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Senior Leadership
KATY QUINN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Katy is the Chief Executive Officer of Ivy Education Trust and has worked at Trust level for over six years. She has also been Principal of Teignmouth Primary and, prior to that, Assistant Principal of Teignmouth Community School and Company Secretary, putting her in the unique position of having both primary and secondary leadership experience. Before moving into Education, Katy previously worked for a number of local authorities, national children’s charities and community development trusts, supporting vulnerable children and their families in Devon, as well as running her own business.
Contact email address:
jennifer.sweet@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk
PAUL CORNISH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Paul is the Executive Director of Education of Ivy Education Trust and has been in education for 24 years and worked in seven different secondary schools before becoming the CEO of Estuaries MAT. Paul has a proven track record of school improvement as senior leader, Headteacher, Executive Headteacher and CEO of Estuaries Multi Academy Trust until June 2022.
Contact email address:
paul.cornish@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk
JON NEWMAN, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Jon is the Director of Finance for Ivy Education Trust and has been an integral part of the MAT finance management for a number of years. Jon has also held senior leadership positions in secondary schools. He also holds the Level 7 Diploma in School Financial and Operational Leadership with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
Contact email address:
jon.newman@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk
JON LASKER, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Jon is the Director of Operations at Ivy Education Trust. Following a 10-year career in the Royal Marines, Jon studied for an MBA before joining the Defence and Security practice of PA Consulting working on the delivery of complex Defence procurement programmes. He then joined Amazon UK and was responsible for the launch of the first purpose-built Delivery Station in the UK and overseeing last mile delivery operations across the South West of the UK. Prior to joining the Trust, Jon was the General Manager at HDC Ltd, a group of children’s day nurseries across South West Devon, and supported them through a successful acquisition and integration programme.
Contact email address:
jonathan.lasker@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk
EMMA WOOD, DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE
Emma is our Director of People at Ivy Education Trust. Emma has worked in HR in the South West for over 20 years.
During this time she has worked in the public sector for an Economic Development Agency, a Navigation business and for nine years in Further Education.
Contact email address:
emma.wood@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk
WAYNE WESTACOTT, TRUST ATTENDANCE AND ENGAGEMENT LEAD
Wayne is the Trust Attendance and Engagement Lead. Wayne has accumulated over 20 years of experience within the Education Sector. With five of those years spent teaching in Prisons and Secondary Schools before moving across to the Local Authority in 2008. Wayne has spent the past 15 years focused on improving Pupil Attendance. Wayne has a Master’s in Education (M.Ed) specialising in understanding School Avoidance.
Contact email address:
wayne.westacott@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk
School Based Central Team
ANNABELLE THOMAS, SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT LEAD (PRIMARY)
Annabelle is the school improvement lead for the primary schools across the Trust.
Annabelle has just started a dual role and is currently also Executive Headteacher at Teignmouth Primary School, where she has been part of the leadership team for 12 years. She has recently led the school through a successful Ofsted inspection. Annabelle has completed her NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship) and has been in education for 18 years in many different leadership roles. Annabelle has a passion for Teaching and Learning and supporting both staff and pupils to grow to be the best that they can be to reach their full potential.
Contact email address:
annabelle.thomas@teignmouthschool.co.uk
CLAIRE FLEMING, TRUST DSL
Claire is the Trust Designated Safeguarding Lead for the primary schools within the Trust. Claire is also an Assistant Headteacher and the DSL at Teignmouth Primary School. She has been part of the safeguarding team for nearly five years now and originally joined Teignmouth Primary School eleven years ago as an Early Years Teacher.
Contact email address:
claire.fleming@teignmouthschool.co.uk
Central Trust Team
JENNIFER SWEET, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Jennifer is Executive Assistant to the Trust’s Chief Executive Officer. Following a 20-year career in Advertising, PR, Marketing and Publishing in London, she took a career break to raise her family, and moved to the South West. Since returning to work, she has held positions in both state and independent schools in Wiltshire, Dorset and Devon, most recently as Personal Assistant to a Head of School.
Contact email address:
jennifer.sweet@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk
GEORGINA HODKINSON, TRUST HR MANAGER
Contact email address:
georgina.hodkinson@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk
WAYNE CURTIS, TRUST PEOPLE OFFICER
Wayne is the People Officer of Ivy Education Trust. Following a 25-year career in the British Army leading various HR and Finance Teams, he obtained his CMI Level 6 Diploma in Management and Leadership. These numerous transferable skills are utilised in his role within the Trust.
Contact email address:
GABY WILLIS, TRUST GOVERNANCE OFFICER AND COMPANY SECRETARY
Gaby is the Trust Governance Officer and Company Secretary of Ivy Education Trust and Governance Professional to the Trust Board. She has many years’ experience at both Board and LGB level and was also part of the admin team at Teignmouth Community School, Exeter Road for nine years.
Contact email address:
gaby.willis@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk
SAMANTHA McNAMEE, SENIOR FINANCE MANAGER
Samantha is the Senior Finance Manager of Ivy Education Trust and has more than 12 years’ experience in not for profit, and Public Sector Finance. She has previously held senior finance positions and has been AAT Level 4 qualified for 15 years. Samantha is currently nearing completion of the Diploma level of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Level 7 qualification.
Contact email address:
finance@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk
HELEN MILLWARD, TRUST FINANCE MANAGER
Helen is the Finance Manager of Ivy Education Trust and has been part of the finance team since 2004 working at Teignmouth Community School. Helen has worked within educational finance for over 30 years and has been AAT Level 4 qualified since 1994. Helen completed her studies for CSBM and DSBM whilst working at Teignmouth, Exeter Road.
Contact email address:
finance@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk
CLAIRE POVEY, TRUST FINANCE OFFICER
Claire is the Finance Office and Lettings Officer of Ivy Education Trust and has more than 20 years’ experience in accounts in the commercial sector. She has AAT Level 2 qualification and a payroll diploma from South Africa. Claire has been with the Trust since April 2022.
Contact email address:
ROSS GILBERT, TRUST CATERING MANAGER
Ross has been a chef for many years, working in pubs, hotels and restaurants between Plymouth and Exeter. Ross has previously been head chef at Woodbury Park Golf Club and Hotel, Buckerell Lodge Hotel, The Mill on the Exe and the Old Firehouse to name a few.
Despite loving the job and the buzz of a busy service, Ross moved from the busy restaurant scene to a care home in Newton Abbot. After the pandemic, Ross decided he wanted to be more available for his family and applied for the role of Trust Catering Manager.