Structure

Alan has many years’ experience in economic development, including the management of regional strategy development agencies in London and Greater Manchester. Throughout his career, he had responsibility for strategy and project development in 3 major industrial sectors and worked in over 40 countries. 

Alan has also been involved in local race relations and other community organisations as a volunteer, and local politics. He has been appointed to a series of School Governing bodies over 20 years, including a Special Needs school, Infant/Junior schools, a State Comprehensive and a Grant aided Grammar school. He has also been a Chair of a Governing Body and more recently, been a member of the Governing Body for Poynton High School. 

Alan retired in 2013, and now his activities include Tai Chi practice, Pilates and painting with local art groups and classes.

Andrew is head of SHEQ and legal compliance at Beaumont Morgan. He has experience in identifying and controlling risks and hazards; formatting and presenting CPD training; site inspection and audit; development and implementation of management procedures and policies; job safety analysis and implementation of emergency plans and procedures. 

In his role he has developed and delivered training programmes, created an integrated management system and implemented a model for behavioural enhancement and a positive cultural enforcement across all aspects of Healthy, Safety and Environmental Management. 

Andrew is a member of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management and the Institute of Industrial Accident Investigators. He has achieved various qualifications including Diplomas in Legal Studies, Psychology and Occupational Safety and Health Management, and National Certificates in Occupational Safety and Health and Environment Management. 

Karen has a wealth of managerial experience and over 24 years’ service with the Environment Agency, currently working as an Environment Planning and Engagement Manager. She is also part of the Environment Agency’s Area Leadership Team for Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire. Over the years Karen has led and managed several departments across the North West, with large teams of staff and budgets. 

Karen studied at Poynton High School, before achieving a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Studies at Sunderland University. Since then, Karen has achieved Chartered Manager status and completed a Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership. 

Karen is also a trained media spokesperson, a trained Incident Duty Manager and represents the Environment Agency at Gold Command/Strategic Coordination Groups (SCG) during Major Incidents.

Lesley is a retired Primary School Headteacher, leaving Micklehurst All Saints, Mossley in 2011. She has a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Manchester University. Prior to taking up the headship of Flash Primary School in 2005, she taught at Disley Primary School from 1991. 

Lesley was actively involved in the development of the Poynton High School bid for Creative Arts College Status alongside the High School Expressive Arts department. She is currently on the Governing Board at both Disley Primary School and Whaley Bridge ERS Primary School and has a vast experience of Ofsted inspections from her various roles.

Lelsey is married with two daughters, who both attended Disley Primary School, followed by Poynton High School. Lesley volunteers for the National Trust at Lyme Hall, and is a Warden at St. Mary's Church, Disley.

Stephen is a Manager within the Financial Services Industry. He has held Financial Conduct Authority Approved person status for a number of large Network and Product Provider firms and has particular expertise in the design and implementation of effective compliance and risk management structures. Stephen has led and consulted on risk and compliance at a number of companies. He is a qualified Chartered Financial Planner, a Fellow of the Society of Financial Advisers (FSFA) and an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) Life and Pensions Route. 

Majid is a Director of Advoco Consulting Services Limited, a company specialising in the provision of healthcare consulting and expertise to the public and private sectors. Advoco Consulting Services Limited offers a range of services including occupational health for clients in the biotech sector; a patient-focused, doctor-led online sexual health testing service; and healthcare recruitment, specialising in the provision of GPs to healthcare providers across the wider North West and West Yorkshire regions. 

Karen is a Teaching Assistant at New Mills High School, and is studying Sociology with the Open University. Karen has experience of running a retail business, as well as working in the early years setting. She has an NVQ in Childcare and Education. Karen was previously the Chair of Governors at Disley Primary School and made a significant contribution to the governance of the school, gaining experience in enhancing effective communication between the governing board and pupils, staff, parents and the wider community; organising, planning and communicating to ensure that all governors fully participate in the strategic governance of the school; reading and interpreting school data; as well as developing working relationships with Headteachers and Senior Leaders. 

Shiona is a director of a business providing consultancy services to the life science industry, including start-up companies. Having qualified as a Solicitor, Shiona worked as an in-house lawyer for AstraZeneca - a FTSE 100 company -  for over 25 years, gaining extensive experience in the biopharmaceutical industry.  Working as a senior member of global cross-functional teams, Shiona was required to provide pragmatic and constructive advice to facilitate the achievement of strategic goals. She is experienced in the identification, assessment and mitigation of legal risks across a spectrum of activities and is closely acquainted with the requirements of corporate governance. 

David is the Trust Leader for The TRUE Learning Partnership, as well as the Head Teacher at Poynton High School and Vice President (2019-20) for the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). David has extensive experience within strategic leadership roles, both from within school employment and through consultancy roles from various national organisations. David passionately believes in building partnerships through collaboration and this has been shown throughout his career through the networks that he has been involved in. David has been involved in the establishment of collaborative leadership structures and skills across Local Authorities, including Bolton, Rochdale and Oldham. In addition to this, he has worked for organisations such as the SSATrust and The Learning Schools Trust in establishing quality excellence in teaching and learning and whole school raising of achievement strategies.

Having had a successful career in secondary education (for 13 years) in a wide range of schools, prior to entering Higher Education David was a Gatsby Fellow,  head of department and a member of senior management with responsibility for whole school issues including monitoring, assessment and recording. Since moving into Higher Education in 2000 David's work has involved  policy, practice and publications in a variety of areas including Teaching and Learning, Teacher Education, Technology Education and Creative and Design Education. Currently David is a member of three editorial boards and in 2013 received an 'Outstanding Contribution award' from the D&TA for his work related to Teacher Education.

Currently in his role of Professor of Education he is Director of Teaching and Learning in the School of Environment, Education and Development in addition to being the Senior Collaborative Adviser for the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences. David also holds a strategic role for oversight of Initial Teacher Education and maintains an executive responsibility for the University of Manchester Teach First provision.