Trustees

Kate Anscombe

Trustee

Kate Anscombe has extensive experience in the property industry having worked within facilities management since 2006.
Kate has been involved in delivering and managing FM services to the education sector and understands the breadth of challenges faced by MATs in maintaining an ageing property portfolio. Asset strategy, statutory compliance, planned and reactive maintenance, and soft fm are a few of the areas of specialism that Kate has been involved with.
Kate is currently a Director of a national grounds maintenance company and is involved with academy trusts and their procurement and statutory compliance requirements.

Matt Burton

Trustee

Matt graduated from Oxford University with a first class honours degree in Classics, before starting a career in recruitment, culminating in senior management roles within a global professional services firm. Matt established MBA in 2006 as a free-thinking technology enabled RPO business, scaling it to a multi-million pound enterprise value, which was partly acquired by the Hamilton Bradshaw private equity house in 2014 and is supported by an advisory board including that is totally focussed on innovative talent solutions.

 Matt is the co-owner, alongside the serial entrepreneur and ‘celebrity investor’ James Caan, of a broad recruitment portfolio with a £7m EBITDA and 350 recruitment specialists across 9 brands. Matt has spent the last 20 years building and running recruitment businesses and is now focussed on the delivery of a talent solutions proposition for the UK start-up and scale-up sector. He is also an investor in Capital Pilot, a disruptive ratings agency for the start-up community.

With a keen eye for commercial opportunities and a ‘whatever it takes’ mentality, Matt has a gift for building innovative and strategic solutions that drive real and profitable results. Passionately client-centric, he is the ambassador for the portfolio brand and values, and a significant thought leader. His role as chair is to drive the group growth strategy with an eye on an exit event by 2025.

Beyond recruitment, Matt is a local Cestrian, brought up in the Lache area and schooled at King’s in Chester. He has firm roots in the area, with an office on the Chester Business Park, employing 30 staff as well as being a supporter of local CSR initiatives. Recently married after a 4 week courtship, he has 3 children, aged between 5 and 12 and is fiercely passionate Liverpool fan.

• Matt has created a number of scaled businesses in a saturated market from idea origination to equity investment.

• Provided consultancy as a board advisor or mentor to a number of start-up businesses and accelerators.

• Origination of an AI app in the well-being space, directed at employees thereby enabling more insightful employer decisions.

• Bucked the trend of transactional recruitment models by applying marketing and nurturing methodologies.

• Built a number of innovative commercial and pricing models, thereby incentivising partners and delivering a balanced risk/reward scorecard.

• Supported 50 founders through a boost fund initiative

• Delivered a global retention strategy for a multi £bn financial services business, struggling with attrition.

Geoff Caton

Trustee

Geoff has worked in the education sector for over 40 years in a variety of roles, initially as a teacher of economics at Ruffwood School, Kirkby before progressing through the profession to become headteacher of two 11-18 comprehensive schools in the northwest – Sutton High School, St Helens and then Culcheth High School, Warrington.

In 2002 he moved to Manchester University to work at the Centre for Educational Leadership where he led the delivery of national training programmes across the northwest. Geoff then moved to Manchester Metropolitan University (2006) to lead the design, development and delivery of national programmes for school business managers, in conjunction with the National College for School Leadership (NCSL).

Since 2010 he has worked as an education consultant, primarily on the design and development of training programmes for school leaders. He has supported the following organisations:

• NCSL – Design of National Professional Qualifications for school leaders (NPQs)

• DfE     - Design of governor training materials to support their SFVS responsibilities.

• British Council – Design of resource management training programme.

• Best Practice Network (BPN) – Design and delivery of NPQ programmes, including development of assessment processes.

When not involved in education Geoff is a keen cyclist, often found in the Welsh hills, and a staunch Liverpool fan.

Simon Grove

Trustee

Simon has worked in banking for over 33 years which included branch manager for the last 15 years which span across multiple branches. He was previously a governor and chair of governors for over nine years at Childer Thornton (within the Concordia MAT) in Ellesmere Port.

