Programme

An experienced multi academy trust executive, Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Data Protection Officer (DPO) who has successfully delivered a trust-wide digital transformation in a large, complex and rapidly growing trust.

Jonny has completed an Executive MBA programme achieving Chartered Manager status via the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). His innovative applied research project explored the potential for digital transformation through business model innovation within multi academy trusts.

As an active CIO Net member, Jonny networks with ambitious digital leaders and businesses from across the globe. A recognised thought leader on digital transformation, Jonny also speaks at conferences and shares insights via roundtables and panel discussions both within and beyond the education sector. As a former teacher and head of learning, Jonny has a passion for technology enhanced learning approaches. He has contributed to a range of further and higher education digital projects including an online massive online open course (MOOC), ‘Blended Learning Essentials’, in collaboration with UCL and the University of Leeds. Other projects included contributing to programmes such as the Technology Exemplar Network (BECTA), MoleNet (LSN), Regional Sustainability Event and Resource Utilisation Network (LSIS).

Tricia brings over 13 years of experience in education and is a key member of the senior leadership team at Empower Multi Academy Trust. As COO and CFO, Tricia combines strategic oversight with hands on leadership. She has completed the CIPFA Level 7 Diploma in School/Financial and Operational Leadership, the Certificate in Financial Reporting for Academies (Cert FRA), and the ILM Level 5 Diploma in School Business Management. She is also a member of ISBL and a DfE accredited Schools Resource Management Advisor (SRMA). Tricia is also Lead level accredited in OpEx for Education. Within the trust, Tricia leads on Estates, IT, Sustainability, and operational efficiencies with an oversight for Finance, ensuring that systems, processes, and people work together seamlessly across all areas.

Ather is Director of Strategy and Transformation at E-ACT, where he leads Thrive, the trust’s organisation-wide strategy, and the cross-functional transformation programmes within it. He drives E-ACT’s approach to data and AI, making insights accessible to leaders at every level and using AI to reduce staff workload and improve outcomes for pupils. Ather brings academic grounding in strategy and executive education in AI to his transformation work.

As Head of Data at Co-op Academies Trust, Dewan leads the strategic evolution of data ecosystems across 38 academies. He bridges his frontline experience in school leadership with advanced data engineering on the Google Cloud Platform, leveraging BigQuery and Looker Studio to build sustainable organisational capacity. By transforming raw data into high-impact, actionable intelligence, he empowers leaders to make evidence-based decisions in an increasingly scrutinised environment.

A specialist in Digital Transformation, Dewan recently orchestrated the trust-wide implementation and change management of Arbor (MIS) and SAMpeople (HRIS). His approach prioritises building resilient digital foundations and operational consistency, ensuring that technical capability translates into tangible school improvement. Grounded in principles of data integrity and ethical governance, Dewan is committed to developing robust, scalable systems that support leaders at every level - from EYFS to post-16 and special education - in navigating the complexities of modern educational data.

Laura has over 14 years’ experience in education, with the past eight years at the Advance Learning Partnership (ALP), initially as Head of Data before becoming Director of Operations in 2021. As Director of Operations, she plays a significant role in delivering the trust’s vision of enhancing both educational outcomes and organisational performance through the implementation of scalable systems and processes whilst empowering staff to use intelligence, drive improvements and deliver sustained impact. Her work in Operational Excellence has been recognised by the Institute of Business Leaders (ISBL) as an accredited OpEx Leader.

Joshua Perry is the co-founder of Smartgrade, an assessment standardisation platform that specialises in supporting school trusts with assessment across their trust. Joshua is also co-founder of Carousel, a retrieval practice platform and school CPD provider, and was previously part of the leadership team of Ark Schools.

Laura Knight, Founder and CEO of Sapio Ltd, is a TechWomen100 Award Winner 2025 and an internationally recognised strategist in digital innovation and AI for education. She brings over two decades of teaching and leadership experience across bothmaintained and independent sectors. Laura helps schools, universities, and education organisations to design ambitious, responsible, and human-centred approaches to technology. She serves on advisory boards for The EdTech Evidence Board, Teachmate, the Good Future Foundation, and the Independent Schools Council. Her book, The Little Guide for Teachers on Generative AI (Sage), supports educators to explore purposeful, creative uses of AI in teaching and learning.

Chris is the Digital Strategy Lead for Ark and leads on the effective use of digital technology for teaching and learning with the schools in the Ark network. He has 20 years experience of working in education in a variety of roles including a senior leader, teacher, director of IT, strategy consultant and advisor. He is focused on enhancing education by using technology to support student outcomes.

Chris Goodall is Head of Digital Education at the Bourne Education Trust, leading AI transformation across 27 schools and over 14,000 pupils. An award-winning AI in education leader, he co-chairs the national AI in Education initiative representing 1,500+ schools and was recognised with the Edufuturists 2025 AI Pioneer Award and also featured in the Digital Leaders AI 100 UK Leaders list for his sector-shaping work. Chris has supported the development of a nationally adopted framework for AI implementation, advised on government policy, and built cross-sector partnerships with leading EdTech providers.

