Central Trust Team (ID 1099)

• Annette Williams
  CEO Accounting Officer
  Annette Williams

  As Chief Executive Officer, Annette is responsible for the overall success of all schools within our Multi-Academy Trust, providing the very best quality of education and ensuring the very best outcomes for our pupils.

  Annette leads an Executive Team ensuring the Trust and all its schools are successful over time in a sustainable way and providing high-level strategic leadership and management across all aspects of the Trust's activities. As the Accounting Officer for the Trust, Annette is also responsible for ensuring the Trust meets its statutory and legal requirements.

  With a proven track record of school improvement, Annette has been responsible for raising standards across numerous schools, as Executive Headteacher. This has included schools in varying demographic areas, but the consistent theme has been that the schools in which she has worked have required significant support to halt school decline and raise standards.

  As a Local Leader of Education, Annette continues with her school improvement work, which involves her overseeing, quality assuring and supporting several schools across Cheshire and the North West. She has also gained extensive experience of supporting schools in challenging circumstances, bringing about rapid and sustainable improvement. Annette is absolutely committed to improving outcomes for pupils.

• Judith McConville
  CFO
  Judith McConville

  Judith was appointed to the position of Chief Finance Officer of Weaver Trust in 2024. This is a highly influential position within Weaver Trust. Judith is a confident, diligent financial professional with over 19 years' experience of working in finance, with extensive senior leadership experience at executive level across commercial, charity and education sectors. She provides strategic leadership to Finance and Projects, Human Resources, Estates and Information and Communication Technology, Procurement, and operational teams, promoting a commercially astute culture across the Trust.

  It is an exciting time for the Trust as it pursues its ambitious strategy to innovate, invest and expand its footprint with more schools. Judith has a wealth of experience in this area having guided a range of schools though the academy conversion process.

  Judith is focussed on delivering a firm foundation in order to create a sustainable environment where all stakeholders flourish. Judith delivers this with a proven track record of creating and enhancing accounting systems and implementing financial and operational controls to improve and streamline processes and procedures.

  With excellent interpersonal skills at all levels, Judith has developed positive stakeholder relationships to promote the organisation and assist it to meet its objectives. She is an outstanding communicator, who is clear and informative and able to convey complex finance-related information in a simple and clear manner.

• Heather Cashin
  Trust Finance and Operations Manager
  Heather Cashin

  Heather started her career in the private sector and accrued over 20 years financial experience

  Heather has been an integral part of the Weaver Trust team, joining in preparation for our first school conversion to academy status, which happened in April 2017.

  As our Trust Finance and Operations Manager, Heather works closely with schools pre-conversion, considering the implication of change on the school finance team. She also supports converting schools through the process to ensure a smooth transition and building the foundation for moving forward.

  In her day-to-day work, Heather provides guidance and financial support to the finance staff in our schools, also working closely with our CFO.

  We are proud of the great sense of teamwork and collegiality that we have developed across all our schools.

• Penny Lyon
  Trust Finance Officer
  Penny Lyon

  Penny has been part of the Weaver Trust team since September 2019 and brings with her 30 year's finance experience in the private sector.

  As Trust Finance Officer, Penny is responsible for day to day finance duties and working closely with our central finance leadership team. Penny supports our school based finance colleagues in their roles.

• Debbie Ross
  Head of HR
  Debbie Ross

  As Head of HR, Debbie is the lead on all people, culture and wellbeing activities for the Trust. Debbie ensures the Trust and its employees are compliant with all policies, procedures and employment law. She also ensures that employees feel safe and valued in the workplace, that safer recruitment practices are strictly followed and that performance is at the expected high standard throughout every school. Debbie's role is to ensure that Weaver Trust is an outstanding organisation to work for.

• Niki Bell
  Payroll and HR Assistant
  Niki Bell

  Niki is a dedicated Payroll and HR Assistant who serves as the first point of contact for any queries relating to pay or employment contracts. With over 10 years of experience in payroll, accounts and HR, and as a CIPP-qualified professional.

  She is responsible for ensuring that any updates — such as changes to personal details, bank details, overtime and or name and marital status. Also any contract changes you may have — are processed accurately and efficiently within the system, enabling payroll to run smoothly and on time.

  Niki takes pride in providing a high level of service, always striving to resolve queries promptly and professionally. When needed, she will ensure colleagues are directed to the appropriate department to assist further.

• Phil Atkinson
  Trust Governance and Communications Manager
  Phil Atkinson

  Phil has been a part of the Weaver Trust team since September 2017, becoming Trust Governance and Communications Manager in April 2024.

  Phil provides operational support to the Executive Leaders and Headteachers of Weaver Trust. He provides the day to day delivery of a range of business support services to the Trust relating to; Administration, Finance, Systems, and Facilities. Ensuring an effective customer-focussed service is provided to all stakeholders consistently and in a timely manner, Phil works with our administrative team, Trust estates and facilities team, developing and implementing systems and procedures which ensure operational excellence across Weaver Trust. Phil promotes collaborative professional working relationships and is instrumental in ensuring efficient operational procedures.

• Becky Coates
  Marketing Manager
  Becky Coates