taking on the role of CEO in January 2016. During 2017 Karen led discussions with the DfE, Regional Schools Commissioner and former sponsor to relaunch the Trust.  Victorious Academies Trust was launched in January 2018 and currently comprises of seven primary academies with additional schools under application. Subsequently Karen has supported a small MAT in Cumbria in the role of interim CEO and is currently mentoring two MAT CEOs in Greater Manchester and supporting a local primary school, as a School Improvement Officer.

Liz Anderson, CEO, Djanogly Learning Trust

Liz Anderson is CEO of Djanogly Learning Trust, a multi-academy trust based across Nottingham and Derbyshire.  A former headteacher, her mantra is “children first” and all decisions are filtered through this belief.  It is her passion to make a difference and ensure that all children get the same opportunities to succeed at a high level, whatever their starting point.  Her positive impact on school improvement and system leadership has been recognised through her designation as National Leader of Education and Pupil Premium Reviewer.

John Barneby, Accounting Officer and COO, Oasis Community Learning

John oversees the national service provision of OCL and supports the CEO to deliver exceptional education. He has overall responsibility for People, Finance, IT, Communications, Property & Estates and Strategic Projects, ensuring an accountable, value for money and outstanding quality service is delivered to all Oasis Academies. John is passionate about OCL’s responsibility as an education provider to protect the environment for current and future generations. OCL are on a journey to becoming Net Zero and this is being moved forward by several initiatives including installing solar panels across the estate, moving to LED lighting and investing in sustainable food programs.

Karen Bramwell, CEO, Forward as One Academy Trust

Karen was Head teacher at St Paul’s CE Primary School Bolton (1998-2015), judged as Outstanding by Ofsted in 2013, a grade it currently retains. In 2014 she became an Ofsted Inspector and an Associate Inspector for Ofsted, working with HMI as an NLE to lead Section 8 monitoring of RI and Special Measures schools. In 2015 she became the Founding CEO & Accounting Officer of Forward As One CE Multi Academy Trust, a mixed MAT with a C of E foundation.

John Brennan, Director, Glove Consulting

Glove Consulting was founded by John Brennan who has over 25 years’ experience in the sector. They now work with all types of public sector and education institutions, including multi academy trusts, providing advice, direction, and insight across the full spectrum of engagement, culture, communication, reputational and brand related issues. Their mission is to use their unique combination of experience and skills to deliver a considered and strategic development solution that fits you, your organisation and your stakeholders like a glove. John is currently working with several trusts nationwide providing advice on formation, growth and narrative development strategies.

Tom Briant-Evans, Senior Associate, Browne Jacobson LLP

Tom has been involved in the education sector for almost 10 years. Although he regularly advises maintained and independent schools, his focus is primarily on the academy sector where, having trained as a corporate lawyer, he specialises in corporate and commercial advice to academy trusts. Tom has built up considerable experience in advising trusts on incorporations, conversions, transfers and mergers. These have ranged from simple single school projects through to complex ESFA driven rebrokerages. Away from his day job Tom has served as a Trustee in a 16 school MAT for a number of years, including a period of rapid growth.

Paul Cook, Managing Director, Homes2Inspire

Paul is a qualified Social Worker with over 40 years’ experience in children’s services, holding Management and Senior Management roles for the majority of that time. His career spans 13 years working within Local Authorities working across Central Government, 17 years in the Private Sector, including working for large outsourcing companies and private equity backed businesses with a focus on growth and acquisition. This included spells working overseas in the UAE and USA. For 9 years Paul was Vice Chairman of the Independent Schools Inspectorate and also a non-Executive Director of Hyde Housing Group (Housing Association) and currently chairs the Board of one of the country’s largest equestrian societies. He is currently Shaw Trust Managing Director of Children’s Services sitting on the SLT joining in 2017 following Shaw Trust acquisition of The Prospects Group.

Steve Howell, CFO, Red Kite Learning Trust

Steve has worked in the education sector since 2003 following roles as a Management Accountant for various blue-chip companies including Unilever and Coca-Cola. Steve has helped establish and develop Red Kite Learning Trust and as CFO leads on financial, risk and compliance matters as well as steering the Trust and the Teaching School on strategic and commercial aspects. Steve also serves as a School Resource Management Adviser.

John Murphy, CEO, Oasis Community Learning

Oasis is one of the UK’s largest multi-academy trusts with 52 primary and secondary Academies clustered in five regions across the country. John was appointed as CEO in September 2014 and with over three decades of experience in school leadership, he has dedicated his career to raising aspirations for all young people and closing the attainment gap for the most disadvantaged. John has led seven schools in all phases of education and has particular expertise in behaviour management and co-authored the bestselling self-help guide for all teachers, ‘Why are you shouting at us? John is a committed Trustee of the National Institute of Teaching providing national teacher training and evidence-based research on effective teaching and a Trustee of the Place2Be a national mental health charity for young people.

Daniel Oakes, Headteacher, St. Bartholomew’s Primary Academy

Dan has worked in education for over 25 years. He is currently the Headteacher of St. Bartholomew’s Primary Academy in Wiltshire, a growing two from entry school which is a member of the Dioceses of Salisbury Academy Trust (24 schools). As the Digital strategy lead for the Trust and an Apple Distinguished Educator he is an advocate of how technology can make a huge difference in education when used purposely.

Jackie Salvidge, CEO, Innovate Healthcare

Jackie has worked in Occupational Health for over twenty years and started Innovate with the aim of transforming the way services are delivered through early intervention, combining Innovate’s psychosocial model and case management approach. Working as a clinician in a school in her early career has driven her to ensure that education is a key focus sector for Innovate, creating a specific service that meets these needs separating them from their competition. Jackie is passionate about ‘helping people overcome barriers to health and work.’ This sums up her career purpose and underpins what Innovate strives to achieve.

Paul Stone, CEO, Discovery Schools Academy Trust

Discovery Trust is a multi academy trust of 15 schools, with 13 primary and 2 all through special schools. Paul began his career in Lincolnshire, progressing his career to become Headteacher of Kibworth CE Primary School, the founding school of Discovery Trust. Paul has a deep passion for narrowing the gap for the disadvantaged and providing the very best opportunities for learning for all children and colleagues. Throughout his career, he has chosen to work with schools where collaborative learning and the removal of barriers to support everyone to achieve are at their heart.

Abby Turk, Account Manager, Innovate Healthcare

Abby has worked with Innovate for over five years using her experience of Occupational Health and Wellbeing to help shape the future for education sector customers. Working as a key account manager within education has provided insight into the specific needs of this sector. Abby understands the impact of absence on an employer, and consistently ensures that the services Innovate provides to this sector are effective and efficient. She leads their account management team within this sector to improve the value of the service. Abby supports clients using proactive, innovative services which complement the core services and help to reduce absence.

Anna Upton, Deputy Trust Leader, EMBARK Federation

Anna is dedicated to improving the life of each individual child, nurturing their strengths, personalities and interests to bring out the best in them. Anna is responsible for the implementation of the digital strategy, data, safeguarding, risk, and quality assurance strategies across the trust. She plays an integral role within the Trust leading, both strategically and operationally, the support, advice and guidance that enable the academies to succeed, and ensures the consistent delivery of Embark’s vision and core beliefs.