Board Members and Trustees
Canon Peter Townley (Member and Chair of Trustees)
Appointed: 1st January 2012
Peter was the Archdeacon of Pontefract from 2008 to 2023. He was also a member of the Church of England, Leeds Diocesan Board of Education, and formerly the Chair of the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education. Before that, for 28 years, he was a Parish Priest in Greater Manchester and Suffolk where he worked with a number of Church and state schools.
Simone Bennett: Diocesan Director of Education (Member)
Appointed: 1st January 2024
Simone has worked in education for over 25 years, including 9 years in primary headship. She is currently the Diocesan Director of Education for the Diocese of Leeds.
Simone has a proven track record of supporting schools through rapid improvement, developing teaching and learning and improving outcomes for pupils. She led her own schools to both Outstanding Ofsted and SIAMS outcomes and was a member of the North Yorkshire Commission for School Improvement, exploring system leadership and models of improvement. She is currently training as a SIAMS inspector and is an ordained member of the Church of England, with permission to officiate across the diocese.
John Donald (Member)
Appointed: 19 April 2023
John graduated from Bretton Hall College (University of Leeds in 2001) with a BA (Hons) QTS specialising in music. John has taught in a number of Catholic primary schools across the north west of England. John has been the deputy headteacher of two Catholic primary schools and the head teacher of a large primary and nursery school. John has completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) programme.
During his time as a headteacher in the Diocese of Shrewsbury, John trained and served as a S48 inspector of religious education. As well as this, he acted as the secretary of the Catholic Headteacher's Association.
For the last five years, John has served as one of Her Majesty's Inspectors (HMI) with Ofsted.
The Revd Canon Dr Philip Hobday (Member)
Appointed: 11 May 2023
Philip Hobday is Sub-Dean of Wakefield Cathedral overseeing outreach, pastoral care, learning, and events. He has served as a parish priest in Reading and east Kent, as well as being chaplain in two universities.
He has a BA in Modern History, a BA, MA, and PhD in Theology, and is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Philip has been a governor of four schools and has taught RE and theology in primary and secondary schools, universities, and to those training for different roles in the church.
Janet Milne (Trustee)
Appointed: 21st October 2016
Having graduated from Leeds University Janet has been a teacher for 30+ years, retiring in 2013 as a teacher and Head of Art at Airedale Academy. Janet currently provides support to the community of Wakefield in her role as Chair of Governors at a local primary school; a member of the PCC; and a Director and Trustee of the Eastmoor Community Project.
Linda Maskill (Trustee)
Appointed: 21st October 2016
Linda is a retired headteacher of an 'Outstanding' primary/teaching school. She has a wide ranging experience in education and has worked as an Ofsted team inspector, Consultant Headteacher supporting colleagues for Wakefield LA, and has served as a member of the Wakefield Regional Partnership for Initial Teacher Training Board.
"I was pleased to join the Enhance Board because whilst offering support and challenge to our schools the Trust recognises the importance of allowing leaders to maintain the individual character of their schools so that they can best serve their local community"
Kathy Smith (Trustee)
Appointed: 9th December 2016
Kathy is the Company Secretary for Yorkshire Water and has responsibility for GDPR and insurance at Yorkshire Water as part of her role.
Kathy qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte in Leeds in 1998 and then went on to work for KCOM Group PLC in 2005 as the Head of Internal Audit and Risk. She took on the role of company secretary for KCOM in 2010 and qualified as a Chartered Secretary in 2012. She remained in this role for eight years before moving to Yorkshire Water in August 2018.
Claire Screeton (Trustee)
Appointed: 20th May 2022
Claire is a qualified Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years experience working in Yorkshire across a diverse range of private sector companies.
Having qualified as an accountant in 2001 with Ernst & Young, she then spent a number of years doing a variety of accounting roles at two financial services businesses namely GE Capital and Yorkshire based Lowell Group.
Having taken time out during 2012 and 2013 when her two sons were born, she has now spent the last 10 years doing a broad range of part time, interim and contract finance assignments providing her services as Finance Director across a varied range of local businesses.
David Selby (Trustee)
Appointed: 31st March 2023
David is an experienced HR Business Partner with a training consultancy background. With more than 25 years working in the insurance and banking sector, David is an established and trusted advisor for management at all levels. Following 6 years at Liverpool Victoria, he joined RSA in 2017. His specialties include organisational design, strategic planning, talent management and executive coaching.
Joe Kinsella (Trustee)
Appointed: 22nd March 2024
Joe is a Corporate Policy and Projects Manager at London Councils, with six years of diverse experience at Calderdale Council. He has a background in project management, leading a range of public sector projects. Through managing a social work teaching partnership, Joe gained experience in ensuring educational settings meet national standards while catering to practitioners and employers' needs. His expertise extends to collaborating with colleges to develop student skills pathways and navigating the post-16 skills landscape in West Yorkshire and London.
Helen Keeling (Trustee)
Appointed: 22nd March 2024
Helen is the Head of Health and Safety at Yorkshire Water and has responsibility for Health and Safety Governance as part of her role. Helen has worked as a Health and Safety professional for 20 years, and has gained extensive experience in the Construction and Utilities Sectors during this time. Her specialties include risk management, safety culture, behavioural change, coaching, training, engagement and leadership.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE - Mark Randall (Trustee/Accounting Officer)
Appointed: 1st November 2020
Mark took up post as Chief Executive Officer in January 2021. Previously, he held the post of Assistant Director: Education and Inclusion with Calderdale Council. He is an educational professional with a proven track record of school improvement gained through a wide range of senior leadership roles. Mark led two inner city primary schools to an Ofsted judgement of outstanding and has also worked as Executive Principal of four primary schools within a Multi Academy Trust in Leeds. Mark has significant experience working with schools as a school improvement adviser as well as leading inspections on behalf of Ofsted.
ADVISORS TO THE BOARD - Schofield Sweeney Corporate (Legal Advisor & Company Secretary)
Appointed: January 2012
Schofield Sweeney has advised on over 180 academy conversions, including academy to academy transfers, multi-academy trust conversions, primary, secondary and faith schools, sponsored academies, special needs schools, alternative provision academies, PFI/BSF schools and free schools.