Board of Directors and Members

Sir Michael Griffiths was Headteacher of Northampton School for Boys from 2001 to 2013. The school was the first converter academy - a large state comprehensive that admits girls to the sixth form. The school is a Teaching School and has an outstanding record, not only for academic performance but also the breadth and quality of its extracurricular provision.

Sir Michael was Head of Science in two Wolverhampton comprehensive schools. He was an examiner for GCE O-level and A-level Biology. After a period as Senior Lecturer in Science Education at Sheffield Hallam University, he was appointed as Science Adviser and Ofsted Inspector in Sefton LEA before returning to the school sector. Sir Michael is a National Leader of Education and a Fellow of the RSA. He served as President of the Association for School and College Leaders in 2012-13.

Awarded a knighthood in the 2014 New Year's Honours List, Sir Michael has also been a member of UCAS Council, represented ASCL on the HMC Universities committee and is Chair of the National Science Learning Centres' steering group. In 2014 he was elected by his peers to be a member of the Head Teacher Board for North West London and South Central - a region covering nearly 30 Local Authorities - advising the Regional Schools Commissioner. He acts as an educational consultant to an academy group.

Sir Michael is involved with a range of educational organisations, including the DfE Headteacher Board, AQA, STEM Learning, NMPAT and a range of schools, both state and independent.

Colin recently is former Head of Business Engagement at HSBC bank. Colin has a BSc in General Chemistry and a PhD in Organic Chemistry and has previously worked for British Steel (as was), and most recently at HSBC for 27 years, in an IT capacity, before taking voluntary retirement in January 2016.

Colin's employment experience covered all IT/Business Engagement related issues resulting from banking activity in UK, Europe and the Middle East. He was elected as Chair of Governors for Windsor High School in 2005 and became a Member of Windsor Academy Trust in 2011 upon its incorporation. Colin has recently stepped down as Chair of the Board of Directors. He is also Chair of Halesowen Athletics and Cycling Club.

Andrew is a Chartered Civil Engineer by profession and has spent most of his working life in local government managing transportation projects, much of it at a senior level. He was elected as Governor of Windsor High School and Sixth Form in 2005 and became a Member of the Trust in 2013. He became Chair of the Board of Directors in March 2018.

His main areas of expertise are strategic management/thinking, business planning and organisational change.

Recently retired, Eamonn was previously a Senior Programme Manager and managed major projects delivered to Birmingham Authority. These included major business transformation projects, People Solutions (Transition of HR services) and Working for the Future (Property rationalisation and new ways of working).

Eamonn is also Chair of Windsor High School and Sixth Form Local Advisory Board and Chair of Goldsmith Local Advisory Board.

After gaining a HND in Computer Studies from North Staffordshire Polytechnic Anne has spent over 30 years working for BT PLC in a variety of roles including IT, Service Management and People Management, developing a reputation for adapting her skills within new areas of the organisation.

More recently Anne has moved into business improvement roles and in her current role, she focuses on processes and systems within the security sector. Anne studied for an MBA from the Open University graduating in 2001 and more recently, for personal development and satisfaction, achieved City and Guilds Level 3 Certificate and Diploma in Creative Embroidery.

Nick has spent 30 years in banking. He started out as a clerk at NatWest in Halesowen before working his way through all aspects of personal, back-office, small business and corporate roles.

Nick currently works in Birmingham as Large Corporate Group Director for Santander UK, acting as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of the largest businesses in the region. The role requires an inquisitive mind, the ability to source and develop new business, and strong knowledge of current market conditions along with a thorough understanding of financial, non-financial and operational risks.

Nick began his association with Windsor Academy Trust through serving as a parent governor of Windsor High School and Sixth Form in 2011.

Heath is an inspirational and dedicated Chief Executive, with experience in leadership development and education policy in both the public and not-for-profit sectors.

He is currently Executive Director of King Edward VI Foundation in Birmingham and more recently, the King Edward VI Academy Trust, where he oversees nine secondary schools (two independent and seven academies). Previously Heath was Chief Executive of The Future Leaders Trust for nine years and Deputy Schools Commissioner for the Department of Education for seven years. He also taught English and Drama for several years after graduating from Oxford University.

Heath is an advisor to Place2Be (a children's mental health charity) and a member of the Government's School Partnerships Oversight Board (designed to improve independent/state school partnership working.

Julie is a professionally qualified accountant and coach. She worked within the public transport industry for many years and latterly as an Executive Board member with responsibility for a number of corporate functions.

Julie now runs Elevate Coaching, alongside which she is also a non-executive board member and Vice Chair of an acute hospital trust and a community trust, and the Chair of a charity that provides housing and care for older people.

Mr Jerrel D Jackson FRSA, a social entrepreneur from the Midlands (UK). Founding Chief Creative Changemaker (CEO) of Creative Academies Network (CAN) a multi-layered organisation that supports the development of children & young people in the Black Country to accelerate their full potential through Cultural Education, Creative Practice & Civic Leadership (link). Jerrel founded CAN at the age of 25yrs. He is a recipient of the Arts Council England Fellowship 2016/17 through the Clore Leadership Programme under the direction of Sue Hoyle OBE. Over the past few years, Jerrel has toured across Hong Kong, India, France, Malta, Spain, Dubai, Greece, Croatia, Sweden and Bulgaria to strengthen his international relationships and leadership enquiry of children and young people across the sub-sectors of Cultural Education, Creative Industries, Cultural Diversity, Community Regeneration and Creative Economy. Jerrel is currently working on his research publication ‘D.I.C.E’ (Diversity Integrity Cultural Equality). Jerrel received his Masters and Bachelor’s degree in Creative Performance, Cultural Pedagogy, Creative Technology and Media from Chichester University. In 2014 he was awarded Young Educator of the Year (Royal Bank of Scotland and Trinity Mirror) and Princess Diana Memorial Award for recognition of his contribution towards the local community through the arts & education and overcoming adversity/bereavement of his brother and mother at the age of 16yrs. Jerrel has held a variety of roles on strategic boards & advisory panels across the social, cultural, leisure and education sectors and funders/commissioners, with his experience to diversify leadership representation, but also encapsulating collective voice to address inequality and inclusion.

Alistair is an experienced marketer with a strong record of business delivery for a major Pharmaceutical company. He has a passion for Strategic planning and seeing a wider picture, whilst being able to deliver operationally.  As a leader of people he has mentored and developed dozens of people in a wide and varied career.  Alistair lives in Blakedown with his fiancé and between them they have 5 children which keep both them busy! He is a keen sportsman, trained tennis coach and avid movie fan.