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Our Board of Trustees
Rooted in schools; improving outcomes
Trustees
Sir Dan Moynihan, Chair
Sir Dan has been CEO of Harris Federation since 2006. Harris trains more than 200 teachers a year, and is regularly named as one of the academy trusts that has the greatest impact on pupils’ life chances. Sir Dan is Chairman of the National Centre for Computing Education Advisory Group for the DfE and serves on the Committee of the Youth Endowment Fund. He is also a successful author of a number of school textbooks.
Sir Dan has been CEO of Harris Federation since 2006. Harris trains more than 200 teachers a year, and is regularly named as one of the academy trusts that has the greatest impact on pupils’ life chances. Sir Dan is Chairman of the National Centre for Computing Education Advisory Group for the DfE and serves on the Committee of the Youth Endowment Fund. He is also a successful author of a number of school textbooks.
Sir Hamid Patel CBE, Deputy Chair
Sir Hamid is the Chief Executive of Star Academies. He is a National Leader of Education and serves as a senior member of the Ofsted board, as well as Chair of the Grants and Evaluation Committee of the Youth Endowment Fund and Chair of the Education Honours Committee. He is also an Honorary Professor of Education at the University of Birmingham.
Sir Hamid is the Chief Executive of Star Academies. He is a National Leader of Education and serves as a senior member of the Ofsted board, as well as Chair of the Grants and Evaluation Committee of the Youth Endowment Fund and Chair of the Education Honours Committee. He is also an Honorary Professor of Education at the University of Birmingham.
Lord Theodore Agnew
Lord Agnew was the House of Lords’ schools minister from 2017 to 2020. Prior to that, he founded Inspiration (Academy) Trust in 2012. Since leaving Government, he has returned to the trust as Chair. Other Government roles have included Chair of the DfE Academies Board from 2013 to 2015, lead non-executive director at the Ministry of Justice from 2015 to 2017 and Minister of State at the Treasury and Cabinet Office from 2020 to 2022.
Lord Agnew was the House of Lords’ schools minister from 2017 to 2020. Prior to that, he founded Inspiration (Academy) Trust in 2012. Since leaving Government, he has returned to the trust as Chair. Other Government roles have included Chair of the DfE Academies Board from 2013 to 2015, lead non-executive director at the Ministry of Justice from 2015 to 2017 and Minister of State at the Treasury and Cabinet Office from 2020 to 2022.
John Barneby
John Barneby is the CEO of Oasis Community Learning which is now the third largest Multi-Academy Trust in the UK and part of the Oasis Charitable Trust. John has been involved in education since the original academies’ movement began in the early 2000s. He has spent last 15 years developing OCL, helping it grow from 3 to 54 academies across the UK. John is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA).
John Barneby is the CEO of Oasis Community Learning which is now the third largest Multi-Academy Trust in the UK and part of the Oasis Charitable Trust. John has been involved in education since the original academies’ movement began in the early 2000s. He has spent last 15 years developing OCL, helping it grow from 3 to 54 academies across the UK. John is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA).
Dame Colette Bowe
Dame Colette Bowe has worked as an executive and a non-executive director at the most senior levels in the City, in regulation and in Whitehall. She is an External Member of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee and a Trustee of the IFRS Foundation. She was Chairman of the UK Banking Standards Board from 2014 to 2019 and Ofcom from 2009 to 2014. She has previously chaired the Council of Queen Mary, University of London, and the music education body ABRSM. She is also a member of the Steering Committee of the Qatar Centre for Global Banking and Finance at King’s College London. More recently, she has also completed a period as a governor of the City of London Academy in Highbury Grove.
Dame Colette Bowe has worked as an executive and a non-executive director at the most senior levels in the City, in regulation and in Whitehall. She is an External Member of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee and a Trustee of the IFRS Foundation. She was Chairman of the UK Banking Standards Board from 2014 to 2019 and Ofcom from 2009 to 2014. She has previously chaired the Council of Queen Mary, University of London, and the music education body ABRSM. She is also a member of the Steering Committee of the Qatar Centre for Global Banking and Finance at King’s College London. More recently, she has also completed a period as a governor of the City of London Academy in Highbury Grove.
Dame Rachel de Souza
Dame Rachel de Souza is an educator and social reformer with more than 30 years’ experience improving children’s outcomes. She was appointed Children’s Commissioner for England in 2021, where her first act was to oversee the largest-ever survey of children’s voices and experiences, ‘The Big Ask’. This has become the foundation of her time in office and has shaped her work strengthening the Government’s Online Safety Bill, driving up school attendance and advocating for children in or leaving the care system. She was asked by the Government to carry out an independent Family Review which looked at the dynamics of family in Britain today, making recommendations for more accessible, reliable and familial public services.
Dame Rachel de Souza is an educator and social reformer with more than 30 years’ experience improving children’s outcomes. She was appointed Children’s Commissioner for England in 2021, where her first act was to oversee the largest-ever survey of children’s voices and experiences, ‘The Big Ask’. This has become the foundation of her time in office and has shaped her work strengthening the Government’s Online Safety Bill, driving up school attendance and advocating for children in or leaving the care system. She was asked by the Government to carry out an independent Family Review which looked at the dynamics of family in Britain today, making recommendations for more accessible, reliable and familial public services.
Professor Sir David Eastwood
Sir David is an academic historian, and was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham between 2009 and 2021. He has also held posts as CEO of the Higher Education Funding Council for England and as CEO of the Arts and Humanities Research Board.
Sir David is an academic historian, and was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham between 2009 and 2021. He has also held posts as CEO of the Higher Education Funding Council for England and as CEO of the Arts and Humanities Research Board.
