Chris Kirk

Director, CJK Associates

Chris Kirk has enjoyed 25 years in leadership, management and strategy in the education sector, with senior roles in the UK civil service, a partnership within one of the largest accounting and consulting companies, and an international CEO role for a large school group. Six years ago, Chris founded CJK Associates. CJK works extensively with the education supplier and investor market, and frequently carries out market studies to compare the services, quality and price of education service providers (school improvement, finance, HR, IT support) and software (MIS, assessment, curriculum).

Chris teaches the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leaders for Teach First and previously for Ambition. Chris is a Trustee of Weydon Multi Academy Trust, an adviser to OPERA (a charity supporting unemployed youth into work) and to The Education Partnership, Nigeria (a pro-poor education charity). He has previously held roles as Adviser to Ofsted’s Strategy Group, The Careers and Enterprise Company, Getting Ahead London, World Economic Forum and Business in the Community.

1 Series one

Shared services 4.0: Mapping your trust’s maturity journey to leading practice

This workshop will explore three phases of trust maturity at a system level, and how signs are emerging of a fourth model involving AI, automation, and purposeful partnership, leading to strategic, scalable, high-performing ways of working (from striving to thriving). Join this session to assess your trust’s operational maturity, identify barriers, explore leading practices, and take practical steps to building a flourishing, future-proofed operational model.

1 Workshop series two

One team, one mission: Aligning operations and education for trust-wide impact

<span data-contrast="none">This session will explore how trusts can align operations and education to create a unified, mission-driven team. The next step for trust operational maturity goes beyond generating efficiencies and releasing time for educators, to contributing to school improvement; professionalising operational careers; and aligning all teams around the shared goal of improving outcomes for children. Join us to discover how fostering a cohesive "one team, one mission" culture can transform your trust, with real-life success stories from trust leaders.</span>