Agape Multi-Academy Trust

Richard Thiele TD -Trustee appointed with the consent of the Diocesan Board of Education

Appointed on 1st March 2024

Previous roles/posts within other organisations 

With an industry background in business to business publishing and international exhibitions Richard has always managed to find the time for some form of voluntary service which has been incredibly rewarding and enriching to him personally. 

Roles and responsibilities on the Board of Trustees

• Chair of the Trustee Board
• Finance & Resources
• People and Pay

Jan McLucas - Co-opted Trustee

Appointed on 5th March 2024

Previous roles/posts within other organisations 

Jan is Chief Executive and Company Director of a not for profit organisation based in Reading. She has worked in a variety of education roles throughout her career including 17 years as a secondary school teacher.

Roles and responsibilities on the Board of Trustees

• Vice Chair of The Trustee Board
• Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee
• People and Pay Committee
• Leadership, finance and business

Tony Wilson - Trustee appointed with the consent of the Diocesan Board of Education

Appointed on 1st March 2024

Previous roles/posts within other organisations

Tony has a wealth of experience nationally and internationally as a systems and strategic leader in education. His current role is as Director of Education with the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education (ODBE) serving 285 schools and 21 MATs across the Diocese of Oxford. 

Tony also has previous comprehensive headship experience including providing intervention for schools in challenging circumstances as well as leading a school designated as outstanding. During a four-year period, he gained international school improvement and system leadership experience from his role as Principal Education Consultant in The Kingdom of Bahrain.  

Outside of his formal roles, Tony has extensive experience as a trainer and published author of school improvement manuals and was a member of a national education think-tank.

Roles and responsibilities on the Board of Trustees

• Curriculum Committee
• Strategy, Leadership, Educational Standards and Improvement & SMSC/ SIAMS.

Derren Gray - Co-opted Trustee

Appointed on 1st March 2024

Previous roles/posts within other organisations

Governor & Executive Headteacher with 25 years in senior leadership in education, nine of these as Headteacher/ Executive Headteacher.

He has worked in a range of schools including single sex, mixed, comprehensive, grammar, secular and religious. Derren completed a Master’s degree in School Improvement in 2004 and NPQH in 2007. Derren chairs the budget task and finish group for WBC School Forum, mentors two new headteachers and facilitates on the FLA NPQH programme.

Roles and responsibilities on the Board of Trustees

• CEO
• Curriculum Committee
• Finance & Resources Committee (non-voting)
• Pay and People Committee
• Leadership, finance, business, human resources, data handling, educational improvement

Dr John Bolodeoku - Trustee appointed with the consent of the Diocesan Board of Education

Appointed on 1st March 2024

Previous roles/posts within other organisations

John is a Consultant Chemical Pathologist and Pharmaceutical Physician working for private and public in the life sciences sector. He works as a Consultant Physician in the NHS and Senior Lecturer at Kings College. John is a medical academic educator and was part of the Healthcare Science Panel involved in setting up the new T-Level qualifications with the Department of Education. 

Roles and responsibilities on the Board of Trustees

• Curriculum Committee
• Finance and Resources
• Leadership and Strategy

David Wyatt - Trustee appointed with the consent of the Diocesan Board of Education

Appointed on 1st March 2024

Previous roles/posts within other organisations

After initially working at the Bank of England in oversight of financial markets, David then 'bridged' business and IT design roles in developing the stock market's back-office system CREST, with a significant role in ensuring market readiness, and latterly sitting on the Board. Following merger with the Belgian company Euroclear he took leadership roles in projects across 5 countries, and in risk management. David thus has experience of decision-making in relevant financial and management roles, of governance, of collaborative working with a wide range of partners, of interpreting data effectively, of managing risk, and of a range of HR and leadership issues. David has been a Primary School Governor for the last 30 years so has an excellent understanding of educational improvement. 

Roles and responsibilities on the Board of Trustees

• Finance and Resources Committee
• Curriculum Committee

Ravinder Ghei - Co-opted Trustee

Appointed on 5th March 2024

Previous roles/posts within other organisations

For the past 5 years, Ravinder has been the Director of the Forest Learning Alliance. which is an alliance of 31 schools across all phases, creating and providing career staged teacher professional development – school leadership at all levels, curriculum specialists, early career teachers to trainee teachers. Ravinder secures funding for schools to support their priorities. She has  developed a number of key collaborations with schools, Trusts and charities to widen the scope of teacher development for the alliance of schools and beyond. Ravinder values the strength of these partnerships. She has also led on a range of Department for Education contracts, including leading a Teaching School, NPQs, Internship programmes and curriculum projects. 

She is passionate about teacher training and teacher development and firmly believes in growing our next generation of educationalists at all levels through high quality professional development, mentoring and coaching. 

Ravinder has previously been a senior leader with over 16 years of experience within a secondary school and all-through Trust.

Roles and responsibilities on the Board of Trustees

• Curriculum Committee

Dr Alison Silby - Trustee appointed with the consent of the Diocesan Board of Education

Appointed on 1st March 2024

Previous roles/posts within other organisations

For the past 15 years, Ali has been involved with Initial Teacher Training programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. She is currently employed as an academic at the University of Reading where she is a lecturer in English and Education. A large part of her job includes the design and delivery of a challenging degree programme as well as the recruitment and professional development of trainee teachers. Ali works in close partnership with a large number of schools in the area to ensure that the training provided, by both the University and schools, is outstanding. 

She is particularly interested in curriculum development and all aspects of pedagogy related to literacy. Prior to involvement in higher education, her role as a teacher ranged across key stages 1, 2 and 3 where she was primarily responsible for leading English and promoting a creative curriculum combining English, Drama, Music and Art.

Roles and responsibilities on the Board of Trustees

• Chair of the Curriculum Committee
• People and Pay Committee
• Educational improvement & Strategy
• Safeguarding Trustee

Gary Hughes - Trustee appointed with the consent of the Diocesan Board of Education

Appointed on 1st March 2024

Previous roles/posts within other organisations

Gary is a Senior Consultant working in market access helping the NHS and industry work successfully together. Through his career he has worked in primary care, the optical and veterinary sectors as business owner, director and senior manager. Gary has an MBA and a Post Graduate Certificate in Medical Education.

Roles and responsibilities on the Board of Trustees

• Chair of the People and Pay Committee
• Development and Educational improvement

James Bell - Trustee appointed with the consent of the Diocesan Board of Education

Appointed on 1st March 2024

Previous roles/posts within other organisations

James has spent most of his career in education in a variety of roles including teaching overseas with organisations including the British Council and the English Schools Foundation. In the UK, his experience covers Higher Education, independent and state schools.

In recent years James has held various COO, Bursar and Finance Director roles in the sector, and has also served as Clerk to the Board in schools.

James holds an MEd in Education Management, a postgraduate teaching qualification, a NEBOSH qualification, and is a Fellow of the RSA.

Roles and responsibilities on the Board of Trustees

• Finance and Resources Committee
• People and Pay Committee
• Leadership, finance, human resources and business

Justin May - Trustee appointed with the consent of the Diocesan Board of Education

Appointed on 1st March 2024

Previous roles/posts within other organisations

After graduating with a degree in Law, Justin undertook the Chartered Accountancy graduate scheme at PwC. He then moved into the world of Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley where he is currently an Executive Director and Global Lead Risk Officer for the Firm's Investment Management Business.

Justin is an active councillor and former chair of his local Parish Council as well as occupying a seat on the governance board for Reading Athletics Club.

Roles and responsibilities on the Board of Trustees

• Finance & Resources Committee