Anthony McBride is a seasoned education consultant at SMID Report, specialising in data-driven strategies for academic institutions and educational policy development. With over a decade of experience in the education sector, Anthony has guided schools and trusts in leveraging analytics to improve student outcomes and operational efficiency. His work bridges the gap between complex data systems and practical, actionable insights for educators and decision-makers. At the intersection of education and data science, he is committed to fostering innovation and informed policy through clear, impactful analysis.

Steve Howse is a visionary leader in data analytics and artificial intelligence, serving as CEO and Founder of SMID Report and CEO of Verbilly. He and his team launched SMID Report in 2015, delivering reporting tools that empower educators with actionable insights. Early in his career, he applied advanced analytics to large datasets, quickly earning a reputation for developing innovative, data-driven solutions. Alongside SMID Report, he co-founded ventures including Myphizz, Edcover and Baselinetests, each addressing diverse educational challenges and improving outcomes.

Driven by a passion for reducing teacher workload, Steve co-founded Verbilly, an AI-powered verbal feedback platform that uses voice recognition to streamline student feedback. Under his leadership, both companies formed strategic partnerships with educational trusts and earned acclaim for their positive impact on school performance and staff well-being. Howse remains dedicated to harnessing AI and analytics to transform data into meaningful results for learners and educators alike today.

Chris Burland is Head of Data and Systems for Beckfoot Trust, a 10 school multi academy trust based in Bradford. Chris works in the central team supporting schools and operational teams with data analysis and management of information systems. Chris has worked for Beckfoot Trust since 2006 in a variety of teaching and operational support roles giving him a breadth of experience and a real understanding of what it takes to make a difference to young people and support our mission of creating remarkable schools where no child is left behind.

Nicola Brooks is a Data Engineer at Star Academies, where she designs and delivers the critical infrastructure for the trust’s data warehouse. Her work is pivotal in expanding data mobilisation across departments, including integrating MIS, HR, and workforce development data into consolidated models. Nicola has over a decade of experience in the education sector. Her previous roles include serving as Head of Data at Ormiston Academies Trust and The Active Learning Trust, alongside tenure as a Senior Business Officer at Ofsted. Nicola’s career began in a practical, hands-on environment as a Data Manager at Ely College. Her interest in the sector’s inner workings began while completing her MSc dissertation, which explored market forces within the education sector.

Amy McJennett is an educational leader with deep experience at the intersection of research, innovation, and practice, shaping solutions that address persistent challenges in UK education. She is the Director of Open Education AI, a not-for-profit organisation that supports schools with an off-the-shelf route to usable data and AI driven insight capability. Before joining Open Education AI, Amy was a Director at Ark Schools, leading innovation across learning programmes and products, and co-founder of Ark Curriculum Plus. Her work supported the design of evidence informed curriculum and professional development programmes that have helped transform teaching and learning nationwide. Prior to that Amy was Director of Digital Product & Services at Pearson, overseeing the digital learning product portfolio used by learners and educators globally. Amy started her career as a secondary classroom teacher. This anchors her work today, ensuring solutions genuinely solve sector problems and integrate seamlessly into daily school life.

Sir Mark Grundy has been the CEO of Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust since 2007, after previously serving as the principal of Shireland Collegiate Academy, the trust’s founding school. He has also held the position of executive principal at both Shireland Collegiate Academy and George Salter Collegiate Academy. Sir Mark has had a distinguished career in education and has been recognised with several prestigious awards and achievements. His career has included serving as an advisor to the West Midlands Regional Schools Commissioner from 2012 to 2022, and being knighted in 2006 for his contributions to education and technology. He was also awarded an honorary Doctorate from Birmingham City University in 2022. Sir Mark gained his Masters qualification from Loughborough University.

Mark is a dedicated education data professional with over 15 years’ experience in the sector, committed to delivering meaningful insights that drive school improvement. He has worked at Inspiration Trust since it began in 2013.

He plays a key role in managing and analysing data across all levels, from pupils, assessment, and staff metrics. He is focused on providing clear, actionable analysis to support school and trust leaders in making informed decisions, ultimately saving time, and reducing workload. By ensuring that data is accessible and timely he strives to have a positive impact on outcomes for students across the trust through his work.

Mark is also the Data Protection Officer for the trust.

Claire specialises in data protection, AI, information governance, and freedom of information for education clients at Browne Jacobson LLP. Her extensive experience leading a data protection officer service as well as experience working as a school business manager and as a local academy board governor equips her with a profound understanding of school challenges. Claire received the European Picasso 'Champion' Award for her ability to support and promote a positive information governance culture within schools, and the important work done by school staff to protect children's personal data. Claire is also a co-author of the IRMS Records Management Toolkit for Schools and Academies and is known for her effective public speaking and advocacy for data protection importance in education. Additionally, Claire's expertise extends to AI governance and edtech. This experience and knowledge makes her an invaluable resource for educational institutions.

Michael Murray is Head of Regulatory Policy at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the United Kingdom’s data protection regulator. Michael leads on policy development related to children’s privacy. This includes work on codes of practice including the children’s code and the education data code. Michael’s team also supports children’s privacy engagement with online and digital services, other regulators and civil society organisations in the UK and internationally. His team leads on the development of age assurance policy at the ICO. Michael is a member of UNICEF's Expert Advisory Group on the Best Interest of the Child.

