Michelle has over 20 year’s experience across a wide range of sectors from private industry to education. Having worked in a well-established 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, DfE applications, project planning, meeting co-ordination, procurement of contracts and procurement of FF&E for the schools she works with. 

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.   

Helen has over 24 years’ experience working with schools and academies in a finance and business support role. Specifically in the last 7 years, Helen has worked for more than 30 different academy trusts. She has experience of working with Primary, Secondary, Special and Alternative Provision settings. 

She specialises in financial and cash flow forecasting, budget scenario planning for staff restructuring processes, financial efficiency reviews to ensure sustainability, including integrated curriculum financial planning (ICFP) exercises. In recent years, Helen has worked with Head Teachers to develop numerous recovery plans for academies experiencing financial difficulties whom were at risk of receiving financial notices to improve from the DfE. 

Hardip has over 20 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.   

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, individual Academy Conversions, and Studio Schools.  

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 such as Director of Service, CEO, Headteacher and Executive Leadership Teams for the last 15 years.  She is a conscientious, solutions focused, creative thinker with excellent organisational skills.  She is adept at managing multiple projects and teams to achieve results.   

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.

Lesley is an experienced strategic HR and People leader with a proven track record in building high-impact teams, driving culture transformation, and delivering sustainable organisational growth. For the past 6 years, she has led a Multi Academy Trust’s HR and People team, creating a values-driven, fully integrated HR function.

Her expertise includes workforce planning, leadership development, employee engagement, TUPE processes, employment law, and performance management—underpinned by her legal background and a deep understanding of the complexities of multi-site, cross-LA operations. Lesley regularly advises senior leaders and Boards and chairs a local primary school governing body.

Richard is an experienced finance professional, having worked in finance and education roles all his career. Richard is an accredited SRMA and is an experienced MAT CFO, mentoring and supporting others new to role. Richard has been the finance lead on a number of MAT projects including free schools, new MAT projects and established MATs growing from 7 to 20+ schools, leading on the financial due diligence processes on behalf of prospective MAT sponsors. Richard has also supported Trusts in financial difficulty, working with Trust Boards and CEOs on deficit recovery plans and acting as the finance liaison with the DfE.  

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.

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 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. She recently published her first book ‘Including learners with medical needs in school’. 

In Louise’s current role as a Safeguarding Consultant, she offers support to Multi-Academy Trusts and individual schools in ensuring consistent, compliant and high-quality safeguarding practice. As part of this role, Louise currently provides regular, ongoing specialist safeguarding supervision to 30 schools across the UK, including ad-hoc advice and support for all safeguarding-related matters. Louise also produces and reviews safeguarding policies and procedures, as well as completing safeguarding audits and assurance reports for Trust Boards. Louise delivers safeguarding training and workshops and offers specialist advice, assistance and independent investigations in complaint procedures relating to safeguarding. Louise also provides support for complex safeguarding-specific Subject Access Requests.

Generalist HR professional with over 17 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 thirteen years in an advisory capacity, with two years leading the HR strategy and vision for a successful multi-academy trust.   

 Marita delivers bespoke HR strategy and support on all complex people matters.  

Julie has over 30 years experience in Education Finance and Business Management 

She has an accounting qualification and a degree in School Business Management, She has been a peripatetic bursar serving a wide range of schools, primary, secondary and special from both the LA and Academy sectors and was the business manager for a large secondary school. For the last 6 years Julie has been the CFO of a growing MAT of 9 schools.  Her area of expertise is governance, financial management, academy conversions, due diligence and internal audits. 

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. 

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.