Chris has 25 years in leadership, management and strategy in the education sector, with senior roles in the UK civil service, a Partnership within one of the largest Accounting and Consulting companies, and an international CEO role for a large school group.

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Chris has provided the material hosted by The Key which guides Trust leaders about strategy, operations, collaboration and accountability. He teaches the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leaders for Teach First and previously for Ambition. Chris is currently delivering a Masterclass on Trust services for the Confederation of School Trusts, which is attended by around 80 trust leaders each year.

 

Chris is a Trustee of Weydon Multi Academy Trust, an adviser to OPERA (a charity supporting unemployed youth into work) and to The Education Partnership, Nigeria (a pro-poor education charity). Previously held roles as Adviser to OFSTED’s Strategy Group, The Careers and Enterprise Company, Getting Ahead London, World Economic Forum and Business in the Community.

John is a highly experienced CEO who has developed one of England’s leading academy trusts and is now dedicating the next stage of his career as an Education Leadership Mentor, Advisor and Public speaker.

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As CEO he proudly led 52 academies serving some of the most disadvantaged communities, and a workforce of 5,000. During his tenure, he moved 45 schools within the trust from special measures/failing status to good and outstanding, as well as opening several free schools. 

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John’s leadership was underpinned by a 36-year career in which he served as a headteacher across seven schools including primary, secondary, all through, and special, including residential SEMH. 

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As one of the founding CEOs of the National Institute of Teaching, John has contributed to the architecture of the school trust sector.  John is also a trustee of E-ACT, and Place2BE, the country’s leading children’s mental health charity and is the independent chair of the Blackpool Investment Area Board.​

Sophie has 13 years of governance experience, including being a trustee of two multi-academy trusts, most recently the Oxford Diocesan Bucks Schools Trust (ODBST). Throughout her governance journey, she has held significant leadership roles, including Chair of Trustees of a Pre-School charity and Chair of Governors for a maintained primary school.

 

In addition to her extensive governance experience, Sophie has held senior commercial and operational leadership roles in several EdTech organisations. For the last 8 years, she has been working in commercial leadership roles within the EdTech sector, including companies such as Pearson Edexcel, SIMS, and Bromcom, where she has made significant contributions to business strategy and growth.

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Sophie began her career at BT, working in the global division with international companies such as IBM, Google, and Sony. Later, she ran her own business teaching music and dance to babies and toddlers, combining her passion for education with entrepreneurial experience.​​

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Louise is a former PwC Senior Consultant with experience across public sector and charities including education, training, health and local government. Her projects included large financial savings reviews, operational efficiency assessments and targeted ‘value for money’ appraisals.

 

For the last 8 years Louise has worked extensively with many multi academy trusts and other school groups, as well as holding office as a governor within a specialist NHS Trust.

 

Louise specialises in strategic reviews, operational efficiency driving continuous improvement through data and performance measurement, facilitation and analysis

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From 2012 to 2019 Mandy was Director of People at United Learning, one of the largest school groups in the UK, running circa 80 schools across State and Independent sectors and employing over 8000 staff.

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The United Learning HR team won the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development ‘HR Team of the Year’ in 2016. HR Magazine listed Mandy in the top 10 ‘HR Most Influential’ in both 2018 and 2019 - where she was ranked the 7th most influential HR Director in the UK. Mandy was also shortlisted for the HR Excellence Awards ‘HR Director of the Year’ 2018.

 

Mandy has previously worked in the NHS, Local Government, the Charity sector and with schools. She is also a very experienced Board Director and advisor on aspects of corporate governance. She is a Trustee/Director of the Diocese of Coventry MAT and the National Teaching Awards Trust. Mandy is a graduate in Law, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and an ILM7 Executive Coach.

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Mandy’s successful book ‘Talent Architects; how to make your school a great place to work’ was published in 2018. The book features regularly as a best seller in Education leadership and is a core text for many of the sectors leadership provider programmes.

Strategy, transformation, international

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Cate specialises in helping educational organisations to deliver on their purpose and promise.

 

Cate brings experience as an education leader, having previously been CEO of the Varkey Foundation and a Director at PwC, as well as senior education focused roles with not-for-profit, commercial, and government organisations. Cate is a Co-Founder of Better Purpose.

 

Cate has worked across a range of international contexts including Middle East, Latin America, South East Asia and Africa, with a particular focus on strategy, organisational leadership and development, and business transformation.

Chris is the founder of Blue Jay Advisory which provides strategic financial management consultancy services to the third sector including Multi Academy Trusts

 

Chris trained at Deloitte, working with charities, biotechs and SMEs across a number of disciplines, including audit and tax before focusing on M&A work

 

After leaving Deloitte, Chris joined the PE firm KCP managing a portfolio of investments

 

Chris has direct experience of working in senior finance leadership positions at CIFF (FD), Ark (CFO) and Permian Global (COO), and a portfolio of Not for Profit clients.

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