Elevate Multi Academy Trust

Members

Dame Reena Keeble

Appointed on 12^th June 2017

Dame Reena was an NLE and was a successful primary Head teacher for 22 years achieving three “Outstanding” Ofsted judgments in London. She achieved   her doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2006 and was honoured with a DBE in recognition of her services to education in 2011. Dame Reena chaired the   DfE Primary Heads’ Reference Group for five years and led and chaired a national review of effective primary teaching on behalf of the Teaching Schools   Council. Dame Reena is now happily retired but continues to mentor and support school leaders on a pro- bono basis.

Mari Palmer

The Diocese of York Educational Trust appointment.  Appointed 21st January 2025

Mari is the Diocesan Director of Education and is responsible for managing the work of the Education Department and the lead officer in the development of the Board of Education strategy and policies for working with children and young people in schools, colleges and universities.

She works closely with the Department for Education and local authority colleagues on school organisational matters and offers advice and support to schools on academy and collaboration frameworks. She also represents the Board in appropriate contexts at local and national level.

Nigel Sinclair

The Leeds Diocesan Board of Finance appointment. Chair. Appointed on 12^th June 2017

Nigel is the Team Rector of four churches in West Leeds.  He has been a member of the Diocesan Board of Education (Ripon & Leeds, now ‘Leeds’) for over ten   years and is part of their School Organisation Sub-Group.  He has been a school governor of seven primary schools (2 as Chair) and one secondary school   (which converted to Academy status) over a twenty-year period and is presently a Member of two other Multi Academy Trusts.  His first degree was in Public   Administration (which included a placement year working with Northumberland Education Authority) and he holds an MA in Religious Education from York St   John. 

Dr Louise Whitfield 

University of York St John appointment. 

Appointed on 14th November 2023 

Jim Brown

Elevate appointment Appointed on 12^th June 2017

Jim is currently Chair of governors at two primary schools. He has 30 years’ experience of being a successful businessman.  Jim has significant experience of     the business world as a director of various companies and a successful self-employed project manager since 1989.  Until recently, Jim was a trustee of Queen   Mary’s School, Thirsk, an independent school catering for ages 2 – 16.

Trustees

Rev Nigel Sinclair

Church Distinctiveness link Trustee

Vice Chair

The Leeds Diocesan Board of Education Appointment.

Nigel is the Team Rector of four churches in West Leeds.  He has been a member of the Diocesan Board of Education (Ripon & Leeds, now ‘Leeds’) for over ten   years and is part of their School Organisation Sub-Group.  He has been a school governor of seven primary schools (2 as Chair) and one secondary school   (which converted to Academy status) over a twenty-year period and is presently a Member of two other Multi Academy Trusts.  His first degree was in Public   Administration (which included a placement year working with Northumberland Education Authority) and he holds an MA in Religious Education from York St   John. 

Diocese of York Appointment

 Erica Swales

Member Appointment

John Brear

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Finance link Trustee

John is a chartered accountant with 41 years’ experience.  He is a partner at Brown Butler Chartered Accountants. John has particular expertise in the IT   (including software) and medical sectors.  He has numerous IT and software businesses, with turnovers of £50m-plus, among his clients and he also advises   many medical practitioners and dentists on issues such as changes to NHS superannuation, contracts and incorporation.

Member Appointment

 Hannah Wosahlo

Hannah has over 10 years’ experience in the Financial Services industry. She has a background in marketing, brand management, customer research, customer/ colleague experience and systems thinking (end to end process improvement). Her specialty is identifying issues and then finding robust solutions to make things better that work for colleagues, customers as well as the business.

Hannah is currently the Engagement Lead for Finance Globally at Aviva, striving to make Finance an engaging, fun and inclusive function for 4,000 people globally to work. She is responsible for bringing the company strategy alive and making it relevant for the teams to make sure they feel passionate about driving this forward. She leads the Diversity and Inclusion agenda which comprises of 3 main areas; key metrics, education, recruitment, retention and promotion. Hannah also looks after the development agenda including activities such co-ordinating mentoring programmes and development sessions.

What Hannah loves most at work  is leadership and culture change combined with communications to build engagement to make Aviva a great place to work – last year she increased the Colleague Engagement score of Aviva by 11% on the Voice of Aviva survey though a wide range of activities.

Outside of work Hannah is her a country girl, who even has her own flock of pedigree Blue Faced Leicester Sheep – her sheep even met the Queen!

Member Appointment

Frank Suttie                                                                                              Chair of A,R&R Committee

Member Appointment

Jo Leishman

Safeguarding link Trustee

Whistle blowing Trustee

Chair of Standards Committee

Nigel Ashley

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Nigel has been a Head teacher for 13 years of 2 schools. He is an NLE.  He was previously the Head teacher at Meadowside and led the school from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Outstanding’. He also lead his previous school from ‘Good’ to 'Outstanding.’  As an NLE, he has supported many schools.