Our Team

Hazel’s extensive experience in education includes leading 5 schools during 26 years of headship, with all of these schools being situated in some of the most deprived areas of England. In her final headship, the school moved from Satisfactory to Outstanding, leading to the school winning the National Pupil Premium Awards for KS2.

Prior to becoming the CEO of MAT-Excelsior, Hazel was Exec HT of a SAT for 3 years and has been an NLE, SIP and an Ofsted Inspector practising in the West Midlands.

Hazel’s dynamic leadership style has involved her in additional system leadership out of Excelsior CEO through supporting a trust through re brokerage, becoming a recent Co-Chair of a failing SAT as it moves to a new MAT, and via DfE nomination, becoming a trustee of trusts causing concern for example.

Overall, providing an excellent education for disadvantaged children is at the heart of all she does, and through her infectious commitment, facilitates similar minded colleagues to get on board

Jonathan is a highly experienced leader having held multiple successful leadership positions. He is Deputy CEO and Director of Education for Excelsior and has been with the trust for 6 years. He has previously been an Ofsted inspector, professional partner and Local Leader of Education.

In his system leadership roles, Jonathan has supported many leaders and Head Teachers and is passionate about leadership development.

He is passionate about leadership, particularly the influence and impact of organisational culture. He leads of culture development in the trust and has delivered numerous presentations on the subject. Jonathan is passionate about leadership development at all levels and the impact strong leaders have on pupil outcomes in their broadest sense.

Darren is a highly experienced school leader, having held multiple headships in both primary and secondary schools, prior to his role as Director of Education at Excelsior Multi Academy Trust. He is also a Lead Inspector for Ofsted and leads monitoring and evaluation across Excelsior.

Darren has led some of the highest performing, and most improved primary schools in the country, including leading schools out of ‘Special Measures’ to ‘Good’ or better. In his role as NPQ Course Director for a large professional development provider, Darren has supported a range of school leaders locally and nationally.

Previously, Darren has held executive leadership roles in one of the largest multi academy trusts in the UK, leading on curriculum development. He is also a Mathematics Advanced Skills Teacher and has worked for a local authority in their moderation and standards team.

Lisa is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of dedicated experience in the primary education sector, where she has excelled in various support and management roles. Her extensive background is complemented by her prior experience in the private sector, which has equipped her with a unique perspective.

Throughout her career, Lisa has developed a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of Governance & Compliance, particularly in the context of primary schools in Birmingham. Her extensive knowledge enables her to navigate the complex regulatory landscape that governs educational institutions, ensuring that they adhere to statutory guidance and best practices.

Lisa's skill set encompasses a wide array of competencies, including Project Management and Change Management. She has consistently demonstrated a commitment to delivering exceptional Customer Service, fostering strong relationships with stakeholders, and driving initiatives that enhance the educational experience for pupils and families alike.

In her pursuit of excellence, Lisa is dedicated to improving support services within the educational landscape. She believes passionately that all stakeholders—pupils, educators, and families—deserve high quality services and support that meet their diverse needs. Her proactive approach and unwavering commitment to high expectations have made a significant impact, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

As Lisa continues to evolve in her professional journey, she remains focused on fostering environments where educational success is not just an aspiration but a standard. Her unwavering dedication to enhancing educational support services showcases her belief that every child deserves the best possible start in their academic journey.

Chris a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and has been qualified since December 2012. He joined Excelsior MAT in 2021 as their CFO and is responsible for all financial aspects of the Trust such as management reporting, budgeting/forecasting, cash management, audit management, financial compliance as well being involved in all strategic matters. Before joining Excelsior MAT, Chris was CFO of a predominantly secondary schools’ trust and as their first CFO, he was responsible for creating the finance setup, processes, and regulations from scratch as well as the creation of the management report.

Chris previously held roles within NHS finance where he had positions at three different Hospital Trusts across the Birmingham area including University Hospitals Birmingham and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. This is where he undertook the training for his ACCA qualification, allowing him to gain invaluable experience from a variety of organisations and the different ways which they operate.

Chris is a Trustee for the Broadleaf Partnership Trust and has recently been appointed as the chair of their Finance and Infrastructure Committee. Chris is also a committee member of the Birmingham Association of School Business Managers where he shares his knowledge and experience of finance and multi academy trusts with its members.

As the Head of HR and People Services, Nicola is passionate about fostering a workplace culture that prioritises collaboration, growth, and inclusivity. With extensive experience in human resources and operations spanning the NHS, charity sectors and education, she is committed to aligning people strategies with business goals to drive organisational success and supporting schools to create positive, inclusive work environments.

Nicola leads the development and implementation of innovative HR practices that support talent acquisition, employee engagement, professional growth, and career development. She firmly believes that investing in people is the key to building high-performing teams and creating an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered.

Known for a hands-on, empathetic leadership style, Nicola is dedicated to driving positive impactful change within the organisation while fostering an environment of trust and transparency. Her strategic approach to HR ensures that the Trust not only attracts top talent but also retains and nurtures it, helping individuals reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to the organisation’s mission.

With a focus on continuous improvement, Nicola is always looking for new ways to enhance the employee experience, champion diversity and inclusion, and strengthen the organisational culture.