Financial Experience

• Retired Bank Manager having worked for 37 years in both Personal and Business Banking.

• Supporting Personal customers with their financial needs and business with lending options and alternative ways of doing their banking to support their business. 

• Managed people in HR and line management responsibilities to improve the business and individual performance including KPI’s.

• Been involved as Governor and Chair of local school (now part of the MAT) for 10 years before becoming Trustee of Concordia in 2016.

Paul Jenkins

Trustee

Paul Jenkins has been involved in education for 36 years. Seventeen years as a headteacher and five years in educational advisory work. He has undertaken a variety of roles including working with schools on a daily basis supporting the senior management team and, at times, taking over schools to develop action plans and work with HMI to bring about positive changes. He provided financial training for headteachers and governors as the financial representative for Cheshire Local Authority.

Since retiring he has been Chairman of Neston Cricket Club and their Development Group. He has been involved in applying for grants, working with a number of sporting agencies, including the local government and developing business plans.  He has been integral in procuring a two story extension, resulting in an increase in income streams and bringing sustainability to the club.

Paul was also Chair of Governors at Wolverham Primary and Town Lane Infants Schools. 

Financial experience

• A member of Cheshire County Council Finance committee for primary school funding

• Provided consultancy advice as an Independent Consultant for SFVS (Schools Financial Value Statement)

• Supported 24 schools across Cheshire County Council that had been identified as requiring external financial management support with budget setting, financial management and staffing reviews

• Provided advice and guidance to 12 local governing bodies (Cheshire County Council) to provide training and advice to ensure they were carrying out their statutory financial duties, including pay reviews for Headteachers

• Delivered financial training events to governors within Wirral Local Authority

• Provided financial management support to 5 schools within Wirral Local Authority

David Keith

Chair of Trustees

David has over 31 years’ experience in the highly-regulated UK nuclear industry successfully delivering multi-million-pound projects. With a strong background in Assurance, he brings a constructive challenge to the Trustee Board. David has developed governance arrangements for several nuclear new build companies and will bring this knowledge to the Trust. David also has experience in the preparation of company and investment Business Plans and management of budgets.

Although not originally from the area, he has lived on the Wirral for 30 years after attending the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and gaining a PhD in Atmospheric Physics.  David’s two children attended Childer Thornton School from 1997 and he was a Governor there in the late 1990’s.

Financial Experience

• Accountable for multi-million project budgets (up to £80M)

• Owner/Director of own consultancy business, responsible for filing annual accounts (P&L and Balance Sheets) and VAT returns from 2010 to 2022.

• Institute of Directors, Chartered Director training resulting in Certificate in Company Direction (2007) and Diploma (Distinction) in Company Direction (2008)

Julie Murphy

Trustee

Julie Murphy is a retired headteacher of a highly regarded, successful infant school. She worked across two Local Authorities and within the new Concordia Multi-Academy Trust. Julie served as Chair for Wirral's Primary Headteachers Consultation Group and represented Primary Headteachers on an Improvement Board. She gained wider school improvement experience working  for a Locality Board and previously served within Cheshire's Early Years Quality Assurance Team. As a senior leader in two 'Outstanding' schools, Julie has a proven track record for ensuring quality learning experiences and excellent outcomes for pupils. 

Dave Teggin

Member and Trustee

Dave was born in Kirkdale, Liverpool, grew up in Eastham, Wirral, attended Heygarth Rd. Primary and Wirral Grammar Schools. He continued his education at the University of Wales - Swansea after spending a year as a volunteer in Ethiopia. He gained a 1st in Geology at Swansea 1972 and a PhD in Geology & Geochemistry at Manchester University (whilst working as a tutor for the Open University). For the next two years he continued working in the academic world as a Research Fellow in the Dept of Geodesy and Geophysics at Cambridge University and a further eight years as Senior Lecturer / Professor at the Instituto de Geoquimica, Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas.

