Governance Team
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Gillian Hughes+
Gillian has over 30 years’ experience in mainstream secondary schools in various leadership roles. As Deputy Head, she currently leads on SEND, inclusion and wellbeing at a local high school. Gillian is also chair of the North Kirklees Behaviour and Attendance Collaborative. Gillian has a great deal of experience around safeguarding and SEMH needs and has a particular interest in issues around attachment and Adverse Childhood Experiences. She has had a long connection with Ethos Academy Trust and knows the difference the organisation makes to the lives of our most vulnerable young people. As a school leader, Gillian is aware of the challenges faced by education currently and has experience of curriculum, HR and wider educational issues.
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Dr Rajeev Gupta+
Dr Rajeev Gupta has been a Consultant in the NHS for almost 20 years and was Assistant Professor in Regional Institute of Maternal and Child health for 5 years prior to that. Although he is a pediatrician, his experience is far more as a leader, author, researcher, professional executive and corporate coach. He has done a Triple Accredited MBA and is executive member of the Council of the Open University Business School. He is Chairman of the Central Specialist Advisory Committee of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health for General Pediatrics and Vice Chairman of the CESR for the Royal College. He has been Chair of the Regional Council of BMA Yorkshire for 5 years and Chair of the Regional Consultant Committee for 4 years. His main area of interest in clinical science is pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition and he has chaired the national education committee of British Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition for 3 years and has been a council member for the society.
Dr Gupta has organised many conferences including virtual Public Engagement and Educational seminars on Mental Health, the Impact of Covid-19, and the Holistic Management of Obesity (which gained over 10,000 viewers).
He is passionate about equality and has been working tirelessly over the past 25 years on various agendas including ethnic equality, gender equality and equality for those who are mentally or emotionally damaged. He does free coaching of women who have been physically or sexually harassed, helping many women to stand up, build self-esteem and start up business. He is Chair of the BME Network at Barnsley Hospital where he works currently, and is also involved in national and international BME Networks.
Dr Gupta is a qualified Yoga Teacher and has run yoga classes for doctors and their families to provide a holistic perspective of natural health. He has been a key person for the iPeer Support programme to support doctors, nurses and other professionals experiencing stress during the Pandemic.
Dr Gupta enjoys being creative: he writes poems and also has entrepreneur skills. One of his creations is a digital product Humanoid Digital Sales Assistant which won the International Hermes Creative Platinum Award in May 2021.
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Katie Stevens+
Katie is a chartered accountant with over 25 years of financial and audit experience, working in both the public and private sector. Since qualifying Katie has worked for multi-national corporations in the construction industry, consumer goods and professional services, working in over 100 countries. Such roles provided broad experience of transformation and project management, mergers and acquisitions, finance and risk management, strategic management, governance, and internal and external audit.
Being diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 23, Katie recognised the concerns disabled persons (and their families) face. As a result, Katie has a stubborn passion for diversity and inclusion, a desire to raise awareness and to drive inner confidence. This has included being Chair of the Disability Employee Support Network for the UK rail industry.
Katie decided to retire early to pursue her desire to support the most vulnerable in our communities. Katie is currently a Trustee for two Multi Academy Trusts in the North East – including Chair of the Finance, Audit, Risk and Resources Committee for Ascent Academies’ Trust; Finance Director for a Community Benefit Society and a Trustee for the UK charity, Young Epilepsy.
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Graham Dewhirst, Board Chair+
Graham enjoyed a long career as a partner in a private equity company having originally qualified as a chartered accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has served on a large number of boards including a number of not for profit organisations.
In 2015, with his family, he helped to create a charity focussed on helping young people in North Kirklees. The charity, Let June Make A Difference, is named after his late wife who died in April 2014.
Graham enjoys music and watching sport from the comfort of an armchair.
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Lloyd Nolan, Board Vice Chair+
Lloyd has dedicated over 11 years to the field of education, working as a Technology Teacher, specializing in behaviour support and Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. For the past eight years, he has also contributed as a foundation member on a Local Governing Board. Lloyd is committed to offering strategic challenges to leadership, ensuring adherence to the trust’s vision and values, and putting students at the heart of everything they do. He is enthusiastic about supporting students through their growth and is determined to help our trust strive to be the best we can be.
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Sally Bridges-Wickham+
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Sarah Corbridge+
An innovative and experienced digital leader with demonstrable success in directing large organisations within the public sector at local and national levels. A strong track record focused on delivery and engagement with experience in all areas of the digital agenda and how these make an impact across diverse elements of delivery. A dynamic individual with proven capability in getting the best from any team regardless of distribution, build, and location. An award-winning change agent with diverse expertise and a legacy of delivering high-impact projects and producing outstanding business results.
