AET unveils trio of new Trustees
Sir David Carter, Karen Squillino and Jane Ramsey to join Board
CEO of EEF Professor Becky Francis appointed as adviser on the Education Committee
AET’s Board of Trustees is today announcing three new trustees and an advisory role. Sir David Carter, Karen Squillino and Jane Ramsey will all be joining the AET Board, bringing additional expertise in education, safeguarding, social care and the health sector to the organisation.
Sir David was the first Regional Schools Commissioner for the South West and subsequently became National Schools Commissioner. Previously Chief Executive of a 12-school MAT and an experienced Headteacher, Sir David remains heavily involved in education, including being Director of an MBA programme in education management and also writing a book on the subject.
Karen Squillino is Head of the Schools Service for the NSPCC, the UK's most far reaching school based child abuse awareness programme. The 'Speak out. Stay Safe’ programme has been delivered into over 90% of all primary schools. Karen also leads on developing the NSPCC offer into secondary schools. Her whole career has been in safeguarding and child protection.
Jane Ramsey brings a great deal of experience from a wide range of non-executive and executive roles in the public, private and third sector, with particular focus on health and local government. She is currently an independent member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, and Chair of the national children’s charity Young Epilepsy, and of the Children and Young People’s Transforming Care Steering Group which brings together health, social care, the third sector and education.
The three new trustees will be joined by Professor Becky Francis who has been appointed as an adviser to the Board’s Education Committee. Chief Executive of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), Becky was previously the Chief Executive of the Institute of Education at UCL.
David Hall, Chair of Trustees said:
“We are delighted to have made these appointments, bringing additional educational heft and experience to our Board. AET is a completely different organisation to the one it was three years ago: educationally we are starting to see the fruits of a reinvigorated approach, financially we are in good health, and in governance terms we now have robust and effective arrangements in place.
With the turnaround now largely complete, AET is moving into a new chapter where we move towards being recognised as a world-class organisation. Sir David, Karen and Jane will help support, steer and guide that transition and I’m delighted that Becky Francis will be joining the team on that journey.”
Sir David Carter said:
"I am delighted to have been appointed as a trustee at Academies Enterprise Trust. I worked closely with AET in my time as National Schools Commissioner and I am excited to be able to join the board at a time when so many of the initiatives that were being implemented before I left the DfE are now making a difference to the lives of the children being educated in the trust."
Karen Squillino said:
“It is a real privilege to join the Board, as schools play a significant role in safeguarding children and promoting their well being. I look forward to supporting AET to develop world class education safeguarding, so that all of their pupils can lead remarkable lives.”
Jane Ramsey said:
“I am delighted to be joining the AET Board and very much look forward to working with existing and new trustees. I hope to support AET in its work to develop greater connectivity between health, children's social care and education services as the organisation moves into this exciting next phase of its development."
Professor Becky Francis said:
“As AET looks to the future, I am pleased to be joining them in an advisory capacity. I hope to bring a sharp focus to their work supporting disadvantaged pupils across the country, as well as insight into how evidence can support their school improvement journey.”
Karen Squillino and Jane Ramsey joined the Board on 30 April, with Sir David Carter joining on 1 September.