The trustees are also our company directors. The board of trustees manages the business of the academy trust and should focus strongly on the three core functions of governance:
- ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
- overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.
Our trustees ensure compliance with the trust’s charitable objects and with company and charity law, and adherence to the trust’s funding agreement with the Secretary of State.
We are developing our Trust Board to include up to 11 Trustees covering the wide range of skills and expertise that we require.
We work with Academy Ambassadors to source new Trustees to increase the number of Trustees and also work with our academies to encourage individuals with the right skills and expertise to become Trustees.
The Trustees of our Trust are:
Chair of the Trust Board.
Andy Hodgkinson
Chair of Trustees
Michael Booker
Date of Appointment: December 2021
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Governance Roles in Other Educational Institutions:
Michael has 44 years’ experience in education having held leadership roles in schools, local authorities, and the private sector. He has extensive governance experience having served as a governor in both the primary (12 years) and the secondary (10 years) sectors holding a range of positions including Chair of Governors.
Michael Booker
Trustee
Karen Burns
Date of Appointment: January 2018
Term of Office: Ongoing
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Governance Roles in Other Educational Institutions: Member at The Fallibroome Trust, Trustee at White Rose Academies Trust and Member of North West Advisory Board.
Karen Burns
Chief Executive Officer
Gary Buxton
Date of Appointment: July 2021
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Governance Roles in Other Educational Institutions: Non- Executive Director and Trustee at The University of Manchester
Gary has 20 years’ experience of both operations and senior leadership roles across the voluntary, public and commercial sector organisations. He has experience of growing both new and established organisations and developing senior leaders and technical experts to deliver market leading performance. He works with CEOs, Directors and people managers, often in organisations that are experiencing significant growth or change across the service or leaders who are delivering complex government-based contracts/services.
Gary was awarded an MBE in 2014 for Services to the Young People of England in recognition of his pro-bono and charity work.
Gary Buxton
Trustee
Victoria Hewitt-Lee
Date of Appointment: January 2018
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Governance Roles in Other Educational Institutions: Ex-Officio Governor at St John’s CE School, Dukinfield
During her 33 years as a practitioner, Vicki has worked across the whole primary education sector. Her passion was ignited by her interest in Early Years Education and the awe and wonder that can bring to the whole school. Vicki’s brand of education is driven by providing a shared vision with a mission to succeed. As Vice Chair of Tameside Primary consortium for four years, she liaised with the LA for better outcomes for schools. Currently, she supports Headteachers who are new to the role for Chester Diocese and is Chair of Tameside and Stockport Diocesan Committee.
Being a Trustee has enabled Vicki to continue to be devoted to delivering the best outcomes to the children of Tameside and beyond.
Victoria Hewitt-Lee
Trustee
Dean McDonagh
Date of Appointment: January 2018
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Governance Roles in Other Educational Institutions: Governor at Dane Bank Primary School, Reddish
Dean is a specialist in education data, particularly around educational attainment and achievement. He is currently Head of Data and Analytics at Leverhulme Academy Trust and was previously Education Data Lead for Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council. Dean is an experienced trainer, having delivered training on education data to headteachers, senior leaders and Ofsted inspectors. He also has lots of experience of school governing boards, having been a school governor at both primary and secondary schools. Dean is Chair of the Trust Achievement and Improvement Committee.
Dean McDonagh
Trustee
Andrew Williams
Date of Appointment: November 2022
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Governance Roles in Other Educational Institutions: None
Andrew is a senior executive with 35 years of experience. He has set up and grown management consultancies both in the UK and globally. He has led and delivered multi million GBP consulting engagements for global corporate clients. His versatile, people-oriented leadership style has been demonstrated in both large and independent consultancies. During his time at KPMG he was the global head of manufacturing consulting and led a number of their most significant accounts in the consumer/pharma sectors. He grew their supply chain practice in the UK through major client transformation programs and working on numerous deals. His deal experience is from operation due diligence through to post integration transformation. In addition to director/partner roles in both Deloitte and KPMG he has delivered as both an independent consultant and in small, entrepreneurial businesses.
Andrew Williams
Trustee
David Williams
Date of Appointment: June 2023
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Governance Roles in Other Educational Institutions:
David is a senior Chartered Civil Engineer with over 35 years’ experience in the construction industry. He has extensive experience of driving projects and programmes to help clients achieve their outcomes. He has proven leadership skills and specialises in identifying key drivers, understanding client organisations with a focus on governance and stakeholder management and ensuring appropriate structures are in place. He has experience of sitting on a risk committee and has strong financial skills, having implemented a new finance system. He is a member of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce Construction Group.
David Williams
Trustee
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