Mike spent his executive career in the digital and technology sectors in the UK with leadership roles covering strategy, planning, sales, marketing and innovation. He has worked for some very small companies and some global giants. In addition, he has an extensive non-executive experience. This started with a trustee position with a small charity supporting young people allowing their voices to be heard, especially at times of most significant need. Since then, Mike has served on boards supporting the Lowry Theatre and the Science Museum Foundation. He also chaired the inaugural Greater Manchester LEP for 9 years, leading on the social and economic strategy for the city region. Mike also led the design and development of a new Multi Academy Trust in Manchester from 2005 to 2018. Mike is a graduate of Leeds University and has an honorary doctorate from Manchester Metropolitan University.
John is a former Headteacher and now a National Leader of Governance. He is also an educational consultant, in addition to being a Headship Leadership Coach and facilitator with Ambition Institute. As an independent consultant, he works in a range of schools across the country. He was awarded the MBE for services to education in 2018.
Ruby is a practicing solicitor with over 27 years of experience in the legal field. She has over 20 years of governance experience and over two decades of experience in various non-executive directorships. Ruby has a wide range of experience in the education field. She has supported the Local Authority as a board member appointed by the DFE for several Interim Executive Board's (IEB) and is currently Chair and Vice Chair for various schools in Bradford. She is a Trustee of the Bradford Diocesan Multi Academy Trust and Rainbow Academy and a panel member for the Local Authority Education Appeals Admission Panel. Additionally, she has completed the Chairs of Governors’ Leadership Development Programme and is a National Leader of Governance, working to support Governors and Chairs in Bradford. Ruby is also panel member for system leaders (Priority 1) for the Bradford Opportunity Area Funding.
In 2023, Ruby was appointed as deputy lieutenant for West Yorkshire.
Brent has an extensive background in industry, covering oil and gas production, oil services, insurance, technology and clean energy. His commitment to education in Bradford has seen his involvement in primary, special and secondary schools. He sits on a number of education committees within Bradford and also sits as a trustee for the National Governors Association. Brett was awarded an MBE for services to education in 2012.
Richard is the Director of Secondary Education at Astrea Academy Trust. He is an experienced system leader with an excellent track record with achieving transformation at scale, in challenging contexts, and driving rapid and sustained improvements. He has a deep understanding of educational data and using it to drive improvement.
Robert is the safeguarding trustee and is an expert safeguarding lead. As a trained social worker, he is able to drive to educate, inspire and support those working with children, young people and adults to create safe, supportive, effective, and responsive environments that foster a value base of growth, independence and safety. His skills, knowledge and experience allow him to influence positive outcomes and achieve greatness for both students and staff.
Helen brings over 20 years’ experience of working at a senior level in a number of different sectors including transport, financial services and education in both publicly listed and privately-owned organisations. With the majority of her career spent in HR roles, Helen has extensive experience in organisation design and development, leadership & colleague development, employee relations, internal communications, recruitment and reward. Helen holds a first class degree in International Management and is currently the UK People Director of a European financial services company.
Linda is the CEO of Laurus Trust which has academies in Cheshire and Lancashire. Under her leadership Laurus Trust has a reputation for outstanding teaching and learning through the relentless pursuit of excellence and determination to ensure that every child succeeds.
James brings over 25 years’ experience working at director and executive level in a range of different sectors including retail, banking, pharmaceutical and manufacturing with the majority of his career spent in technology roles, James has extensive experience in driving and delivering technology solutions as well as leadership and management. James holds an MBA as well as a fellowship at the Chartered Management Institute and as Certified IT Professional with the British Computer Society. James has been involved with academies since being a Chair of Governors for Co-op Academy Trust and then at Dixon’s Academy Trust. Currently James is the Group Head of IT for a global manufacturing company.
Sarah Young worked at the charity Impetus for ten years. She worked with the most promising UK charities looking to close the gap in educational outcomes between disadvantaged young people and their better off peers. She worked closely with leadership teams and Boards to help them get better results for young people, and to grow. This work involved helping to agree a focused mission, strategy and plan, strengthen leadership and governance, and to build impact management capability and financial sustainability. Before working at Impetus, Sarah worked in the fund management and venture capital industry for 15 years.
Formerly the CEO of Dixons Academies Trust, Sir Nick is currently the CEO of Academy Transformation Trust. Sir Nick was designated a National Leader of Education in 2009. His report to HM Treasury and DfE on schools in the Northern Powerhouse region was published in November 2016. He has an MBA from Cranfield School of Management and received an honorary Doctorate from Bradford University in 2019. He was knighted for services to education in 2015.
Bryan has brought experience of education, business and governorship to the Board. His first Headship was of a state grammar school which he led for 10 years through reorganisation into the comprehensive system. His second headship of 13 years, was of the former independent Leeds Grammar School, during which time he was a member of the University of Leeds Governing Council for 9 years. Following his headships, Bryan became a freelance education consultant. His main streams of activity were as a lead inspector of independent schools, reporting through the Independent Schools Inspectorate to Ofsted; as an education consultant to several major construction companies; and in several aspects of the training and professional development of school and college leaders. Bryan has also been governor of a primary school and an independent school and has undertaken other voluntary work for the Scouting & Guiding Associations and for The Prince’s Trust.
Sir James has had an extensive business background and still has an involvement in a local textile company and a company in the USA. His work in education has covered both higher and further education with appointments to College and University boards as well as the private secondary sector. He has enjoyed a long association with Dixons from its inception and then in 2000 joining the Governing Body. As Chairman, he has taken positions in both the City Technology College and now academy associations and in 2008 became the first Chairman in the re-organised Specialist Schools and Academy Trust with a national profile. Sir James is a former Chair of Dixons Academies Trust.
Lynn’s career as a librarian has followed her from the USA to Greece and Saudi Arabia and finally, in 1982, to England. She worked for 5 years at Rhodesway Upper School (now Dixons Allerton Academy), 14 years at Dixons City Technology College and has provided training and consulting throughout the UK. Lynn was awarded an honorary fellowship by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and a Lifetime Achievement award by the School Library Association for services to school libraries in England.
David has more than 40 years’ experience in the technology industry. He is an independent non executive director at RWS after the acquisition of Sage Group, where he had originally been appointed as a Non-executive Director in December 2009. David was a main board executive director of the Sage Group plc, with responsibility for strategy and corporate development.
Prior to joining Sage, David was a managing director at Credit Suisse and Head of the European Technology Equity research team. David is currently Chairman of Forensic and Compliance Systems and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the charity Changing Faces.
David is also on the boards of FCS (UK) Limited, Solar Archive Ltd and Albora Technologies Ltd. David was previously a trustee of Dixons Academies Trust.
