Gail is a highly experienced new School and Academies Project Management consultant and has delivered over a hundred new Academy and Free School projects.
With a 20 year background in education Gail brings a wealth of project management, governance, schools and communications experience to GKA. Her unique approach to consultation is engaging, clear and honest. She is also a Chartered Marketer.
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Gail is a Governor at Ingleby Manor Free School & Sixth Form and Whitcliffe Mount School in Kirklees, which she sees as complimentary to the day job, keeping the schools abreast of the latest education developments as they happen.
Gail has a passion for education and is fully supportive of improving life chances for all young people irrespective of their social and emotional backgrounds. She strives for excellence in all she does, is fully supportive of governing bodies and school leadership teams who are developing school improvement and efficiency models and is happy to share her knowledge to benefit schools.
Melanie has over 20 years experience of being a Personal Assistant at Director and Senior Management Team level and joined our team in 2017 as our Administrative Support. Melanie keeps projects on track and works tirelessly supporting project teams to deliver a high quality service to all clients and projects.
Melanie has extensive knowledge and experience of providing a first class service having excellent communication skills at all levels.
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Melanie’s strengths are project co-ordination, organisation and attention to detail and she provides excellent support in the delivery of services within the GKA Team. After working in the motor trade for 15 years Melanie decided to make a career change and became self employed working with Gail Khan Associates as their administration support and also as a part-time qualified Swimming Teacher.
Victoria brings to her project work a variety of experience from industry, including finance, recruitment and business management. The many hats Victoria has worn during her varied career means she brings a diverse perspective to projects ensuring a dynamic and agile approach to securing the best outcomes for her clients.
Victoria has a special interest in talent acquisition and governance and enjoys getting under the skin of a client’s current systems and processes and looking for ways to add value and remove barriers to success.
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Victoria’s passion and commitment to governance within the education sector is driven by a desire to connect with people who want to share their expertise and passion to benefit some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities. Victoria is privileged to act as a Chair of a Multi Academy Trust for those with social, emotional and mental health difficulties and in that role is committed to developing nurturing and inclusive learning communities for young people to thrive.
Helen is an experienced business support professional with over 24 years covering all aspects of business and administrative operations in public and private sectors. She specialises in project management and operations support and has an extensive knowledge and first- hand experience of managing a company’s Finance, Governance, ICT, Legal, HR, Marketing and Events remits.
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She has previously supported a Multi Academy Trust start-up, school academy conversions as well as managing the implementation of new ICT systems and processes such as Finance, Contracts, HR, Training and H&S/Compliance software.
Michelle is our project co-ordinator with over 20 years experience across a wide range of sectors from private industry to education. Having worked in a multi academy trust she brings a wealth of communications and management experience leading teams, ensuring that key deadlines are met, scoping and delivering projects with an emphasis on quality. Michelle provides oversight and coordination of key tasks including, but not limited to, project planning, meeting co-ordination, development of procurement of contracts and procurement of FF&E for the schools she works with.
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Michelle has a wealth of experience in safer recruitment practices which she has used to support GKA projects in their recruitment of new staff to ensure that schools are ready to open on time to their pupils.
Previously Michelle has 6 years experience providing senior level admin and PA support in schools and prior to that over 10 years of PA and Project Support experience in various sectors.
Michelle has exceptional organisational, planning and negotiation skills. Cheerful and always happy to help, ensuring projects and daily tasks are completed on time to a high standard. With two teenage children, she is passionate about education and opportunities for all young people.
Hardip has over ten years of project management experience in both the public and private sector. She has experience of working with clients from a wide variety of sectors including education, buildings, financial and health.
Hardip is ambitious, positive, conscientious and hardworking, as well as being a great communicator.
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She has substantial experience of supporting the delivery of accelerated programmes in the education sector including the delivery of a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), sponsored Academies, Academy Conversions, and Studio Schools which open successfully on time and within budget.
Hardip has a strong research background having worked for research agencies for five years where she supported the design, implementation and execution of social and commercial research projects. She is a fantastic member of our associate team.
Claire is our project manager with over 20 years experience across a wide range of sectors from advertising to education. She brings a wealth of communications and management experience leading teams, creating critical paths to ensure that key deadlines are met and scoping and delivering projects with an emphasis on quality.
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Claire has worked with many Local Authorities and City Councils, head teachers, CEO’s and other stakeholders. Her communication and organisation skills and attention to detail are first class. Claire is also a Chartered Marketer and has lots of experience in building relationships, client-facing roles and presenting and facilitating at events, meetings and conferences. With two young daughters, she is passionate about education and opportunities for all young people and has served as Chair of their school Parent Advisory Council.
