The Board of Trustees is strategic in function, providing overall leadership for the Trust and therefore for the schools without being involved in or responsible for the day-to-day management. As set out in the Academy Trust Handbook, the purpose of the Trust Board is to provide:
- Strategic leadership of the Academy Trust: the Board defines the Trust vision for high quality and inclusive education in line with its charitable objects. It establishes and fosters the Trust’s culture and sets and champions the Trust strategy including determining which governance functions are delegated to the local tier.
- Accountability and assurance: the Board has robust effective oversight of the operations and performance of the Academy Trust, including the provision of education, pupil welfare, overseeing and ensuring appropriate use of funding and effective financial performance and keeping their estate safe and well maintained.
- Engagement: the Board has strategic oversight of relationships with stakeholders. The Board involves parents, schools and communities so that decision-making is supported by meaningful engagement.
The Board is supported by three sub-committees in addition to the Local Academy Councils: Education, Audit, Risk & Finance and HR & Pay.
As a Multi Academy Trust, the Board is responsible for all Academies in the Trust. We exercise this responsibility by delegating functions to the Local Academy Councils, Executive Team and Headteachers through the Scheme of Delegation.
Board of Directors
Catherine Canty LLB (Hons) – Chair
Kate is currently the Clerk to the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands which involves working with the business and voluntary sectors across the region, participating in civic activities, acting as liaison with the armed forces and supporting Royal visits to the County.
A qualified solicitor with over 20 years in commercial property law, subsequently becoming a business and property consultant, Kate has a strong background in constitutional law and governance.
Kate has had various voluntary positions in the employment and skills sector in Birmingham and is currently a director of Millennium Point which promotes education in the field of innovation and technology.
Mark Morgan MA (Cantab) MRICS- Vice Chair
Mark is a Chartered Surveyor with forty years’ experience in the UK and mainland European property industry as both an advisor and principal.
As a board member and senior executive, Mark has been heavily involved in formulating the strategic direction of organisations at both corporate and asset level, implementing business plans, setting key performance indicators, risk control and management as well as managing the process of delivery.
Mark believes strongly in the values and aspirations of the Trust and welcomes the opportunity to assist in delivering its vision.
Paul Roberts BA PGCE M Ed
Paul has extensive experience in education, having worked for many years as both a teacher and headteacher in special schools. He has also contributed to school improvement and served for eight years as a member of the Interim Executive Board (IEB) and Chair of the Local Academy Council (LAC) at Hallmoor School. In 2022, Paul became a Trustee of Forward Education and in 2024, he was appointed Interim Chair of the LAC at The Bridge School.
Paul Joesbury
Paul is an experienced Commercial & Finance Director who has worked in the industry for 30 years. Paul has been a Director of an Education Trust since 2020, and is passionate about providing school children with the skills required in a modern world. Paul is currently the Chair of the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee.
Everton Burke OBE DL FCFE
Everton has worked in the FE sector for some 40 years, undertaking a variety of roles. He began as an apprentice chef, then lecturer, middle manager, senior leader and governor of a general further education college.
He has worked at national level advising the Department for Education (DfE) in matters of hospitality and catering qualifications. He has also worked internationally through a European Union (EU) funded project with partners from 5 countries.
Everton set up and ran a successful language school in partnership with a local education authority. He is an education consultant and mentors middle and senior leadership staff in the FE sector in colleges, private training providers and local authorities.
Paul McManus BA (Hons)
Paul has spent over three decades working within the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, developing his expertise in leading and coaching teams, strategic planning, marketing, and business management. Paul comes from a family deeply involved in education, instilling in him the importance of providing every child with the best possible opportunities to reach their true potential. With a passion for supporting educational causes, Paul is keen to leverage his skills and experience to support Forward Education Trust in achieving its goals. Using his professional expertise, Paul aims to make a meaningful contribution to the trust, helping to shape a brighter future for students, staff and communities alike.
Alison Levey BA (Hons), MA, MBA.
Alison has spent many years as a senior manager in Midlands universities and is now a consultant working freelance with universities on transformation projects around improving student experience. Alison wanted to become a Trustee because she cares deeply about access to education for all and ensuring everyone has a chance to fulfil their own potential. Alison is a governor at a mainstream school local to where she lives and is looking forward to understanding more about the Trust and the schools within it.