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Tracey Greenough+
Tracey joined Endeavour Learning Trust in January 2024 as the Deputy Chief Executive. Tracey began her work in education as a Teacher of Science gradually taking on more leadership responsibility over time. She has been a Subject Leader, an Assistant Headteacher for Teaching and Learning and a Vice Principal for the Quality of Education.Tracey became a Headteacher in 2014 and was responsible for leading the school until she became the Northwest Regional Director for Education in a Secondary Trust and then became the Deputy Chief Executive Officer in the same Trust with responsibility for whole Trust school improvement in 2022. Tracey has also worked within a Local Authority as an Education Consultant, and she is a practicing Ofsted Inspector.Tracey believes that every person is unique and of great value. She believes in equality of opportunity, fairness and authenticity. She is a huge advocate for a child-centred approach and believes that all young people and staff have qualities, skills and talents that need to be nurtured and developed so that they can be the very best version of themselves.Tracey believes in fostering the spirit of togetherness and wants to ensure that all colleagues and young people have the opportunity to be their true authentic selves.
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Sally Henshall+
In 2006 Sally was appointed as Deputy Head Teacher at Grove Lea Primary School and taught across both Key Stage One and Two. Her role at the time was to lead in developing the ‘Arts’, and leading Maths. She was also responsible as lead mentor for Newly Qualified Teachers and students.
In 2013, Sally was appointed as the Head Teacher of Grove Lea Primary School. The school achieved an ‘Outstanding’ grading in 2017, and Sally was successfully appointed as a Local Leader of Education for Aspire. More recently, she has completed a Masters in Research project in promoting and embedding mental health. This is one of Sally’s greatest passions and she enjoys working with other schools in promoting this.
In 2021, Sally was successfully appointed as Executive Head Teacher at South Hiendley. The school had been previously graded as Requires Improvement. In October 2022 the school was graded Good. In February 2024 Sally was also appointed as Executive Head Teacher at Girnhill Infants.
Sally’s personal interests include walking her Border Collie, Basil and she has also completed two marathons. On a Saturday morning Sally volunteers with Wakefield Music Centre where she enjoys playing her flute and saxophone.
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Philip Mellor+
Philip is a dedicated and experienced chartered accountant with over five years of experience of auditing a variety of academies and charities along with corporates in several different sectors. Philip has developed a keen understanding of the financial intricacies and regulatory requirements unique to the academies sector.Currently, he brings his extensive knowledge and skills to a London-listed multinational company, where he oversees financial reporting and internal controls across their UK, Europe, Africa and Asia group entities. As a trustee of Ethos Academy Trust, he is committed to ensuring financial transparency and integrity, leveraging their professional background to support the charity’s mission and goals.In his role as a trustee, Philip is passionate about making a positive impact and contributing to the community. His expertise in audit and finance is invaluable in guiding the charity towards sustainable growth and success.Outside of his professional role, Philip is a keen football fan and a season ticket holder at Huddersfield Town. In addition to his love for the beautiful game, he enjoys spending time outdoors, particularly walking in the countryside accompanied by his black Labrador, Dudley, who is always eager for an adventure.
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Sally Peedle+
Since 2012, I have dedicated my career to teaching within specialist provisions, working extensively with students with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities, Autism, and Social, Emotional, and Mental Health needs. My teaching journey has been rooted in a deep commitment to inclusive education, where I’ve successfully delivered a broad curriculum tailored to meet diverse and complex needs. I take pride in having supported disengaged and disaffected learners to not only re-engage with education but also achieve top grades in their GCSEs, often surpassing expectations.Early in my teaching career, I was appointed SENCO, a role I embraced wholeheartedly. Later that same year, I became the Designated Teacher for Looked After Children, which further deepened my understanding of the connection between education and care. This experience laid the foundation for my personal journey as a foster carer, a role I’ve held for the past ten years. It has been a life-changing experience, expanding my family and bringing immense joy—not only as a mother to my two , but also through fostering another child who has been with me for nearly eight years, and more recently welcoming my first grandchild.Professionally, I have spent the last 12 years working in an SEMH alternative provision, where I lead on SEND and the Quality of Education. I am a trauma-informed practitioner, a Level 7 qualified assessor, and currently undertaking the National Professional Qualification for Headship. My aspiration is to become a headteacher within an SEMH setting, where I can bring together my extensive experience, compassionate leadership, and strategic vision to create a nurturing and high-achieving environment for both students and staff.I believe my unique blend of educational expertise, leadership experience, and personal commitment to vulnerable young people will make me a valued member of Ethos Acdemy Trust. I am passionate about driving meaningful change, fostering resilience, and ensuring every child regardless of their background has the opportunity to thrive.
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Rebecca Richards+
