Caroline was previously an Executive Director in the London Borough of Ealing leading on education and community services, she instigated one of the first all- through 3 - 19 age range academies in the country. All schools she inherited were removed from categories well within time expectations. She achieved her doctorate in performance management in 2001 and subsequently became Director of Education & Training in Babcock International Group a FTSE 100 company developing their successful BSF programme.

She has worked with The National College on succession planning and in The Innovation Unit, creating programmes that have enhanced the way that managers learn about managing and inspired learning leaders in local government, private sector as well as schools.

She has written for professional publications, such as The Times Educational Supplement and Management in Education as well as books and papers on mentoring, learning about learning and the 9 -19 curriculum.

Caroline was awarded a CBE for services to education in the Queen’s New Year Honours List 2015.

Henry is the Chair of The Elliot Foundation. He has significant executive level experience building and leading small teams in both the private and voluntary sectors. He started his career at Goldman Sachs and was offered a partnership in 1992. He founded his own investment management company and has worked for several prominent fund managers since selling it. He has been a trustee of Hamilton College (Clinton, N.Y.) for more than a decade. Over time, he has served on nearly all of the Board’s committees and currently chairs its Investment Committee, while also sitting on Budget & Finance, Nominations and the Executive Committee.

Henry is a member of the Advisory Board of IntoUniversity and the Development Board of City Year London.

TEFAT Member - Primary Leadership & Innovation

Deryn was a Director of the Innovation Unit from 2002 to 2009 and supported hundreds of schools, colleges and LAs in their quest for solutions to the biggest challenges facing the system. In the privileged position of senior civil servant in the DFE she and the Innovation Unit team had direct access to ministers and policy makers, thereby helping bridge that gap between practitioners and policy formation. She has been head of middle and primary schools at one point amalgamating 3 schools in a challenging situation. She is a national associate with the National College and has particular expertise in New Models of Leadership, School Business Managers, Teaching Schools, and the NLE Fellowship programme. Currently she is working nationally with emerging chains of academies. She is expert in the Power to Innovate legislation as well as federation and collaboration governance regulation.

TEFAT Member

Bob was Director of HR and Governance for The Elliot Foundation Academies Trust which he joined as a founding director in 2011. He established the HR and academy governance framework for the trust as it grew from nothing to 27 academies. He has led on trade union and employee relations, consultation and negotiation, policy development and the admissions process.

Before this he spent 21 years as a local government officer including posts as head of school effectiveness, head of education personnel and payroll and assistant director for children’s services. This included leadership of workforce issues, training and development, governance, extended schools, healthy schools and community cohesion.

Previously he spent 16 years teaching in west London (secondary) as head of department, coordinator of technical and vocational education and senior teacher. Currently he runs his own education and HR consultancy company.

TEF Trustee

Judith taught across the mainstream primary age for 20 years, and then became involved with the inclusion  of children with complex needs within a mainstream setting which led onto becoming an advisory teacher for SEN.  Judith managed SEN services within a Local Authority and with the advent of Children’s Services  managed social care services relating to disability and vulnerable children and families.  During this time Judith was integral to implementing a funding system that supported early intervention and the inclusion of children with complex needs.
 
Following this Judith became a freelance Consultant and completed a LA review of autism, managed an early years advisory service, led an EU project on social inclusion in Turkey and completed a review of SEN provision in a large LA.

Judith is a magistrate working both the criminal and family court and is involved in other voluntary community projects.

TEFAT Trustee - Chair of Trustees, and Chair of Finance Committee

David was the Mayor of London's Executive Director of Resources and Chief Finance Officer and worked in regional and local government for 42 years. He previously worked in senior finance positions in several London Boroughs, including being the Director of Education Resources at the London Borough of Ealing.    

He is also a Member of the Charter Schools Academy Trust and is currently studying for a Masters degree in International Relations.

Hugh is an award-winning international business leader with over 25 years’ experience enabling education and learning organisations. Over the last decade he has nurtured the Elliot Foundation from concept to become one of the more successful primary school trusts in the country. At the same time he has helped other school trusts with their organisational design and strategy.

Prior to the Elliot Foundation Hugh worked in commercial education for 15 years, setting up his own education business in Russia in the 1990s, then running conference and training businesses across Europe for IIR and Reed Global. Throughout his career he has volunteered in the state education and third sectors as a governor and supporter of education charities. He is an Advisory Board Member for the British Council, the Education Policy Institute and the Federation for Education Development. He also serves as Vice President and Trustee of BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT.