Gail Peyton
Gail Peyton has extensive experience in education, has been a Headteacher and currently works as a Regional Director for a large MAT, managing primaries, secondaries, and all-through schools across the age ranges of 3-18. Gail has experience of working with governing bodies and trustees across a wide range of schools and organisations. She is committed to inclusive education and believes that the sector has much to learn from each other, particularly around sharing best practice between mainstream and SEND specialist provision and is delighted to be appointed as a Trustee at Forward Education Trust.
Vikash Joshi
Vikash brings over 25 years of professional experience in IT and cyber security, with expertise in governance, risk management, and strategic programme delivery. Vikash is a parent of a child with SEND, and this personal journey has shaped a strong commitment to inclusive, high-quality education and meaningful advocacy. He is keen to support the Trust’s vision of empowering individuals and strengthening governance, and to contribute to its mission through both professional insight and lived experience.
Pamela Stacey
Pamela has spent over two decades working across the pharmaceutical, biotech, and infrastructure sectors, developing her expertise in governance, risk management, and ethical compliance. Currently, she helps organisations to navigate complex regulatory environments with clarity and integrity through her consultancy, GRC Catalyst Ltd.
Pamela was on the Advisory Panel for the Financial Reporting Council for three years and is currently an independent member of the Audit & Risk Committee for the Royal College of Physicians.
Pamela brings strategic insight, regulatory expertise, and a deep commitment to inclusive, values driven leadership to Forward Education Trust. She is proud to contribute her professional experience, helping to strengthen governance and supporting students, staff and the community.
Saif Ul Islam -MBA,MSP
Saif Ul Islam is a senior leader in the financial services sector, currently serving as Director for Operations and Transformation at a major multinational bank. With over 20 years of experience managing large, multicultural international teams, Saif has built a strong track record in leadership, risk management, and delivering large-scale transformational change.
Holding an MBA, he brings expertise in strategy, governance, and organisational effectiveness, with a particular focus on driving innovation and ensuring robust risk management.
Passionate about education and community development, Saif is committed to giving back to society by supporting Forward Education Trust in achieving its objectives. As a trustee, Saif is driven by the values of inclusivity, lifelong learning, and social impact, with a vision to ensure every pupil has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Outside of work, Saif is a proud parent of two boys and enjoys golf, cycling, and travelling.
Sarah Gager
Sarah is an accomplished board level transformation/business leader with over 25 years experience in skilfully leading complex business and technically led programmes of change in retail and transportation for FTSE 250 organisations and privately owned businesses.
On a personal level, she is a proud parent of two children, one with specific moderate educational differences. Having lived through the battles many parents go through to ensure their child has the very best opportunities in an education setting, Sarah is delighted to offer her strategic guidance and operational discipline for delivery to support the Trust’s vision to grow and deliver the best outcomes.
Razia Ali
Razia is Executive Headteacher and Trust Strategic School Improvement Lead at a Birmingham Multi-Academy Trust. In this role, she drives improvement across schools with a focus on quality first teaching, safeguarding, SEND/inclusive practice, and pupil premium. Razia has successfully established resource bases for pupils with autism and has a proven track record of transforming schools with challenging Ofsted outcomes into purposeful, high-quality learning environments. She is committed to providing the best opportunities for every child and to the continuous development of staff and high-functioning teams.
Josh Smith
Josh is Director of People and Culture for a West Midlands and Warwickshire based multi-academy trust and a Chartered Member of the CIPD. With over a decade of experience across primary, secondary, special and further education, he has worked in multi-academy trusts of all sizes and is responsible for people strategy, organisational culture, policy development and managing people-related risks as part of the executive leadership team.
Josh serves on the full Board of Trustees at Forward Education Trust, as well as its HR and Pay Committee, and was formerly a member of a West Midlands strategic taskforce focused on inclusion and community fairness across the region.
Kai-Wing Shiu BSc (Hons), MBA
Kai-Wing has over 25 years’ experience guiding organisations through transformation to achieve their strategic goals. Drawing on his background in governance, operating models, and systems thinking, he has worked across financial services, retail, and the public sector. He is passionate about contributing this experience to Forward Education Trust, supporting its aspirations for both excellence and growth so the Trust can maximise its positive impact within the wider community.
Register of Business and Pecuniary Interest
Please see below our Register of Pecuniary and Business Interests for all members of the Board of Trustees of Forward Education Trust (FET), and for the CEO/Accounting Officer.