Alex Hire

Consulting Director, RSM

Alex is an experienced Associate Director with over 23 years' experience in providing internal audit services, particularly to the academy trust sector. Alex is highly experienced in developing holistic risk based audit plans and understanding the assurance needs of trusts alongside meeting both the ESFA’s requirements and the Academy Trust Handbook.

Alex presents at CST forums on risk and internal scrutiny and wider RSM forums and roundtables. Alex continues to be involved in the analysis of risks across the sector by RSM, providing added value and insight to the sector.

Hall 7a

1 Series four

Evolving internal scrutiny to the next generation

Is your internal scrutiny programme compliance-driven, problem-focused, or disconnected from your strategic priorities? This interactive session will explore how to transform internal scrutiny into a forward-looking, risk-informed tool that supports continuous improvement. Join our speakers for a discussion around how to align scrutiny with future risks and opportunities, foster a culture of psychological safety, and overcome common barriers through shared real-life experiences.

Governance

1 Breakout sessions: Series one

Leading in an age of uncertainty: Planning for emerging risks

We live in a highly interconnected age, when global conflicts can directly impact school budgets and cyber threats and AI can change how we work daily. This session explores how trust leaders and their boards can identify, assess, and respond to emerging risks in an increasingly complex environment. You will consider trade-offs, risk appetite and audit implications, while engaging with practical tools to support horizon scanning and informed decision-making. Designed as a fast-paced, discussion-led session, it will equip trustees and executive leaders with actionable insights to strengthen oversight and resilience.