Dave was brought up in Darwen, Lancashire, and, after several years working in various parts of the UK, returned to his native town in 1994.

Dave has a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Studies from Newcastle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic.

Dave is a founder member and Director of Co-operative and Mutual Solutions Limited, a consultancy business providing advice and support to co-operatives and social enterprises. Besides holding management positions in several co-operatives and credit unions he has thirty years experience in providing advice and developmental support to co-operative and mutual enterprises. Dave is Chair of The Dog Inn in Belthorn, which re-opened under community ownership in November 2015.

Dave was chair of the governing body at Witton Park High School Academy from 2009 to 2020 and was Vice-Chair of the AtC Trust from its foundation until 2020.

Vicky Ferrier grew up and lives in south Manchester. She started her career in retail, working in various operational management positions across the North West for over a decade, moving into administration and finance roles, before retraining and developing a career in Human Resources.
She has worked across several industries and sectors in HR roles - telecommunications, pharmacy and third sector. Vicky’s current role is Head of HR Business Partners at the National Trust, which involves managing a team with national coverage and also holding a wider leadership role as part of the North Regional Management Team.

Vicky joined AtC as a Trustee in December 2018. She is an experienced coach and is passionate about organisational design and development, and creating a positive climate to enable organisational success. She believes that recruiting and developing the best people enables us to do the best for our students.

My name is Gemma Duxbury and I am a Senior Associate at Forbes Solicitors. I qualified as a solicitor in 2005 after obtaining my BA Hons degree in Law and Business and started work in a private practice specialising in residential and commercial conveyancing. I stayed there for 6 years before moving into the public sector working as a Senior Solicitor at Blackpool Council. I was at Blackpool Council for ten years, working my way up to Acting Head of Legal and Deputy Head of Legal before leaving to go back to private practice in 2019. I now specialise in commercial, public sector, procurement, governance and information law acting for public sector bodies. I am a Governor at a Primary School as well as a Trustee for ATC. I am a DBS checked, registered chaperone for my children’s dance school and love working with children. Prior to deciding to go into the area of law I was a dance teacher and so have been involved in working with children from a young age. I bring legal knowledge and experience to the Trust as well as a parent perspective. I am down to earth, approachable and focused on achieving what is best for our pupils in a realistic, compassionate way whilst holding the relevant parties to account. In my spare time (if I ever have any!!) I enjoy reading, travelling, going to the theatre, socialising with friends, eating out, spending time with my two daughters and having fun!

Current Job: Human Resources Manager, Capita HR Solutions. We deliver HR advisory services to the education sector. I also deliver mental health first aid training across a wide range of sectors.

Worked in HR for 20 years. Have previously worked in Housing Sector for Local Authority and Higher Education

Qualifications

Associate CIPD

MA Personnel and Management Development

Mental Health First Aid accredited trainer (Mental Health First Aid England)

Info about me

I have 2 children, I love dogs, enjoy the outdoors, walking and running

What I bring to AtC.

Breadth of knowledge of Human Resources in the Education Sector
A specific focus on Mental Health and Wellbeing
Genuine desire to ensure pupil and staff experience of AtC is a positive one

Alana has recently joined the Trust after being Chair of Governors at Roseacre Primary Academy for 16 years and an NLG for 8 years. She has also Chaired 2 Interim Executive Boards and been Chair at a range of schools in Blackpool area. Alana started her business career working in the Financial Sector. She has gained a range of skills throughout her career managing Bank Branches within the Financial sector and HR Departments. She now works part time as a Leadership Development Consultant developing and delivering skills courses, mentoring & coaching across all levels, from Governors, Graduate development schemes up to Executive level, facilitating improvements in structural and behavioural aspects of strategic leadership. She is looking forward to working with the Trust and using her skills gained.

Fellow of the Higher education academy a British professional membership scheme promoting excellence in higher education. Linda was the Programme Leader for Art PGCE and senior manager at HE level. Thus building upon her 20 years experience as a Secondary Arts Educator, Head of Art, Line manager for Secondary Arts provision with an active role in external examinations and verification for art qualifications. Currently a freelance art advisor with contracts for Beijing Academy of creative Art and Blackpool Sixth form college. Keynote speaker and presenter at international conferences around the world including ijade at Goldsmiths London and Shanghai University. Delivery and organisation of creative resilience programs for Blackpool local authority expanding Art and design education opportunities. A published author including articles for the National Society for Art education journal.

Practicing fine artist with a personal commission for the ICA London, group shows in Barcelona and Palma, Germany alongside large scale community participation events including Spare parts arts festival Arts Council funded (50 community groups) and international creative art workshops in Italy, Spain. Balearic Islands, China and UK.

Linda lives with her family near Blackpool and has three children, the youngest at secondary school.

I am currently Headteacher at Blackburn Central High School with over 20 years experience in educational leadership and management. I have a wide skillset ranging from the development of staff to ensure the nurturing of student wellbeing and progress to creating a seamless, inclusive curriculum supporting transition at all key stages with high aspirations, deep knowledge of starting points and understanding of students in 2021 - what motivates, engages and enthuses them. Examples of my strategic leadership experience include: coaching; quality assurance; leadership of teaching, learning & assessment -with a focus on the training and development of staff at all stages of career and effective appraisal. I also specialise in the strategic leadership and development of creating a positive climate for learning in urban classrooms; developing school wide strategy for Community Cohesion; and closing the gap in educational outcomes between disadvantaged young people and their better off peers. I am passionate and committed to providing opportunities for children and young people from the most disadvantaged communities and strongly believe in the transformative power of education to change the lives of individuals, communities and society to help make the world a better place!

My skillset is underpinned by a range of professional qualifications including a Masters degree, NPQH and I am currently studying for the NPQEL and hope to complete this in 2021.

I am a dedicated, creative, caring and ambitious leader who inspires the best in both staff and students. I believe wholeheartedly in working collaboratively so that we can achieve so much more for our children and our community.