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Alex is a chartered accountant and economics graduate and was for many years managing partner of a local accountancy practice. An experienced chair and non-executive director, his background is in audit and business advice and support. Alex is a trustee and Principal Finance Officer of Ted Wragg Trust (an Exeter based multi academy trust).

He is chairman of Devon Association of Governors (DAG) and represents academies at Devon Education Forum and DAG at Devon Schools Finance Group. He has worked with a range of schools and academies on governance related matters. He joined the board of directors of the ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú because he wanted to build on his commitment to supporting education and in particular multi academy trusts. His role is to chair the board and to support and hold to account the CEO and the COO.

Alex has wide experience of Trust structures, governance and growth. This has included CEO and CFO recruitment and the development of MAT financial, operational and governance structures. Alex has undertaken External Review of Governance training, has experience of IEBs and school partnership management agreements and has supported a number of schools, academies and MATs in particular in connection with strategy, structures, governance, business planning and budget/financial management. He is an experienced mentor of chairs of governors and has provided induction training to chairs and governors. Always with the aim of supporting school improvement and providing the very best education to the young people in our schools.

Paul has been the CEO of the Trust since his appointment in January 2018. Paul has been the headteacher of several schools in Devon, many in challenging circumstances. Previously he was the CEO of the small Genesis Trust, which merged with the ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú in September 2017. Paul is a Local Leader of Education and has recently qualified as a Lead Inspector for Ofsted. He has also served on the Devon Association of Primary Headteachers for many years; chairing the group for several years.

Andrea first became a parent governor when her son was at All Saints Infants School (now Sidmouth Primary School Vicarage Road site) and appreciated seeing the workings of the school from both sides. She was on the governing body when three schools amalgamated to form Sidmouth Primary School, and then federated first with Musbury and then Hawkchurch Primary Schools. The schools then went on to academies and Andrea joined the board.

With an Honours Degree in Biology, Food Science & Nutrition and a postgraduate diploma in Dietetics Andrea spent her early working life as a Registered Dietitian in the NHS specialising in Paediatrics. Joining the family business, a camping and caravan park, in 1998 Andrea is now Managing Partner and has a Foundation Degree in Tourism Park Management. Her day to day roles and responsibilities include HR, finance, PR and marketing, Health & Safety and customer relations. Her varied day job means that she can appreciate the role of a Foundation Director.

Ann has been a school governor for 15 years, starting out as a parent governor at an Infant school, and currently serving at both primary and secondary level. During that time Ann has been part of governing bodies working towards an amalgamation of schools, forming a federation and converting to Multi Academy Trust status.

After graduating with a degree in History & Politics, Ann spent 15 years working as an Insurance Broker specialising in Domestic & Export Trade Credit and Political Risk cover, working with a wide variety of UK and multi national clients and Underwriters.

Currently, Ann works for a group of schools in East Devon, providing administrative support for a number of areas of collaboration, as well as assisting her husband with their kitchen design and fitting business.

Paul has been a Foundation Trustee with the ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú since its beginning in 2004. He was Vicar of Chudleigh, Chudleigh Knighton & Trusham from 1999-2020 and is now retired. He has been involved with Church Schools for nearly 40 years. Paul is the lead trustee in overseeing how the Trust's church schools develop their vision and ethos, as well as encouraging the Trust's community schools to develop their own distinctive ethos and role in the community.

Quite a long time ago, Paul gained a B.Sc (Econ) in Economics & Politics and also a MA in Theology.

Outside the world of church and schools, Paul is a keen walker, a largely armchair follower of a non-league football team and, like many clergy, has a great fascination with railways.

Carolyn has recently retired from the position of Principal Lecturer in Inclusive Education Studies and Director of the MA Education Programmes at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Previously worked on the MEd programme at the University of Plymouth. Her professional commitments involved writing, supporting and tutoring classroom management and behaviour modules on the Postgraduate Professional Development Programme for teachers/educators in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and other partnership Local Authorities and schools. This also included consultancy work such as whole school in-service, contributing to school development plans on behaviour issues and working with individual teachers. Involved in NQT training in several counties with a particular remit for behaviour management and supervision of the NQT Professional Portfolios. Carolyn also contributed to the undergraduate programme and delivered modules on classroom organisation, SEN and PSHE for the BA ITE degree course, Joint Honours and PGCE Programmes. She was regional co-ordinator for the Behaviour4Learning Initial teacher Training Professional Resource Network. Carolyn was a successful bid writer enabling the Education Faculty at UWE to facilitate SENCO training programmes and initiate a new Masters Programme: The Masters for Teaching and Learning (MTL).

Carolyn has lectured nationally on the subject of behaviour management and regularly contributed at NASEN Special Needs conferences in London and the rest of the UK. Also lectured internationally with annually visits to Denmark (Jelling Teacher Training College) and the University of Lapland to deliver lectures to the undergraduate students. Books published in the area of PSHE and the use of Circle-time in Primary Schools. Published research includes issues linked with inclusive education, the impact of ICT on teaching and learning, and target setting. Doctoral research entitled: Behaviour for Learning: An analysis of trainee teachers’ concerns.

Rachel was born, educated and trained to be a teacher in Devon and is committed to giving back to a County that has enabled her to develop and grow her career. She believes passionately that education provides choices and opportunities for our children’s futures and that we have a duty to ensure that no child gets left behind.

She has worked in Devon schools for 26 years and spent 22 of those in senior leadership positions. After leading several schools across Devon, some in very challenging circumstances, she became the CEO of South Dartmoor Academy Trust which required significant transformation in order to have a secure future. Following this work, she took up the position of CEO of Exeter Learning Academy Trust, leading a group of Primary Schools based within the city. Rachel is also an Executive member of the Devon Association of Primary Headteachers and a Trustee within Exeter Learning Academy Trust. She has been a governor, director or Trustee of a school for over 25 years.

After serving as an officer in the Royal Marines for seven years Mike joined the NHS and became a Director and then CEO of hospitals in Devon, Somerset and Oxford and then a Non-executive director in Plymouth. After the NHS he became a Senior Research Fellow at Exeter University where he focused on patient safety and lectured on leadership. Mike was ordained as a Priest in the Anglican Church in 1993 and has exercised a self-supporting ministry in the Dioceses of Exeter and Oxford. He was most recently the Canon Treasurer of Exeter Cathedral until 2021 and is currently the Vice Chair of the Exeter Diocesan Board of Finance. He holds a number of charity trustee positions and has been a school governor in Oxfordshire and in Devon.