Revealed: 36 leaders to form CST policy advisory group

Thirty-six academy trust leaders have been elected to a policy advisory group convened by the Confederation of School Trusts (CST).

Schools Week revealed last month that 125 leaders were in the running to join the new “representative forum” that will “support CST in developing policy positions and speaking for the sector to external policy makers, including ministers”.

The organisation has today named the 36 successful leaders.

Writing for Schools Week today, deputy CST CEO Steve Rollett said the new group would provide “critical, front-line perspectives that will help to shape the policy landscape for school trusts across England”.

He said the group “will not operate in isolation or directly decide policy; rather, it will complement CST’s existing open member meetings, professional communities, and agile working groups”.

Here’s the full list of members

1. Ash Ali, CEO, Every Child, Every Day Academy Trust
2. Dave Baker, CEO, The Olympus Academy Trust
3. Dave Barber, Director of Education, Ebor Academy Trust
4. Sarah Bennett, CEO, Inspiring Futures Through Learning
5. Dr Jen Blunden OBE, CEO, Truro and Penwith Academy Trust
6. David Boyle CBE, CEO, The Dunraven Educational Trust
7. Mike Butler, CEO, The Education Village Academy Trust
8. Sharon Carlyon, COO, Inclusive MAT
9. Zoe Carr OBE, CEO, WISE Academies
10. Warren Carratt, CEO, Nexus MAT
11. Dr Herminder Channa OBE, Regional Diretor, Oasis Community Learning
12. Dr Tim Coulson, CEO, Unity Schools Partnership
13. Dr Nicola Crossley, CEO, Liberty Academy Trust Ltd.
14. Mary Curnock Cook CBE, Trustee, River Learning Trust
15. Nicole Dempsey, Director of SEND and Safeguarding, Dixons Academies Trust
16. Caroline Doherty, Head of Public Affairs, Ark Schools
17. Rowena Hackwood, CEO, Astrea Academy Trust
18. Paul Kennedy, CEO, The Good Shepherd Trust
19. Simon Knight, Joint Headteacher, Frank Wise School
20. Nimish Lad, Head of Curriculum Development, Creative Education Trust
21. Stuart Lock, CEO, Advantage Schools
22. Tom Martell, Director of Strategic School Improvement, Cumbria Education Trust
23. Stuart McGhee, CEO, Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust
24. Matthew Meckin, CEO, The Rivers CofE Multi Academy Trust
25. Rebecca Meredith, CEO, Transform Trust
26. Siobhan Meredith, Executive Director of Education, The Ted Wragg MAT
27. Annette Montague, chief education officer, Greenwood Academies Trust
28. Simon Oxenham, CEO, Woodard Academies Trust
29. Melanie Saunders, Head of School Performance, Inspiring Futures Through Learning
30. Matt Snelson, CEO, The Sir John Brunner Foundation
31. Dr Paul Van Walwyk, Director of Education, Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust
32. Rama Venchard MBE, Chair of Trustees, London South East Academies Trust
33. Emily Verow, CEO, Three Spires Trust
34. Chris Wheatley, CEO, Flying High Trust
35. Shareen Wilkinson, Executive Director of Education, LEO Academy Trust
36. Professor Andrew Wren, CEO, South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust