Lindsey Evans -  iMAT CEO, Executive Headteacher & Director 

Updated bio to follow

Karen Falvey - Chair of Directors

Karen has been a Trustee of IMAT since September 2016, and is currently Chair of The Hawksmoor Learning Trust in Towcester and Brackley. Karen was also made a National Leader of Governance in 2016, and has carried out several External Reviews of Governance for local schools either at their request, or when required by  Ofsted.

 Karen is from a scientific background, with a degree in Pharmacology. She worked for several years for  Esso Petroleum in a variety of roles including marketing,  airport operations, refinery planning and as section head of the laboratory where all products going to market were tested. Whilst in this role, Karen worked with schools in the Southampton area to encourage girls to get more involved in science. 

Terri Lifford  

A Northamptonshire local, now living in Banbury, and currently Chair of Governors at Woodford Halse Primary Academy, Terry Lifford is a long standing Post Graduate educationalist with 20 years plus Headship experience. She was one time Chair of Northamptonshire Primary Headteachers’ Association and Chair of Daventry and District Headteachers group. She also worked for several years for Northampton College presenting educational related modules to aspiring senior managers.

Now semi-retired, she has worked as an Academic Tutor for The University of Northampton for sixteen years, supporting teaching assistants working towards a  degree in Teaching and Learning.

She is also an enthusiastic, proactive volunteer for the National Trust at Canons Ashby. 

Peter French - Diocese Representative

I am currently the deputy Director of Education for Peterborough Diocese and prior to that I was Assistant Director of Education in Birmingham Diocese for twelve years. I was before that a Church of England Vicar in Handsworth, Birmingham and Bury in Lancashire.

I am a National Leader of Governance and have a particular expertise in Governance, Admissions and Senior leader appointments in education as well as supporting church schools with their Christian Ethos. 

I am married with three daughters, one who is working in London and the other two are currently attending university. I am also (and this is a bit sad) a season ticket holder at Northampton Town. 

Helen Holmes - Outcomes and Provisions Committee Chair

Helen is currently Director of Children and Families at the National Deaf Children's Society, where she has responsibility for operational services across the UK, whose aim is improving outcomes for deaf children and young people. Prior, she held senior roles at two other major charities. At Scope, she led the development of services, education and transition provision for disabled children; at Leonard Cheshire Disability developing services for adults with disabilities.

Helen's earlier career involved a number of years working in secondary education : a Head of Department role at Northampton High School for girls and teaching role at a large comprehensive school in London.

Peter Banks - Vice Chair of Directors, Chair of the Finance, Audit and Pay Committee

Peter retired from his position as Internal Control Supervisor at Ford Motor Company, European Parts Operations in 2005 after 30 years service with the company.

Peter is a long serving past chair of governors (and past pupil) of Badby School and a long serving past chair and current governor of The Grange School, Daventry. As well as being a member and director of the Innovate Multi Academy Trust he is also a founder and current trustee of Ask Education and founder and current trustee of the Inspire Multi Academy Trust.

One of Peter’s passions is sport and he is a trustee of The Daventry and District Sports Trust and Director, Life Member and founder player of Daventry Rugby Football Club.

Joanne Sanchez 

Jo has been the Executive Headteacher and Chief Executive Officer of the Learning for Life Trust since September 2016.

Jo has a very wide range of experiences working in education over the past 30 years: she has worked in eight different schools in the UK and the US and taught every age group from Reception to sixth form. She has been headteacher of 2 schools, worked as a local authority school improvement partner and as an independent education consultant, and has the privilege of visiting schools on inspection. She has been a school governor in three schools before joining the Trust.  She is also a trustee of a Single Academy Trust in West Northamptonshire.

Cath Kitchen - SEN Director

Cath has lived and worked in Northamptonshire for the last 20 years and joined the Trust Board in 2023. She has 2 grown up children and 2 grandchildren who attend a school within the Trust. She was previously a CEO of a multi academy trust for settings that provide education for pupils with medical needs who cannot attend school full time, and she worked in this sector for over 20 years, starting as a teacher at Northampton General Hospital.  Along with her experience in medical alternative provision, Cath also has a Masters in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and was previously a National Leader of Education, being awarded an OBE for her services to children and young people. In her role as the chair of the National Association for Hospital Education, she regularly meets with the DfE on proposed changes to the wider alternative provision sector and speaks at national events. Cath is passionate about equality of opportunity for all learners, particularly those with special and additional needs and is looking forward to supporting The Trust in these areas.

Ian Ascroft

Biography to follow.