Peter Francis is Group Executive Director (Operations) at Fusion21 and is responsible for all procurement and financial operational functions within the business. He is an experienced executive director skilled in financial management, contract and commercial management, business planning, procurement, supply chain management and contract negotiation, in addition to having a wealth of experience in social value and community regeneration.

An FCIPS chartered procurement professional with an MSc in Strategic Procurement Management, Peter also holds several non-executive director positions.

Gaynor was previously an Assistant Headteacher in a secondary school, and a university lecturer. She now works to support mathematics system leaders, especially within Maths Hubs, and works with national and regional partners to mobilise mathematics leadership for the benefit of the whole system. Her national view of education and her understanding of wider educational agenda’s will be particularly useful to the Trust Board.

Melissa is an associate assistant principal and SENDco at a high school. She is a former Headteacher of an outstanding primary school and has many years of experience in senior leadership in primary schools and is well-informed about the educational landscape and the increasing challenges that the post-pandemic world is bringing to education and learning in the primary and early years sector of education. 

After many years in school leadership including positions as Headteacher, Deputy Head, Assistant Head and Head of History, Phil is now a leader for education companies based in Manchester and London. He speaks widely to education, public sector and corporate audiences working with teams to create impactful plans that realise ambitious priorities. He is the author of The First 100 Days with Micky Mellon. As a Headteacher, he began his career in education by teaching history and has spent the last three years meeting with Premier League managers, business leaders and education leaders to create a blueprint that offers the best chance of successful leadership, especially in those first 100 days! He has worked across schools in the North of England and Saudi Arabia.

Lyndsey Lewis serves as the Headteacher of a local outstanding Primary School and has done for over eight years. She is passionate about curriculum design and ensuring that every child receives a high-quality education tailored to their needs. She has led her school to remarkable success, with progress measures last year ranking in the top 5% nationwide. She has a fervent belief in eradicating educational disadvantage so that all children have equality of opportunity. Lyndsey is currently undertaking her National Professional Qualification in Executive Leadership. 

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Michelle is a qualified accountant, having qualified with Grant Thornton, Chartered Accountants.

In her time at Grant Thornton, Michelle had a broad range of clients including PLCs, a variety of medium-sized owner-managed businesses, motor retailers, charitable organisations and pension schemes.

Michelle entered the education sector in 2005 and now holds the post of Deputy Principal at Warrington & Vale Royal College.

Michelle’s role includes strategic responsibility for finance, facilities and operations, health & safety, information technology, projects and human resources and manages the £22m+ budget successfully for the organisation despite funding restraints.

Key achievements include successfully steering the college through a £27m new build timely and within budget, together with other smaller estates projects to the value of £16m and also leading the college through a two-college merger.

Michelle served previously as Trustee and Chair of Finance at Rainford Academy Trust from 2017 to 2021.

Rupert is qualified as a solicitor, chartered secretary and notary public. He has a wealth of commercial experience in a range of organisations, including global service companies, private entrepreneurial businesses, professional practices and the public and third sectors, specifically in corporate affairs, M&A, property portfolio management, governance and compliance and commercial contracts. He has held a number of senior executive and non-executive board positions in the legal, accountancy, logistics, healthcare, manufacturing and services sectors. Rupert is an Honorary Fellow and former trustee of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport.

From 2012-2018 he was vice-chairman of the Governors of Rainford High School and following its conversion to a multi-academy trust became chairman of the board of trustees retiring in 2021. He is currently chair of trustees of Aldridge Education, a multi-academy trust comprising eight schools (one primary, six secondary schools, a UTC and an adult learning provision located in Brighton, Salford Media City, Darwen with Blackburn and Tottenham (central London).

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