Sue Elliott

CEO, Trust in Learning (Academies)

Sue started her career in the hospitality industry working in hotels and event management moving to specialise in people management and HR. She then took an opportunity to move into public service which led to a career in human resources in the NHS until taking a long career break to raise her family. She then returned to HR establishing her own consulting company which eventually specialised in services to the education sector. This led to a deep commitment to improving the education system, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. She joined Trust in Learning Academies in 2016 as Director of HR and Communications and in 2023 was appointed CEO of the trust which is committed to serving vulnerable and disadvantaged children and their communities. She remains passionate about education and the staff that enables high quality and caring education to be delivered.

1 Workshops series two

Navigating in a time of mergers and growth: A leadership journey

According to the Edurio National CST School Trust Report 2025, one in six trusts (15%) report considering merging with another trust, and 59% of CEOs report that they expect to open or add schools to their trust in the next year. This session will explore how strong leadership and positive culture underpin the entire merger process, and are essential to its success. Join colleagues from Edwin People in an exploration with three CEOs that are at different stages of this journey to understand the human and strategic sides of merger and trust growth. Delegates will learn from key lessons encountered through the merger process, and the impact on how adult wellbeing drives sustained outcomes for children. Join this workshop to hear where the role of a Chief People Officer/People Director fits into the overall merger strategy, and understand both the challenges and opportunities at play.