Our People

I am the CEO of Youth Leads UK, an MBE recipient, and a Deputy Lieutenant in Greater Manchester. My commitment to youth empowerment extends through my roles as a trustee for various charities, including Generation, Education & Employers, and Migrant Leaders. With a journey marked by overcoming adversity, I continue to champion education and collaboration, making decisions in the corridors of power. As a former Social Mobility Commissioner for the DFE I have experience of working with schools and MATs and I welcome the opportunity to Chair Inspiring Leaders.

I have been Principal of The Redhill Academy since 2004, an NLE since 2009 and am currently Executive Principal of The Redhill Trust.
I believe that school leadership is all about leading the extended team of staff towards a clearly defined core purpose of raising student achievement. Everything else must be peripheral to this. Yet to accomplish this goal, our future leaders will need a complex range of skills including clear communication, decision making, emotional intelligence and trust-building. I am confident that the Inspiring Leaders programmes will deliver these skills and more to participants.

I am Chief Executive of the Flying High Trust, having previously been headteacher of Cotgrave Candleby Lane School for over ten years and an NLE. I am also the East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside representative on the Teaching School Council, coordinating the collaborative school led system.
I personally believe that effective school leadership is the single most important factor to achieving a successful school. I am determined to ensure that Inspiring Leaders create talented school leadership for the future. School leadership is safe in our hands.

I am currently CEO of Discovery Trust, containing 13 schools in Leicestershire. Prior to this, I was a Headteacher for 16 years in two small rural primaries and lastly Kibworth CE Primary School. I believe developing high quality leaders is essential for schools and trusts to move forward and ultimately for children to reach their potential. Inspiring Leaders is a unique opportunity for high quality practicing leaders to provide real experience and current expertise to support our future leaders.

I am the CEO of Djanogly Learning Trust which is home to a family of schools across Nottingham and Derbyshire. Prior to this I was involved in the creation of a Multi Academy Trust across Derby City and Derbyshire and later became the CEO, growing the Trust to 30+ schools including the opening of a brand-new secondary school as part of the wave thirteen free school programme. Prior to my Chief Exec roles, I was a Headteacher of two different schools over a period of ten years and then a Senior School Improvement Officer for a Local Authority. Through Inspiring Leaders we can ensure that our existing leaders are well supported, and future leaders are spotted, nurtured and developed to enable children and young people across our region to flourish.

I am currently CEO of Archway Learning Trust and have over 25 years’ experience working in schools in the East Midlands region. I have been active in school leadership for almost 15 years and is a designated National Leader of Education. I’ve overseen the development of Bluecoat Academy from one school to ten schools, including a brand new primary school. In less than three years a sponsored school in the Multi Academy Trust  moved from Special Measures to Good and there are plans for further growth.

I am the MBA Portfolio Lead at Nottingham Trent University. The Executive MBA is underpinned by the Senior Leadership Masters Degree Apprenticeship and supported by the Chartered Management Institute, much of my time is spent managing those partnerships. During my 11 year academic career, I have designed, recruited students, delivered and assessed courses at Masters level.

I have worked as a finance professional for over 20 years and led numerous teams in various organisations. I have spent most of my career working in the NHS and Healthcare, and more recently in the Education sector and charities sector. I am passionate about leadership development, especially those working in MAT central teams and know how important all staff are in making a difference to children’s lives.

I am the Principal of a large all-through school and has helped to guide its GCSE results from the bottom 20% nationally to the top 20% and A Level outcomes to the top 5% nationally.  I served as an Associate Principal, with GCSE and A Level results under my tenure receiving commendation from the DFE, Nick Gibb and the SSAT. I organise of ResearchED Northampton am the  author of Education Exposed, Education Exposed 2, The Behaviour Manual and They Don’t Behave for Me. I have had my educational resources and research published and I regularly deliver courses and keynotes nationally, serving as a lead facilitator for a variety of NPQs.