Latest declaration of business and pecuniary interest can be found here.

Debbie is a highly experienced former Headteacher of multiple special schools, specialising in provision for pupils with SEMH, social communication difficulties, and autism. She is a passionate advocate for high-quality, needs-based provision, recognizing that supporting staff is essential for achieving pupil success. Having consistently led teams through rapid school improvement - including those judged 'inadequate' by Ofsted - Debbis is adept at managing challenging circumstances and creating positive change. Her commitment to school effectiveness influenced her PhD research on how special school Headteachers sustain improvement. She now leverages this experience as an independent school improvement consultant and is training to become a play therapist, driven by a deep-rooted value for meeting the individual needs of every child.

TEFAT Trustee

Amarjit is an Ofsted Inspector, National Leader of Education, and CEO of a successful multi-academy trust in the Midlands. With nearly 30 years of experience in the education sector, she has a proven track record of driving school improvement and delivering sustainable outcomes for pupils.

Her expertise has been sought both locally and internationally, where she has supported schools in raising standards and building strong leadership capacity.

In recognition of her significant contribution to education, Amarjit was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2019.

TEFAT Trustee

A Sloan Fellow with a Masters in Leadership and Strategy from LBS, Gautam brings with him 25 years’ experience of business and leadership, gained working for multinationals, SMEs and purpose-led startups. He has held senior leadership roles across Europe, APAC, and the US at companies including Bacardi, Diageo, Beiersdorf, and Gtech.

Gautam has deep expertise in organisational design, go-to-market strategy, and leading cross-cultural teams through change. He combines global business acumen with a belief in long-term impact and human-centred leadership. His leadership style is inclusive, thoughtful, and outcome-driven – known for aligning strategy, people, processes, and purpose. As a trustee, Gautam plays an important role in driving forward the TEFAT strategy and our next phase of growth and impact.

TEFAT Trustee

Hina is an accomplished senior executive with over 25 years of experience in debt capital markets and investment banking, distinguished by specialisation in non-financial risk management. Her background includes leading sizeable global teams, pioneering transformation programs, and successful regulatory engagement. As former Managing Director and Global Head of Risk Specialisms and Supervision at HSBC, she oversaw a team of over 60 experts, rolling out major transformation programs for Markets and Securities Services - from technology solutions and customer monitoring to innovative risk taxonomies. 

Hina is an outcome-oriented leader, skilled at synthesising complex regulatory and market challenges into actionable strategies to drive sustainable growth. She also holds an MSc from the London School of Economics.

TEFAT Trustee

As a business analyst for a leading international law firm, Shaheen managed the development of information systems and processes across the organisation before transferring her skills to the education sector, becoming Founding Trustee of a faith designated Free School. She led on the development of the application and pre-opening phase of the project to turn the Trust’s vision into reality, and has served as Chair of Trustees since the school opened in 2020. 

Shaheen was recruited as Operations Manager for an academy trust of Free Schools in 2017 and had oversight of HR, estates, ICT, governance, procurement, data protection and new school development. She managed all operational aspects of the successful transfer of schools to a larger trust before moving to her current role in 2021 where she is Head of Operations for a large inner London primary school. 

TEFAT Trustee

As Managing Director of BCS Learning and Development Ltd, Lucy is responsible for the development and delivery of world class standards in certification and education for the IT and digital industries.

She has been a learning and development professional since the early 90s and previously worked for Thomson NETg, Wave Technologies and CompTIA as well as being on the board of a CompTIA and Microsoft Gold Partner training company.    

She is a non-executive director of the ICDL Foundation.

David is an education content and engagement consultant with a background in TV, video and digital content strategy, operations, and mass-market campaigns, having held senior roles at BBC Education, the Learning and Skills Council and Teachers TV.  He is experienced in leading the design and roll out of nationwide education initiatives and major change programmes for improving teaching and learning , with a particular focus on fostering and maintaining the engagement of teachers and school leaders for sustainable impact.  David also has 5 years experience as a primary school governor.