In 1985 Dave was head hunted by Schlumberger (SLB), the premier global oilfield service company and he and his family spent the next 24 years living / working in various assignments in South America, US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. During this time, financed by SLB, he gained a Diploma of Reservoir Management from Imperial College / Delft University / French Institute of Petroleum. He spend an extended assignment in Moscow and Siberia before retiring as VP Engineering & Manufacturing, Russia, in 2009.

Dave speaks good Spanish (Venezuelan) and has a working knowledge of Russian. Throughout his academic career and his 25 years in the corporate world Dave has developed considerable experience in managing people and finance.

Throughout his studies and subsequent career Dave has had considerable experience in managing the finances and personnel of projects ranging from small technical project teams to multiple construction projects involving large work forces.

Financial experience

• Directing small teams of university staff / students on research projects (<$1m in UK and Venezuela)

• Running a dispersed network of laboratories throughout South America ($1-3m; 30 employees)

• Managing the financing, personnel transfer and physical re-building of a Product Development Centre (Tulsa to Houston; 40+ employees; annual budget $20m+) with minimal interruption of ongoing projects.

• The building and running of manufacturing facilities and an engineering centre in Siberia from the ground up; including land acquisition, construction work, recruiting/training all levels of staff, development of supply chains etc..($35m+; 1000+ employees)

Tracy Webb

CEO and Trustee

Tracy Webb is an experienced Headteacher and throughout her career has secured three outstanding Ofsted inspections whilst being Headteacher.  Tracy is an Associate School Improvement Adviser for a Local Authority and has also previously been an Ofsted Inspector and a National Leader of Education. Tracy has undertaken a number of secondments to support schools and has extensive experience of improving outcomes for pupils. Tracy became the CEO for Concordia Multi Academy Trust in September 2018.

Julie Wootton

Vice Chair of Trustee

Julie is Head of Human Resources - Northern Europe within primarily an Explosives and Blasting company working across multi-site locations both nationally and internationally and ensuring that all company strategies, policies, and procedures are being implemented correctly and effectively.

With a career spanning 25 years in the dynamic field of Human Resources Julie has established herself as a leading expert in HR world, with expertise in talent development, reward management, learning and development, health, and wellbeing.

Julie’s journey in the industry has been marked by a deep commitment to fostering growth, both in individual’s and organisations.

Born and raised in the Cheshire area, her roots have always anchored her to a strong sense of community and shared responsibility.  This upbringing instilled in her the values of integrity, perseverance, and the importance of giving back.  These principles have guided her throughout her professional journey.

Julie’s expertise lies in shaping and executing comprehensive talent development strategies that empower individuals to reach their full potential.  She has a proven track record in implementing innovative reward management programs, ensuring that employees are recognised and valued for their contributions, additionally her passion for training and development has allowed her to create impactful learning experiences that align with organisational objectives.

One of Julie’s core beliefs is that employee wellbeing is the cornerstone of a thriving workplace.  She has dedicated a significant part of her career to promoting wellbeing initiatives that prioritise both physical and mental health of employees.  By fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, she has contributed to creating workplaces where individuals flourish not just professionally, but personally as well.

Looking forward to the future, Julie is excited about the prospect of helping shape education for the next generation.  She firmly believes that investing in education is an investment in our collective future.  Her goal is to leverage her extensive experience in Human Resources to influence educational policies and practices positively.  By bridging the gap between industry needs and educational curricula, she aspires to prepare the next generation for the challenges and opportunities of evolving professional landscape.  She is currently an integral part of the development group for the National Apprenticeship Trailblazer Standards within the Mineral Extractives industry.

Through her work, she aims to create workplaces and educational systems where individuals thrive, organisations excel, and communities prosper.

Julie has previous experience as a Vice Chair of Trustees / Trustee within a MAT in Cheshire and West Midlands. Julie Wootton joined our Trustees from Star Academy Trust following the joining of Highfields Academy in 2022.