Trustees (Board of Directors)
The relationship between the Trust and the Secretary of State for Education is set out in a legal document known as the funding agreement. The funding agreement and the Academy Trust Handbook are two key documents that DSAT trustees work to.
DSAT trustees are responsible for three core functions. They are setting the direction of the trust, holding the appointed DSAT Executives to account and ensuring financial probity.
As charity trustees, they ensure that DSAT complies with charity law requirements and, as company directors, must comply with company law requirements.
The details of what has been delegated from the trustees to executive leaders appointed by DSAT are detailed in a scheme of delegation. This makes it clear what functions the trustees have delegated and to whom.
Note: Each DSAT academy also has a Local School Board, which acts in an advisory capacity with no formal governance function. How these important bodies function and support DSAT is outlined in the following document:
DSAT Academy Trust Local School Boards
Alison Adair
Alison has significant experience teaching and leading within the primary sector. She held a number of leadership roles while teaching, including specialising in music, leading maths and working as Early Years Foundation Stage lead for many years. Alison has extensive experience as a headteacher and an executive headteacher. She has experience of leading schools as an executive headteacher in a variety of contexts, including schools in Rotherham, Sheffield and Doncaster, including rapidly improving underperforming schools in category.
Alison has previous experience as a National Leader of Education (NLE) and as such has significant experience of supporting leadership in a variety of contexts. She was designated as a Pupil Premium Reviewer as part of this role and has a passion for improving provision for vulnerable pupils, with measurable impact upon outcomes for vulnerable pupils in the schools she led.
Alison is the CEO of DSAT and works strategically with the board of Trustees to oversee all aspects of the work of the trust, including leading school improvement.
Huw Thomas
Director of Education for the Diocese of Sheffield
- 25 years in primary education as teacher and headteacher
- Former lecturer in English and Education at Sheffield Hallam University
- Church of England curate
- Established the Diocese of Sheffield Academies Trust
Brings skills in school leadership, supporting schools, Diocesan leadership and working with the Church of England
Mark Wheeler
Present working role:
Associate Lecturer/ Link Tutor for the University of Huddersfield, working with trainee teachers on their journey towards qualified teacher status.
Member of Wickersley Partnership Trust.
Experience:
I began my career in teaching quite late after initially working at Parkgate steel works. My teaching career has been within Rotherham Primary Schools up until 2017 when I retired from headship. I enjoyed the position of Head Teacher for twenty years, the last five years as Executive Head of three primary schools. In 2013- I became a designated National Leader of Education- working with Learners First School Improvement team and Wickersley Secondary School to form a Teaching School Alliance aimed at supporting the development of educational practice across Rotherham and beyond.
I have a particular interest in the development of new teachers and how as a profession we can inspire our children’s learning.
Dave Moore
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Managing Director at Alpha 3 Manufacturing.
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Background in Finance as an ACCA Fellow.
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Experience as Finance Director predominantly in manufacturing firms of all sizes including SME owner-managed, PE backed and multi-national FMCG organisations.
Dave bring skills in finance, functions of business.
Canon Jane Brooke
Jane taught RE for over 20 years (teaching pupils from ages 3 to 18), worked for the Christian Education Movement (REToday) for five years and then worked in local authorities for over 10 years as Religious Education Adviser and Principal Secondary School Improvement Adviser.
Jane was Chair of NASACRE (National Association for Standing Association Committee of Religious Education) for two years and was Chair of AREIAC (Association for RE Inspectors, Advisers and Consultants). She was a SIAMs and Ofsted inspector.
Jane was Vice Dean and Canon Missioner of Chester Cathedral with a responsibility for education, before retiring with her husband George to Sheffield to be near her daughter in January 2025.
Dr Paulette Osborne MBE
Dr Paulette Osborne MBE is an experienced education leader with almost 30 years’ experience in school leadership, improvement and governance. She previously served as Headteacher of St Matthew’s CofE Teaching and Research School in Birmingham, where the school gained national recognition for raising attainment and was identified by Ofsted as one of the most improved schools in the country.
Paulette has held a number of strategic leadership roles, including National Leader of Education and Assistant Director for School Improvement at Birmingham Education Partnership, where she worked closely with schools, multi-academy trusts and governing bodies to support improvement and leadership development.
She brings significant governance experience and currently serves on the boards of several multi-academy trusts. Paulette sat on the Birmingham Diocsean Board of Education for eight years. She is also an accredited SIAMS Inspector. In recognition of her contribution to education, she was awarded an MBE for services to education and received an Honorary Doctorate from Aston University.
Jen Goodison
Jen brings extensive experience from a long career at HSBC, where she has held a range of senior technology and architecture leadership roles. These include serving as Chief Technology Officer for digital teams, with responsibility for strategy, risk and controls, and large-scale transformation. Most recently, she led the Financial Crime Detection risk and control function, ensuring the effectiveness of screening and fraud detection processes.
Alongside her professional career, Jen serves as a Justice of the Peace in the Family Court in South Yorkshire.
Jen is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people. Through her experience in the Family Court, she has developed a strong understanding of the challenges some families face and the vital role schools play in both education and pastoral support. She is committed to using her professional expertise to support the work of the Trust and its communities.
Joanna Edwards
Joanna began her career in the creative sector, working in animation and special effects before moving into IT and networking at the University of Sheffield, where she spent nearly 10 years. She now works for the Diocese of Sheffield, initially as a Mission Partnership Development Worker and currently as a Church Buildings Officer and Assistant DAC Secretary.
In these roles, Joanna supports clergy and church teams with the care, maintenance and governance of church buildings, including securing funding and navigating the legal permissions required for building works. She has developed strong expertise in heritage buildings, project support, and working collaboratively with volunteers and community groups.
Joanna also has experience in leadership and governance and is committed to ongoing professional development within the heritage sector. She is passionate about supporting communities and is keen to contribute her skills and experience to the work of the Trust in supporting schools and helping young people to thrive.
