I have been the Chief Operating Officer for the St John Bosco Catholic Academy from when it was formed in September 2013.  Since November 2022 I have had the privilege of being the Accounting Officer working strategically across all eight schools to secure outcomes for all of the children in our care.

I started my time as a Finance Officer at Dudley Council supporting schools and wider educational budgets and took the step in my early twenties to move into what was the brand new School Business Manager role at Bishop Milner Catholic College, a role I enjoyed immensely. When I joined, the school was a building site and I took great pride in preparing the school to welcome its students when the doors reopened.  Since starting at the school in 2003 I have achieved many great things including the development of the sports hall and the all-weather surface enjoyed by so many students and members of our community.

I have always been a lifelong learner, education is incredibly important and the opportunities it affords are great.  I myself have continued to develop and grow through study whilst working and my most recent achievement was completing a degree at 40 in School Business Leadership.  I am driven by my passion for Catholic education and developing the children in our cares God-given talents. Having the opportunity to strategically lead the St John Bosco Catholic Academy is something I am incredibly proud of, made easier by working with such a talented team, school leaders, pupils, students and staff.

We are called to serve and I see this as what I have been called to do. Faith driven leadership is an integral part of what we aim to achieve, caring for our community and developing the whole child.

Rachel is a mom of 2 and actively enjoys spending her weekend at a caravan or in the woods with her kids. As Chair of her daughter’s school’s PTA in another local MAC, Rachel felt her experience and desire to influence the education section would make for a big challenge but also wonderful opportunity.

Rachel is also a Trustee of the Veolia Environmental Trust and is passionate about making changes to our local communities and environment

Paul, is a retired Senior Local Government Manager. Having worked in a variety of Local Government settings: Leisure, Education, Transformation and Strategic Assets, skilled in Partnerships, Sustainability, Procurement, Asset Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Capital Projects; including 5 Primary PFI Schools and was Programme Director for Sandwell Building Schools for the Future project including a PFI school. A Post Graduate Diploma focused in Management Studies. With over almost 25 years’ experience in school governance within both Primary and Secondary settings serving boards as Chair or Vice Chair. He is a Trustee of Sandwell Leisure Trust and was appointed Director of St John Bosco Multi Academy Company in September 2019.

I am a retired Finance Controller having worked for a multi-national steel company for over 35 years. As a senior manager I have a wealth of experience across all aspects of financial and general management with particular focus upon corporate governance, risk management, strategic planning, cash and budgetary control. I am  CIMA qualified and was a director of a number of overseas entities providing the opportunity to experience and appreciate a variety of different cultures.

I have over 25 years experience within school governance having previously served as Chair of St Mary’s Brierly Hill and as a governor of Bishop Milner Catholic Collage. I attended two of the schools within the MAC; St Josephs Catholic Primary School and Bishop Milner. I now have grandchildren that attend St Chads Catholic Primary School.

James is a Chartered Engineer and Director of a local Building Services Engineering consultancy firm. He has experience in management and organisation of a team of staff. His work involves design and project management through engineering and construction projects throughout the UK.

James is a practising Catholic and attended two of the School’s in the MAC; St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and Bishop Milner Catholic College. Following on from Bishop Milner Sixth Form he went to Birmingham University, where he graduated with a Bachelors in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

His wife attended St Chads Catholic Primary School and Bishop Milner Catholic College and is now a teacher in a Catholic School in Walsall, as well as their RE coordinator. His daughter now also attends St Chads Catholic Primary School, so he has a good knowledge and experience on these school’s in particular.

Ian is a career Civil Servant and is currently Head of Transformation Communications for a Government department.

A Government Communications specialist he has been responsible for promoting and defending the reputation of several public bodies covering utility regulation, business and industry, estate management, transport, defence, social justice and welfare, and forensic science. Ian has worked on a number of senior leadership teams and in 2017 helped set up the office of the Small Business Commissioner.

His experience spans brand, reputation, and change management, business administration, finance, project and operational delivery.

A practising Catholic Ian nears 20 years’ experience in school governance within both Primary and Secondary settings serving boards as Vice Chair, and former Foundation Director of a Sandwell-based Multi-Academy Company.

Ian’s wife is an Executive Head Teacher, school improvement consultant and Section 48 Examiner in Catholic Schools. His children are both Catholic-educated attending schools in Sandwell and Worcestershire.

He has a Masters Degree in Visual Communications, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Graphic Design, and an Honours degree in Design and Audio-Visual communication. He is a certified Master Practitioner in Neurolinguistic Programming, a certified workplace coach, and Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

I was appointed Principal of St Peter’s Collegiate Academy, Wolverhampton, in January 2023, after serving as acting Principal for four months and successfully leading St Peter’s through their most recent Ofsted inspection. With fifteen years of teaching experience in Telford, Cannock, Sandwell, and Wolverhampton, I bring a wealth of expertise as an experienced school leader. I anticipate my experiences and educational focus will add value to the board of directors.

Education is my passion, and I am deeply committed to finding ways to overcome the challenges faced by our students across all of our academies. As a devoted student of leadership, I immerse myself in extensive reading to discover effective systems and practices that can enhance the educational journey of our pupils. In my career, I had the opportunity to complete my NPQH at Cardinal Griffin Catholic College, where I served as an assistant headteacher for six years as part of the senior leadership team. Working within a secondary Catholic school allowed me to uphold the tenets of Catholic education’s religious ethos. I am committed to Catholic education in the Diocese of Birmingham, a key motivator to join and work with the board. I am on the verge of submitting my EdD at the University of Cambridge, which has instilled in me the importance of being research-led and informed by evidence.

Looking ahead, I am filled with excitement for the future. To serve the communities our academies serve.

Susan first trained in inner city Bradford, before working in Herefordshire and then Sandwell. Ensuring the best outcomes for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities has been a passion throughout her career. As a church school headteacher, she led her school to an outstanding Ofsted judgement and is proud of the curriculum and experiences that the school offered. Susan recently completed a Masters at the University of Birmingham with a focus on ethical leadership and effective governance.

With over 40 years Management and Human Resource experience, I am a people professional who works operationally while thinking strategically. I work full time for a Local Authority, managing a team in the field of Education. I deliver people solutions that drive change within organisations. I use in-depth knowledge of my organisation to inform the people strategy, polices and procedures.

It is important to aware of the wider impact of my work on other people in the public sector and educational organisation, and its impact on business practices and goals.
My role includes influencing and collaborating with a wide range of people including immediate colleagues, Unions, the Department for Education, the Local Authorities Designated Safeguarding Officer, to name a few.

I evaluate, question and assess information from a range of sources to make evidence-based judgements and decisions.
In my spare time, I support local charities such as  Welovecarers (dedicated to supporting those for support others), am a Primary School Governor and a Governing Council Member for a private college, all based within the Dudley Borough.