Claire Emery

Claire is an education specialist in academy trust governance who oversees the provision of all ESS support services. She is an experienced MAT board chair with over ten years chairing experience overseeing providers of nursery, primary, secondary and post-16 education. Claire is the Regional Adviser for the South West (SW) and South East and South London (SESL) Regions for New Schools Network's Academy Ambassadors Programme.  Claire holds a CIPD qualification in learning and development (1997) and master's level certification in coaching and mentoring (2011). 

Previously, Claire was an appointed officer for a UK bank, owned a holistic therapy business, been a FE college lecturer and management consultant supporting boards and executives in a range of charity, public and private sector organisations to address their specific needs and contexts. Examples include: primary care trusts, town council, aerospace company, car dealership, social housing groups and a ALMO. 

Sharon Dewfall

Sharon is a specialist in: financial management and governance reviews; internal audit services; financial management and business planning training for trustees and governors.

Sharon has many years’ previous experience as a School Business Manager working in the education sector, in primary and secondary maintained schools and multi-academy trusts based in the South West of England and Derbyshire.  Sharon can provide interim business support where required.  Sharon also has experience of working within a Local Authority (LA) setting as a senior internal auditor responsible for conducting reviews to assess the quality and effectiveness of financial management and internal controls in schools and the LA; reporting the findings and making recommendations to drive improvements.  Sharon’s work is particularly helpful in supporting and enabling boards and senior leaders to tackle financial difficulty in schools and academies.  The focus of an internal audit review can vary and include:  payroll, business planning, staffing, commercial subsidiaries. 

Sharon holds the following qualifications: Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT); NCSL: Advanced Diploma in School Business Management (ADSBM); NCSL Diploma in School Business Management (DSBM) and NSCL Certificate in School Business Management (CSBM).  She also holds professional membership of: IAM (Institute of Administrative Management).

Caroline Harrison

Caroline is an experienced business professional, with over 20 years’ experience of project management, complex implementations, stakeholder management and engagement in both the corporate and education sectors.

Caroline works within the education sector, specifically within multi-academy trusts, providing strategic business manager support, contract and project management in both the re-brokering and setting up of multi academy trusts.  With a proven track record in delivery Caroline brings practical experience, excellent communication and leadership skills along with significant experience in board level negotiations.  Key skills are the optimisation of current and future projects with a detailed understanding of the technical and operational impact of change within teams and the wider environment.

Caroline is a specialist in implementing GDPR compliant processes and procedures within multi academy trusts and provides Data Protection Officer roles at a number of trusts within the South West.

Caroline holds the Prince2 qualification in project management, a Diploma in Direct and Interactive Marketing, was an active member of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) for five years and is a member of the Institute of School business Leadership (ISBL).