Nurture Academies Trust

Adeeba Malik CBE
Date of appointment: 19 January 2018

Adeeba Malik is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of QED, where she manages a number of social, educational and economic projects. Adeeba has won many accolades for her work, including the Yorkshire Young Achiever Award, Yorkshire Woman of Achievement Award, Yorkshire Forward Ladies Award, Pakistan and India Friendship Award, and the Lloyds TSB Jewel Award. In 2004 she was awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire) for her services to ethnic minorities and businesses. In 2015 she was awarded the CBE (Commander of the British Empire) for her services to interfaith and community cohesion.

Declarations of interest: QED Foundation, Director of Bradford 2025 City of Culture Company, Trustee of Poverty Alleviation Scholarship and York Museum Trust, Member of Honours Committee, Cabinet Office, Member of Strategic Race Advisory Board, Home Office

Pamela Smith
Date of appointment: 21 July 2022

Pamela has worked as a Director in both Public and Private Sectors and has experience in supporting and coaching at all levels in a wide range of organisations. She has worked with individuals and organisations to help them improve their performance, achieve their goals and true potential. She is a leader who works effectively in unpredictable environments and an efficient multi-tasker. She has expertise in strategic and operational planning, problem solving, financial management and organisational development.
Pamela has experience of teaching in the secondary sector and also in FE, with over 10 years of senior management in Further Education. Pamela has been a Governor with Delta Academies Trust for over 9 years, Vice Chair at De Lacy Academy (Secondary), Chair at Simpsons Lane Academy and England Lane Academy (Primary).

Declarations of interest: Director of Nosco International Solutions, Trustee of out of area Multi Academy Trust, Governor of out of area academy

Dame Naila Zaffar (Chair)
Date of Appointment: 19 May 2017

Dame Naila Zaffar is a former Headteacher of Copthorne Primary School, rated outstanding by Ofsted, and has worked as Executive Headteacher across a number of Bradford schools. She is an Ofsted inspector, with experience of supporting the transformation of vulnerable schools through IEB membership. Dame Naila’s skills and expertise include educational leadership and management, community relations, international perspectives on education and EAL.

Declarations of interest: Dame Naila Zaffar Education Consultancy (DNZ Education Consultancy)

Pamela Smith (Chair)
Date of appointment: 08 September 2020 

Pamela has worked as a Director in both Public and Private Sectors and has experience in supporting and coaching at all levels in a wide range of organisations. She has worked with individuals and organisations to help them improve their performance, achieve their goals and true potential. She is a leader who works effectively in unpredictable environments and an efficient multi-tasker. She has expertise in strategic and operational planning, problem solving, financial management and organisational development.
Pamela has experience of teaching in the secondary sector and also in FE, with over 10 years of senior management in Further Education. Pamela has been a Governor with Delta Academies Trust for over 9 years, Vice Chair at De Lacy Academy (Secondary), Chair at Simpsons Lane Academy and England Lane Academy (Primary).

Declarations of interest: Director of Nosco International Solutions, Trustee of out of area Multi Academy Trust, Governor of out of area academy

Ranjit Arora
Date of appointment: 16 December 2020

Ranjit Arora started her career as a teacher, progressing to teacher training and middle management culminating in Head of Department in a College of Further, Higher and Adult Education. She has worked for the BBC and authored a few educational and research publications. Once retired, she built up a portfolio of paid and voluntary positions as a consultant and non-executive member. Her appointments have been wide-ranging and an interesting mix of paid and voluntary work. Ranjit has been a magistrate, worked as a non-executive director at Bradford NHS Community Health Trust for nine years; served on the Equal Treatment Advisory Committee of the
Judicial Studies Board; appointed as a Governor of Leeds College of Music and chair of SAA-UK; worked with Learning and Skills Development Agency and as an Equalities Adviser with the Universities UK. She has also worked on a European project in Prague,
helping to integrate Roma children in the education system in the Czech Republic.

Declarations of interest: Trustee of Staying Put domestic abuse charity

Irwin Robert Freeth
Date of Appointment: 12 December 2018

Rob is the former Headteacher of Westminster C of E Primary School, Bradford which he retired from in 2016. He joined in 2005 successfully taking it out of Fresh Start and through successive good inspection outcomes as it expanded to become a large 3 form entry school. Prior to this he was Headteacher of schools in Calderdale and Hampshire and spent 14 years in international education as an Education Officer in Brunei and as a Headteacher in Qatar and Uganda.

Declarations of interest: NAHT Branch Secretary, Hebden Royd Town Council Councillor, Secretary Hebden Bridge Rotary, out of area primary school Vice Chair of Governors.

Liz Knight
Date of appointment: 1 February 2021

Liz is an experienced Human Resources professional, who has worked in the HR field for over 25 years, across a variety of different sectors including Professional Services, Brand Design, Business Travel Technology and, is currently a HR Director for a Cyber Security company. She is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, for whom she is also a Steps Ahead Mentor and Parent-Returner Mentor. Her skills include all aspects of the Employee Life Cycle, including Employment Law, Employee Engagement, Learning & Development (particularly people leadership/management and coaching).

Declarations of interest: HR Director ECSC Group PLC, Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, Member of the National Counselling Society (NCS), and the National Hypnotherapy Society (NHS)

Tim Richards
Date of appointment: 25 June 2020

Tim has extensive successful experience within a range of large and complex educational settings; Headteacher/Principal 12 years, School Improvement Partner 5 years, National School Improvement adviser 3 years, teacher 35 years. Tim has experience of over 20 successful Ofsted and HMI inspections spanning his career and has continued to advise schools through the recent difficult times.

Declarations of interest: Director Hooked on Learning, out of area primary school governor

Meela Sanasy-Powell
Date of Appointment: 07 November 2022

Meela has worked in Education for several years, as a Teacher, and a Head of Year. She is currently training as a Counsellor.

Declarations of interest: Member of National Hypnotherapy Society. Member of National Counselling Society.

Jeremy Townend
Date of appointment: 16 December 2020

Jeremy is a Consultant in Health & Safety and Employment Law, working with both private and public sector clients. He is a visiting lecturer at Angela Ruskin University Cambridge, and Leeds Becket University, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors. Jeremy’s skills and expertise include employment law, Health & Safety, Legal/HR management leadership and Board.

Declarations of interest: Self-employed Consultant at Employer Solutions, JLWT Consultancy, UK Will Writer, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and the Institute of Directors, Trustee of Batley MAT

Mark Brodie-Wray
Date of appointment: 16 March 2023

Mark Brodie Wray (ACMA CGMA) is a CIMA qualified management accountant. Since 2013 he has worked in accountancy roles in the higher education sector for the University of Leeds. Prior to that worked for East Sussex County Council, firstly as an Information Officer in the Childrens Services department, latterly as a Finance Officer and Senior Finance Officer.

Declarations of Interest: Accountant with the University of Leeds

Richard Mooney
Date of Appointment: 16 March 2023

Coming soon

Declarations of Interest: Business Development Consultant and Director of Mossy Associates Ltd.

Wahid Zaman (ex officio)
Date of appointment: 13 December 2016

Trust CEO and Accounting Officer

Declarations of interest: None