Our Team

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Central Team

John Winter

Trustee & Chief Executive Officer
John has been CEO of Weydon Multi Academy Trust (WMAT) since its conception, nine years ago; previously he was the Headteacher of Weydon School for 11 years.
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Louise Buckley

Chief Operating Officer
Louise is COO at WMAT, leading the Trust’s operational strategy and driving excellence across finance, HR, estates, IT, and compliance.
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Mark Sharman

Executive Director of Academy Improvement
Mark is an experienced education leader, with over 20 years experience in driving school improvement and supporting teachers and leaders across the Trust.
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Kirsty Kemp

Finance Director
Kirsty joined WMAT in 2020 and is a Fellow of ACCA. With extensive experience in finance and leadership, she plays a key role in ensuring the Trust’s financial health and strategic planning.
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Mehal Shah

Director of Specialist School Improvement
Mehal has over 20 year of experience in SEND, including 17 years in leadership roles. She has served as Deputy Headteacher & Headteacher at a SEND school support children with complex needs.
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Kate Licence

Director of Primary Education
Kate joined WMAT as Director of Primary Education, bringing a wealth of experience in educational leadership and school improvement.
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Steve Hollands

Director of Technology
Steve joined the WMAT in September 2024, previously he held the role of Director of Technology at Barfield Prep School, with responsibility of all aspects of IT provision.
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Peter Barraud

Director of Safeguarding
Peter has worked in schools since 2006 and has spent the the majority of his career working at St Peter’s Catholic School and Woolmer Hill School.
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Zoe Smallman

Farnborough Sixth Form College Principal
Zoe is a graduate from Pembroke College, Cambridge, with a Masters degree in Engineering.  After graduating from Cambridge, Zoe completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Law and a Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Law School, before completing a training contract and qualifying as a solicitor working in commercial real estate in London.
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Anna Finch

Head of HR
Anna began her career at Marks & Spencer, where she progressed from a graduate trainee to HR Manager, developing her knowledge and expertise in people management.
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Debbie Coad

Subject Lead - English
Having originally trained as a Journalist, Debbie has been a teacher for nearly 30 years, most of which she has spent working for schools which are part of the WMAT.
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Catherine Brown

Subject Lead - Maths
Catherine is an experienced Curriculum Lead with a strong passion for the teaching and learning of mathematics. She has taught mathematics across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 for over 16 years, developing a deep understanding of effective pedagogy and student progression.
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Hilary Elliott

Subject Lead - Science
With a MSc and PhD in Chemistry, Hilary originally worked as Operations Lead at The UK's National Measurement Laboratory, NPL. She brings extensive experience in the real-world contextualisation of science in leading WMAT Science to inspire scientists of the future.  
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Pierre Bolis

Subject Lead - Languages
Pierre is a dedicated education professional with a strong track record in language teaching and leadership.
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Cat Beardsmore-rust

SEND Lead (Mainstream)
Cat was appointed in September 2025 as the Trust Lead for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across mainstream schools within WMAT.
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Jo Mannings

Data Lead
Jo joined WMAT in Sept 2025 as Data Lead. With 20 years’ experience in school data management, including founding InfinityFly Ltd, she helps schools make the most of their digital systems.
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Liz Wylie

i2i SCITT Director
Liz feels very fortunate to have worked in education for over 30 years. She began her career as a secondary music teacher and has since worked in a variety of schools across the UK.
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Amy Diprose

i2i SCITT Director
With over 20 years of experience in education, Amy feels privileged to be at the forefront of teacher training with i2i Teaching Partnership.
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Liz Crosby

Trust Admissions Officer
Liz began her career in the finance industry. In 2010, she changed direction, moving into education and bringing her skills and experience to support schools.
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Kathy Lockett

Executive Assistant/Communication
Kathy has over 25 years’ experience as a Personal Assistant, beginning her career in the horticulture sector before transitioning into education in 2016.
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Elaine Felton

Governance Professional
Elaine's primary role is Governance Professional to the Board of Trustees. She was involved in setting up the Trust, giving her the opportunity to work across all aspects of its operations.
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Trustees

Ralph Johnson

Chair of Trustees
Ralph is Chair of Trustees at WMAT, with over twenty years of experience in financial management and school governance.
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John Winter

Trustee & Chief Executive Officer
John has been CEO of Weydon Multi Academy Trust (WMAT) since its conception, nine years ago; previously he was the Headteacher of Weydon School for 11 years.
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Peter Brinsden

Member & Trustee
Peter is an experienced leader and governor, bringing decades of executive and board-level expertise to support strong school governance.
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Maria Dawes

Trustee
Maria is a highly respected education leader with a long track record of working collaboratively across schools, trusts, local authorities and national bodies to drive rapid and sustainable improvement. She currently serves as a RISE Advisor for the Department for Education, supporting the development and delivery of England’s new sector‑led improvement programme.
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Julie Fisher

Trustee - Vice Chair
Julie is an experienced strategic leader with over 25 years’ service across the public and private sectors.
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Robert Hill

Trustee - Safeguarding Lead
Rob is a Partner at Clarity, an executive search consultancy specialising in recruiting board and leadership talent for Retail, Hospitality and Consumer Goods companies across the world. 
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Chris Hyland

Trustee
Chris has been a Trustee since the formation of WMAT, bringing extensive experience in governance, financial management, and charitable oversight.
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Andrew Needham

Trustee
Andrew joined the WMAT Trust board in April 2026, from The Prospect Trust where he was previously Chair.
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Mike Pickering

Trustee
Mike is a WMAT Trustee and Chair of Rodborough School, bringing extensive leadership experience and expertise in governance, strategy, and organisational performance.
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Alex Tear

Diocesan Member & Trustee
Alex is a member of the Bishop’s Leadership Team and provides strategic leadership for education across the Diocese, working closely with the Diocesan Board of Education.
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Members

Peter Brinsden

Member & Trustee
Peter is an experienced leader and governor, bringing decades of executive and board-level expertise to support strong school governance.
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Graham Hudson

Member
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Mark Rosling

Member
Mark is an experienced leader and advisor, former Chair of Governors at The Ridgeway Community School, and Director of Longridge Consulting Ltd with expertise in strategic oversight.
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Alex Tear

Diocesan Member & Trustee
Alex is a member of the Bishop’s Leadership Team and provides strategic leadership for education across the Diocese, working closely with the Diocesan Board of Education.
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Swati Wills

Member
Swati is Company Secretary and Director of Changing World Solutions Ltd, a management and engineering consultancy. She has worked with universities and businesses of all sizes.
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