TEFAT Trustee

Faye has been a criminal barrister for nearly 20 years. Beginning her career at the independent bar based in the midlands she appeared on behalf of the prosecution and defence in serious criminal trials in the crown court and higher courts. Faye has particular skills that enabled her to work with young offenders and vulnerable witnesses gaining extensive experience in advocating for young defendants, victims and those with complex needs. More recently Faye has turned her primary focus to environmental prosecutions in an effort to improve housing for disadvantaged families and has completed her masters degree in healthcare ethics and law.

Alongside her professional career, Faye has owned several businesses being involved in the day to day management as well as negotiating contracts, budgeting, HR and ensuring stakeholder engagement. With a proven record of turning failing businesses around and generating profits above the industry standard, Faye is a respected employer and collaborator.

Faye recently returned from living in Japan for three years with her young family where she thoroughly enjoyed experiencing a different culture, education system and foods!

TEFAT Trustee

Michael is a Professor of Public Policy at the Policy Institute, whose research focuses on three key areas: using randomised trials for policy evaluation, applying behavioural science in policy design, and improving social mobility.

His extensive practical experience includes serving as the Founding Chief Executive of What Works for Children's Social Care and as Chief Scientist at the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT). In these influential roles, Michael successfully led diverse teams of researchers and policy specialists to improve outcomes for vulnerable people both in the UK and globally.

Academically, he is an Associate Fellow of the Blavatnik School of Government, where he teaches Behavioural Science and Policy, and an affiliate of the Harvard Behavioral Insights Group. Michael holds both an MSc and a PhD in Economics from the University of Bristol, with his rigorous foundation further strengthened by post-doctoral research at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

TEFAT Trustee

Paul is Director of Schools and Education services for the Eden Academy Trust, a Multi Academy Trust of special schools. Before joining Eden Paul was head at a Residential Special School for 10 years which had Outstanding OFSTED ratings for both education and care. Throughout his career Paul has worked within a variety of SEN settings in education and care, and was previously a senior social worker for children and families. Paul completed his Doctorate through the University of Reading. This research study looked at the effects on special schools following on from the changes to the SEND Code of Practice and how the changes from BESD (behaviour, emotional and social difficulties) to SEMH (social, emotional, mental health) influenced practice in special schools. 

Finance Director
simon.pink@elliotfoundation.co.uk

Simon did his accounting training at the National Audit Office, and spent time at HM Treasury before moving to the museums sector where he spent five years as Director of Finance and Resources at the Wallace Collection. For the last ten years Simon has been Director of Finance and Operations/Chief Operating Officer at two decent sized multi academy trusts, building teams and processes from when they were small and adapting as they rapidly grew. Simon has had responsibility in that time for all aspects of operations, from finance, HR, recruitment, estates, ICT through to governance.  He has also been a governor at six academies, including a Chair of Governors at a secondary and a primary, both of which Ofsted rated as 'Outstanding' for the first time during his tenure. Outside of work Simon is father to two primary school age children and a keen traveller and photographer.

HR Director
ruth.dickens@elliotfoundation.co.uk

Following an initial legal career supporting local authority education and social care provision, Ruth has extensive HR experience specifically within the education sector having led HR functions and supported school leadership, management and governance across primary, secondary and post-16 sectors. As a graduate member of the Institute of Legal Executives, Ruth brings a pragmatic approach to HR matters and is committed to delivering a service which is solution focussed and empowers leaders to secure the right HR outcomes. Ruth led the HR provision across a large Multi Academy Trust in Nottinghamshire prior to joining The Elliot Foundation and previously worked for one of the country’s leading HR and payroll firms providing specialist HR support to schools nationally. She has extensive experience of complex casework and has led significant projects including the development of HR services to support expanding organisations. Ruth has served as a school governor, is an accredited Safer Recruitment trainer and is currently a member of a primary and secondary sector Multi Academy Trust in Cambridgeshire.

Programme Director
andy.kreppel@elliotfoundation.co.uk

Andy is an experienced senior manager, with a strong track record in project, programme and change management, service definition, procurement and supply chain management. He has worked in education for the majority of his career and has overseen over 60 Academy conversions.  He has a varied project portfolio, ranging from the programme management of a 7 Academy programme across Manchester to building and implementing the procurement and supplier management strategy for a major government learning contract. Andy most recently worked as the Transformation Director for a Chartered Institute, driving process and systems transformation across the business.  