Michael has extensive experience in the non-profit and government sectors working in senior roles in the legal advice, charity and grants sectors prior to joining the ICO.

Ed Cooper joined Central Region Schools Trust in 2022 as Head of IT and was promoted to Head of Operations in 2025. He leads the trust’s operational functions across IT, Estates, Governance and Data, and has led the trust’s digital and data strategy, overseeing IT service delivery, central data operations, cyber security and data governance.

Central Region Schools Trust is a 14 school, mixed phase trust serving communities across the West Midlands. Ed’s work focuses on removing non academic barriers to learning, enabling school leaders to focus on pupil outcomes. He uses technology and data to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness, with a strong emphasis on system and process integration and strategic data use. A core focus of his role is strengthening data governance, cyber security and vendor due diligence in an increasingly digital and AI enabled landscape, ensuring technology is secure, well managed and ethically used.

As founding CEO, Matt has designed the operational model and led the Learners’ Trust since its inception in 2016. Matt is pupil premium kid who grew up in Sheffield and has worked in education leadership for 20 years across Derbyshire and Rotherham. He has completed various qualifications for leadership, including a recent first-class MBA in Executive Education at Buckinghamshire University. Matt’s skills and areas of interest are in school improvement strategy, leadership development and operational effectiveness. He is a qualified executive coach and has worked with colleagues across the country, supporting their development as leaders. Matt is a self-confessed IT nerd and poor-quality; guitar player, singer and golfer.

Anna Cannizzaro is Deputy Director of Transformation at United Learning, the UK’s largest multi-academy trust. She leads a portfolio of digital and process improvement initiatives, supporting schools and central teams to work more efficiently and make better use of technology, with a focus on simplification, improved connectivity between systems, and ensuring operating models can scale effectively.

Prior to joining United Learning, Anna worked in the finance sector and served for four years as a voluntary Chair of Governors at Oakdale Primary School, an experience that prompted her transition into the education sector.

Ed is a Product Director at Arbor and Co-Founder at Habitude - now part of Arbor - a workflow automation platform for schools that performs everyday work on behalf of your teams so that they can get back to the highest impact work.

Before setting up Habitude, Ed was the CEO of a London based multi-academy trust, having spent the previous ten years working across the Teach First and Teach for All networks, latterly as European Director. He started his career as a secondary school teacher in South London.

Lana brings over a decade of experience in education, specialising in business operations, estates, and commercial transformation. As Executive Director of Business Transformation at Nexus Multi Academy Trust, she leads on strategic development across projects, procurement & contracts, assets, health & safety and traded services, driving innovation and sustainable growth across the trust.

Robyn Ellis joined Dixons Academies Trust in March 2022, to lead on Dixons OpenSource, onsite, insight and external partnerships. Robyn now looks after communications, projects and the office of the school and college trust leaders.

Prior to working at Dixons, Robyn was the global head of leadership development and manager enablement for Booking.com, a leading digital travel company. She has held a number of roles in change, communications, programme management, strategy, talent development and leadership.

Robyn started her career in education, consistently working with leaders in schools in the most challenged areas and is deeply committed to our mission of challenging educational and social disadvantage in the north of England.

Sir Mark Grundy has been the CEO of Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust since 2007, after previously serving as the principal of Shireland Collegiate Academy, the trust’s founding school. He has also held the position of executive principal at both Shireland Collegiate Academy and George Salter Collegiate Academy. Sir Mark has had a distinguished career in education and has been recognised with several prestigious awards and achievements. His career has included serving as an advisor to the West Midlands Regional Schools Commissioner from 2012 to 2022, and being knighted in 2006 for his contributions to education and technology. He was also awarded an honorary Doctorate from Birmingham City University in 2022. Sir Mark gained his Masters qualification from Loughborough University.

James Fendek is Director of Information Systems at The Mercian Trust, a school trust in the West Midlands, where he has played a key role in trust‑wide digital transformation, information systems and cyber resilience. His experience includes MIS migration, device refresh programmes, data protection compliance and online safeguarding. James has supported the trust’s exploration and adoption of AI, contributing to the development of an internal AI agent used to respond to finance, governance and HR queries. He has also been closely involved in the rollout of Microsoft Copilot to more than 140 senior leaders, helping embed AI into everyday leadership practice and decision‑making. Alongside his professional role, James is completing an Executive MBA and brings a practical, evidence‑led perspective on digital strategy, risk and organisational change in education.

Sana Rafiq is the Head of Technology at Lift Schools, a national network of 59 schools. With over 15 years of experience in IT operations and digital transformation, she is responsible for shaping the strategic direction of the trust’s digital infrastructure, systems, and data services. Sana has been with the trust since 2022, previously serving as Head of IT Operations. Throughout her tenure, she has coordinated large-scale infrastructure upgrades, led multi-site domain migrations, and developed framework-aligned training for technical teams. Her expertise spans IT service management, continuous improvement, and the alignment of technology with educational and operational goals.