Claire is a marketing professional with extensive experience in business development, marketing communications and people management.
Before establishing her own marketing and business development consultancy CHC, Claire has held a number of Sales and Marketing Director positions. Most recently at Taylor O’Brien and prior to this With (now called WRG), both creative agencies based in Manchester.
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Before With, Claire was Sales and Marketing Director at CragRats, an award-winning learning organisation for education and business, for nine years. Claire developed and ran a large contract for Training and Enterprise Councils before evolving this into a £1.5 million contract for Learning and Skills Councils across the country, delivering Post 16 Options programmes into schools.
Claire has worked across the public and private sectors with clients as diverse as Connexions, the Audit Commission, Councils, LEA’s, NHS, Place Group, Mouchel Plc, ASDA, 3i, British Energy, Grohe, JOYOU, Lloyds TSB, MACE, BT, Scottish Water, Equifax, GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority), AGMA (Association of Greater Manchester Authorities) and New Economy Manchester.
Claire is also a school governor.
Tracy is an experienced education finance consultant, with over 30 years’ experience in the sector. She has held senior roles in educational settings including MAT Finance Director and Academy Trust Chief Finance Officer. She achieved Specialist Leader in Education (SLE) designation in 2012.
In recent years, Tracy has supported and mentored newly appointed Finance and Business Directors in new and growing trusts and has undertaken several financial due diligence processes on behalf of prospective MAT sponsors.
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She has also conducted efficiency reviews on behalf of Trustees of established Trusts and has been the finance lead on successful free school applications. Tracy has experience of Secondary, Primary, Early Years, Special and Alternative Provision settings
Richard has over 8 years experience in education finance. He has worked as a consultant CFO for a large Multi Academy Trust for the last 6 years, delivering an overhaul in systems and processes enabling the trust to grow from 4 schools to 30 within this period.
He is currently working in a consultancy role with a number of existing and growing MATs and is undertaking Local Authority deployments for School Resource Management Adviser (SRMA) reviews.
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He was involved in the Department for Education working party shaping the development of the National Funding Formula.
Richard holds full SRMA accreditation via the Department for Education and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.
Helen has over 18 years of experience working with schools and academies in a finance and business support role. She has experience of working with Primary, Secondary, Special and Alternative Provision settings.
She specialises in budget scenario planning, financial efficiency reviews and integrated curriculum financial planning. In recent years, Helen has developed numerous recovery plans for academies experiencing financial difficulties.
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She has experience of completing financial due diligence tasks and internal assurance reviews to ensure compliance with the Academies Financial Handbook.
Helen is also able to provide interim capacity and support to newly established trusts and for additional tasks such as implementing a new financial management system.
Cath is an experienced leader in alternative provision and SEND having previously been the CEO of a MAT for medical APs. She represents the sector at the DfE, being part of the AP Stakeholder Group (looking at policy affecting APs) and AP Implementation Group (looking at how to take forward the proposals in the SEND & AP Green Paper): she also co-chairs the Hospital Education Working Party with the DfE. Cath has co-authored booklets for schools, including one published by NASEN, and is regularly asked to give presentations at conferences and events specifically about SEND and AP.
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Cath is currently the Chair of the National Association for Hospital Education, a school improvement advisor, a NLE and was a pathfinder for the Ethical Leadership Framework. She led a DfE project investigating the use of telepresence robots in supporting transitions and gave evidence at the All Party Parliamentary Committee investigation into Alternative Provision and regularly contributes to the All Party Parliamentary Group for AP. She is a founder member of the AP Research Network, looking at promoting best practice in the sector.
Cath was awarded an OBE for services to children and young people in 2022.
Helen is a skilled communicator, change leader and manager with over 30 years’ experience in education working in local government as both chief and senior officer. She has a high degree of integrity and a clear focus on the delivery of quality education and other public services for communities.
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Over the past ten years Helen has successfully completed a range of contracts and projects for clients including KPMG, Local Authorities (Norfolk, Leicester, Northamptonshire, Barnsley, Kirklees), Multi Academy Trusts (Derby Diocesan Academies Trust, Chester Diocesan Academy Trust, Rose Learning Trust, White Woods Primary Academy Trust), and Universities (Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln).
Currently Chair of governors for Derby Cathedral School (free school) and Chair of governors of St Matthew’s Primary School, Stockport, Helen is also a member of an IEB in Derby providing focused and robust governance.
With over 30 years of experience, Helen possesses a diverse skill set focusing on project coordination, operational management, and recruitment across educational, health and online training sectors. With a strong emphasis on client satisfaction, Helen prioritises building strong customer relationships and ensuring their needs are fully met.