Trish is an experienced education strategic planner. She has held a number of senior management posts within Local Authorities and has, over a 15 year period, led major education capital investment projects through their initial scoping and briefing, stakeholder consultation and detailed design development into successful completion.
She has substantial experience in preparing business case proposals and strategic plans for significant school reorganisation and major capital development proposals across the country. Trish has been lead project manager for the successful delivery of several sponsored Academy projects across the country. Most recently, she was commissioned to manage the establishment of one the country’s first tranche of 24 Free Schools which successfully opened in September 2011. As a specialist in education capital strategy, asset management and project management, Trish is an established lecturer, delivering national programmes of training courses, seminars and conferences on a range of capital planning and project management matters.

Director of Curriculum and Development

johanne.clifton@elliotfoundation.co.uk

Johanne Clifton was until recently the Executive Principal at Billesley Primary School, an outstanding school in Birmingham. She has been a headteacher for over 16 years all in schools in challenging circumstances. Johanne’s love of language and the power of story were what brought her into education and this has remained her central belief throughout her career and informed her practice. 

She is now working with leaders to ensure that the curriculum is rooted in local community contexts and driven by a powerful commitment to social justice and our shared values as a Trust. 

Johanne is an experienced system leader, working as a National Leader of Education in partnership with a number of schools and MATs, a lead inspector for Ofsted with a particular interest in SEND and a school governor in two schools in the West Midlands. She is a passionate advocate of the Arts in education and is a board member for a number of organisations including Stan's Cafe Theatre and Soul City Arts. 

Travis was a successful Executive Headteacher of 2 large inner city primary schools for over 10 years. During that time the schools’ results and Ofsted grades improved dramatically gaining Outstanding judgements in many areas from Inadequate and pupil numbers rose from 250 to 1100. He has worked nationally as a Local Leader of Education (LLE) supporting schools in difficulty across the West Midlands and internationally with The British Council in Sudan, Singapore, Spain and with colleagues from Lithuania. Travis volunteered as Chair of Governors and is a fellow of the RSA.

Caroline has extensive leadership experience in primary and specialist provision. She has worked as an advisory teacher and trainer for maths and as a national moderator. Caroline gained experience as a governor in primary and secondary schools. She worked as a school improvement manager for a local authority with strategic responsibility for improving schools in challenging circumstances. Caroline developed a passion for safeguarding after authoring an Independent Management Review of Education for a Serious Case Review and gained further experience as the education representative on a Local Children Safeguarding Board. She trained as an additional inspector for primary and specialist provision in 2016. Caroline has particular expertise in leadership development, sustainable school improvement, behaviour and safeguarding.

Kate has a career in education spanning 29 years. She has worked in a wide variety of school contexts where her leadership has been consistently noted as effective, agile and having sustained impact. As a school leader, she has redeveloped systems and procedures to enable schools to operate effectively and has ensured significant improvement in pupils’ outcomes and progress (typical VA score raised to 109).  Kate has also worked as a school improvement partner and is a team inspector for Ofsted. She has successfully completed NPQEL training.

Regional Director (West Midlands)

Allan is the Executive Principal of two Elliot schools; George Betts and Shireland Hall Primary Academies, serving over 1200 pupils in areas of high deprivation.

Allan has previously supported many schools as a local authority maths advisor and school improvement consultant. It was his passion for school improvement that steered him towards George Betts in 2012. As Principal of the school, it rapidly improved from an Ofsted category to “good with outstanding” features in 14 months. Since then he has achieved more outstanding judgments.

Allan began his teaching career in Y4 and has taught most year groups between Y2 and Y6. Allan’s love and enthusiasm for improving the teaching and learning of primary maths has seen him lead and organise several maths conferences as well as having the opportunity to work with leading maths experts and schools in Singapore.

Allan currently co-leads the Elliot Foundations Expert Teacher programme, which was positively highlighted in the MAT Ofsted report.

Director of SEND & Inclusion

Emma was, until recently, the Head of Service and Inclusion at Bristol City Council, leading the inclusion and SEND services for the area. Emma has over 22 years in education, primarily in SEND. She has worked in mainstream and specialist schools as a SENDCo and SLT, as well as leading a team of advisory teachers and specialising herself in supporting mainstream inclusion for CYPs with SEMH and Autism needs in primary and secondary schools. Emma was one of the Regional Implementation Leads for the DELTA project in 2021-22, which worked with 80 schools across the city to implement effective TA leadership and deployment.