Trustees
Janet Myers

Chair of the Trust Board

Trustee appointed by Trustees

Term of Office: 04/05/2018 - 03/05/2026

Janet is a governance professional with multi-disciplinary background including project management, customer service and marketing. Expert at taking a strategic vision and turning it into manageable, deliverable projects, Janet works as a freelance consultant trainer for the National Governance Association, providing bespoke support and training for governing boards and delivering training for the NGA Inspiring Governance programme in the North West region.

Alison Brennan

Chair of the Standards and Curriculum Committee

Co-opted Trustee

Term of Office: 19/01/2021 - 18/01/2025

Alison is a partner in the corporate team of DTM Legal LLP, a commercial law firm with offices in Chester and Liverpool. Recommended in the last 6 editions of the Legal 500 and noted as being a “first class lawyer with strong commercial acumen”, Alison has more than 15 years’ experience advising businesses of all shapes and sizes and enjoys helping her clients to put in place and maintain a structure and legal framework to promote success and growth in a way that works for them. Her clients include a number of charities and not for profit organisations and Alison is also DTM Legal LLP’s Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (“COLP”) responsible for ensuring that the firm complies with its regulatory obligations. Alison has two children at Boughton Heath Academy.

Janet Sandford

Chair of the Resources Committee

Co-opted Trustee

Term of Office: 12/10/2022 - 11/10/2026

Janet is an HR professional with over 20years experience working with both blue chip and SME businesses. Most recently operating at leadership level within professional services organisations, she is a specialist in talent management and people development with a long held interest in the connectivity between education and employment.

Rob Hughes

Co-opted Trustee

Term of Office: 05/12/2022 - 04/12/2026

Rob is a Chartered Accountant, qualifying with Deloitte before moving into industry roles in SMEs and larger corporate entities. He has experience in audit, corporate finance and investor relations and is Head of Finance at a freight logistics company, Quality Freight (UK), based in Ellesmere Port. Rob has three children, all of whom attend Boughton Heath Academy

Emlyn Wright

Vice Chair of the Trust Board

Chair of Standards and Curriculum Committee

Term of Office : 06/11/2020 - 05/11/2024

Trustee

Emlyn is an education professional with 20 years experience, including leadership of a Teaching School Alliance and two headships (maintained and academy) in the secondary sector.

Emlyn is skilled in all aspects of education but specialises in education leadership and strategy, self evaluation and subsequent action/development planning, preparing for Ofsted inspection, curriculum and integrated financial planning, improving teaching and learning, high-impact pupil premium strategy and whole school and pupil-level progress data systems, analysis and associated interventions.

Emlyn is currently a strategic leader within education for a Local Authority in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority focusing on primary and secondary school improvement, school organisation (place planning and admissions) and Governance alongside a lead role in inclusion.

Mike Giffin

Term of Office : 06/11/2020 - 05/11/2024

Co-opted Trustee

Mike is a Management Consultant with over 20 years experience helping clients design and deliver Transformation Programmes. Prior to this Mike served for 7 years as an Army Officer. His experience covers strategy, operational excellence, organizational and leadership development, governance and change management. In 2015 he became a Fellow of the Institute of Directors. He is passionate about sport and coaches junior football and rugby teams.

Jide Olanipekun

Term of Office : 04/10/2022 - 03/10/2026

Co-opted Trustee

I am a doctoral researcher in stem cells and regenerative medicine and an enthusiastic scientist. I am a member of several organisations, including the Royal Society of Biology, the British Society for Cell Biology, and the International Society of Developmental Biology, among others. I am a co-opted governor at a primary school with more than seven years of experience collaborating with other professionals within a multidisciplinary team to assist the school in the areas of strategic planning, budgeting and finance, resource management, and educational performance. I am a proponent of racial equality, diversity, and inclusion in all facets of our society, particularly in education, with an emphasis on curriculum diversity, attainment, and accessibility. I am the father of two children and an avid sports fan.

Lynne Fletcher

Term of Office : 03/01/2023 - 02/01/2026

Co-opted Trustee

As a school business professional and leader, Lynne has extensive experience in school business management and governance, gained from working in the education sector for more than 30 years, following a successful career in banking.

Lynne has worked in a variety of school settings encompassing Primary, Secondary, Specialist and Alternative Provision, All Through schools (0-19yrs) in the Academies, Local Authority, and independent sector. Working in rural, town and large city locations.

More recently Lynne has worked independently supporting schools in all areas of management and governance functions. Lynne provides support ranging from day-to-day hands-on work, project delivery, reviews, training for Snr Leadership, Support Staff, and all for all those involved in Governance. Lynne worked for one of the largest Multi Academy Trusts comprising 80+ schools supporting School Business Leaders, Principals, LGB’s and the Trust, focussing on all aspects of school business management and procurement. Alongside this Lynne headed up the CPD development for 3,500 support staff and instrumental in introducing the trust to the Apprenticeship Levy and CPD opportunities for all staff from introductory level to higher degree courses.

Lynne has supported many schools on the school improvement journey. Gaining a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the complexities and demands of this journey. Working closely with Principals, SLT and Governance teams, prioritising the raising of standards and ensuring the best possible provision for every child in achieving the best they can be. Carefully budgeting, often turning around large deficit budgets, and facilitating resources to assist this journey.

As well as being and accredited Schools Resource Management Advisor (SRMA) and Fellow of the Institute of School Business Leaders, Lynne is a National Leader for Governance (NLG) and Governance Consult.

Alice Greaves

Co-opted Trustee

Term of Office: 06/02/2023 - 05/02/2027

Christopher Jelfs

Trustee

Term of Office: 11/07/2023 - 10/07/2027

Chris is a Chartered Construction professional having worked within an international engineering and construction company for over a decade. Through his career he has gained significant exposure to governance and compliance, most recently supporting the Executive team in managing the core governance processes of the organisation. Working across major Infrastructure, Healthcare and Education schemes, Chris has delivered complex Projects whilst leading high performing teams.

 

Trustees who have left in the previous 12 months:

Peter Woodhouse, term of office 23.10.2019 - 11.07.2023, Governance Consultancy work for Marshall Professional Development and J G Marshall

Contact Us

01829 752811 info@cheshireacademiestrust.co.uk
Kelsall Primary School, Flat Lane, Kelsall Cheshire