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Dedicated to ensuring operational excellence and regulatory compliance, Helen has led a specialist SEND recruitment agency to achieve REC membership and several organisations to ISO9001 accreditation, while establishing comprehensive policy and compliance guidelines. Her extensive experience includes working with Multidisciplinary Teams to monitor operational performance, set objectives and ensure compliance with both HTA and MHRA regulators, implementing all necessary processes/procedures and ensuring all third party service providers are compliant.
Helen has experience of safer recruitment practices and has played a key role in the recruitment of teachers for overseas schools. Helen also spent a brief period working in the UAE and Qatar, supporting the local operator in the establishment of British Schools in the Middle East.
As Content Director of an online training organisation, Helen introduced robust quality control measures to ensure the timely delivery of training content to clients. Collaborating with Gateshead College, her team played a key role in developing GCSE Maths and English modules, contributing to educational initiatives. Helen also assisted in securing long-term training contracts with both UK and international clients.
Helen is currently working with AMF Projects to support the growth and development of an Academy Trust in South Yorkshire following a successful TCaF grant application. Helen is focusing on strengthening procurement processes and managing project deadlines to ensure smooth progression and achievement of objectives by the Trust.
Charlotte is a strategic marketing consultant and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing with over 20 years of experience in planning and delivering multi channel marketing campaigns, leading website developments, brand strategy and developing engaging internal communications strategies. Charlotte has worked in the education and higher education sectors, providing marketing and communications guidance to senior level colleagues for the last 15 years.
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Charlotte has worked on the marketing communications for a number of new schools, including secondary and special schools; from the consultation process to the official opening, developing brand identities, uniforms, websites and other marketing collateral. She has commissioned new content management systems to enable Trusts to effectively manage DfE compliance and Trust content across their school websites working closely with Headteachers and website developers to create appropriate website solutions.
Charlotte has successfully developed and delivered a variety of marketing recruitment campaigns that have seen admissions rise significantly. She has led internal marketing strategies for organisations that have made a huge difference to the staff working within them.
In addition, Charlotte is also a Governor at a secondary school academy, where she is link Governor for Behaviour and Attitude to Learning.
Generalist HR professional with over 14 years’ experience in the public sector gained in a large local authority. Marita has also acted as Head of HR for two multi-academy trusts in West Yorkshire and works remotely for a variety of third sector clients. Working with schools and academies for over ten years in an advisory capacity, with two years leading the HR strategy and vision for a successful multi-academy trust.
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Marita delivers bespoke HR strategy and support on all complex people matters.
Sarah Ferguson is an experienced Project Manager who has worked with Multi-Academy Trusts nationally over the past 15 years to support their successful establishment and growth.
Sarah uses her recent experience as consultant COO for a growing Diocesan Trust in the East Midlands, where she oversaw its development from establishment to 30 schools on leaving. Sarah now supports a range of schools, Dioceses, and established MATs with a diverse range of growth and change projects including: new MAT establishments, academy conversions, Free School applications and opening, DfE funding applications and significant change applications.
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Sarah is a competent and able Senior Project Manager who can introduce robust structures into a programme to ensure a rigorous approach to delivery. With an open and transparent communication style, Sarah is able to quickly adapt to the needs of clients.
Paul has over ten years of transformation expertise in Education and Local Government, particularly within Children’s & Education services.
He specialises in redesigning service delivery and commissioning practice, contract monitoring and in implementing cost reduction measures.
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Paul’s most recent roles have seen him acting as either a Lead Commissioner or Head of Commissioning for two Local Authorities, in addition to project management of Academies and forming Multi-Academy Trusts.
Paul has exceptionally strong communication skills, sound commercial acumen and the ability to rapidly ascertain key business drivers to make decisions and recommendations in the best interests of the organisation.
As a fully qualified FCCA accountant, Lorna has over 20 years financial experience across a range of businesses and sectors, including CFO/FD in various multi academy trusts and higher education settings. Bringing her commercial experience to the education sector, Lorna has an excellent track record of reviewing and refining financial processes and systems, which has repeatedly resulted in not only significant organisational savings and significantly increased revenue generation opportunities, but in the achievement of maximum financial efficiency and effectiveness.
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Lorna believes in the power of education to change lives and recently supported a higher educational institute to find savings of £4m, and overseeing a £20m merger to enable the institute to meet the strategic objective of creating a financially sustainable future, with these financial successes having been realised in the context of continuously improving educational outcomes. Similar support has been required in multi academy trust settings whilst helping to ensure the provisions achieve Good and Outstanding Ofsted outstanding judgements (under the current inspection framework)