Lee Wilson
Lee Wilson is a system leader with a proven track record of transforming schools and improving outcomes for children. Currently serving as the CEO of Outwood Grange Academies Trust, with a wealth of experience and a passion for educational excellence. Lee is a strong advocate for community-based civic leadership. He firmly believes that schools are integral to fostering community strength, partnership, and cohesion. In line with this vision, he has spearheaded Outwood Grange Academies Trust's strategy to establish Family and Community support hubs within various academies. These hubs serve as vital resources, not only for students but also for the wider community, strengthening the bonds that hold communities together.
Lee Wilson is a system leader with a proven track record of transforming schools and improving outcomes for children. Currently serving as the CEO of Outwood Grange Academies Trust, with a wealth of experience and a passion for educational excellence. Lee is a strong advocate for community-based civic leadership. He firmly believes that schools are integral to fostering community strength, partnership, and cohesion. In line with this vision, he has spearheaded Outwood Grange Academies Trust's strategy to establish Family and Community support hubs within various academies. These hubs serve as vital resources, not only for students but also for the wider community, strengthening the bonds that hold communities together.
Professor Iram Siraj
Professor Iram Siraj is Professor of Child Development and Education at the University of Oxford. Iram, a former teacher, previously held positions at the University of Warwick, University College London and the University of Wollongong. Iram has an international reputation for her longitudinal research and policy expertise. She was a member of the Ministerial Advisory Group for the Welsh Government (2006-2016) and has been a specialist advisor to the House of Commons Select Committee.
Professor Iram Siraj is Professor of Child Development and Education at the University of Oxford. Iram, a former teacher, previously held positions at the University of Warwick, University College London and the University of Wollongong. Iram has an international reputation for her longitudinal research and policy expertise. She was a member of the Ministerial Advisory Group for the Welsh Government (2006-2016) and has been a specialist advisor to the House of Commons Select Committee.
Carole Willis
Carole Willis has been Chief Executive of the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) since December 2013. Before joining NFER, she was Director of Research and Analysis at the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser. She also worked as an Economic Consultant at National Economic Research Associates (NERA).
Carole Willis has been Chief Executive of the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) since December 2013. Before joining NFER, she was Director of Research and Analysis at the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser. She also worked as an Economic Consultant at National Economic Research Associates (NERA).
Dr Debbie McVitty
Dr Debbie McVitty is currently editor of the higher-education news agency Wonkhe, where she oversees the publication of commentary and analysis on UK higher education across the website, email briefings, weekly podcast and events. Debbie is interested in the social impact of higher education, learning, teaching and curriculum, institutional change and innovation, and strives to amplify diverse and under-represented voices in the HE policy debate. She has previously worked in policy and communications roles at Universities UK, the University of Bedfordshire and the National Union of Students, and is an honorary fellow of the School of Education at the University of Birmingham.
Dr Debbie McVitty is currently editor of the higher-education news agency Wonkhe, where she oversees the publication of commentary and analysis on UK higher education across the website, email briefings, weekly podcast and events. Debbie is interested in the social impact of higher education, learning, teaching and curriculum, institutional change and innovation, and strives to amplify diverse and under-represented voices in the HE policy debate. She has previously worked in policy and communications roles at Universities UK, the University of Bedfordshire and the National Union of Students, and is an honorary fellow of the School of Education at the University of Birmingham.
Mike Nicholson
Mike Nicholson joined the University of Cambridge as Director of Recruitment, Admissions and Participation in October 2021, having previously worked in similar roles at the University of Bath (2014-21), the University of Oxford (2006-2014), and the University of Essex (1998-2006). Alongside his role at Cambridge Mike is Chair of the UCAS Council, the stakeholder advisory group that advises the UCAS Trustee Board on sector issues. He just completed his time as a Trustee and Treasurer of the Council of International Schools (Chairing the Finance Committee) and a Trustee of the AQA Exam Board. He sits on the Sutton Trust’s Education Advisory Board, and the Rethinking Assessment Advisory Board.
Mike Nicholson joined the University of Cambridge as Director of Recruitment, Admissions and Participation in October 2021, having previously worked in similar roles at the University of Bath (2014-21), the University of Oxford (2006-2014), and the University of Essex (1998-2006). Alongside his role at Cambridge Mike is Chair of the UCAS Council, the stakeholder advisory group that advises the UCAS Trustee Board on sector issues. He just completed his time as a Trustee and Treasurer of the Council of International Schools (Chairing the Finance Committee) and a Trustee of the AQA Exam Board. He sits on the Sutton Trust’s Education Advisory Board, and the Rethinking Assessment Advisory Board.
Tiffany Beck OBE
Tiffany Beck OBE is Head of Education at PLMR. PLMR is one of the UK’s leading communications agencies, providing strategic advice, reputation management and crisis communications, PR and media relations, public affairs and wider communications disciplines across the education sector, including maintained schools and academy trusts; early years; further and higher education institutions; charities; sector bodies; and edtech companies. She is also Chair of Trustees of Maritime Academy Trust, where she has obtained in-depth understanding of the opportunities and challenges for schools and trusts around the country. She was awarded the OBE for services to education in the King’s New Year Honours List 2024.
Tiffany Beck OBE is Head of Education at PLMR. PLMR is one of the UK’s leading communications agencies, providing strategic advice, reputation management and crisis communications, PR and media relations, public affairs and wider communications disciplines across the education sector, including maintained schools and academy trusts; early years; further and higher education institutions; charities; sector bodies; and edtech companies. She is also Chair of Trustees of Maritime Academy Trust, where she has obtained in-depth understanding of the opportunities and challenges for schools and trusts around the country. She was awarded the OBE for services to education in the King’s New Year Honours List 2024.