Executive
Meet our Executive
Lesley-Anne Hall
Director of Estates
Lucie Stephenson
Deputy Chief Executive OfficerLucie has worked in the education sector for 26 years. She has had extensive experience leading schools in different contexts and circumstances. As a former primary executive headteacher, Lucie understands the highs and lows of leadership and she is committed to supporting headteachers enabling them and their schools to flourish.
Lucie has worked as an Ofsted inspector for 14 years. She also has considerable experience supporting schools in challenging situations and has worked as a school improvement partner for a number of local authorities.
Lucie is passionate about Catholic education and the role it plays in society. She is committed to the vision of the Trust ensuring that everyone fulfils their academic potential, aspires highly and is optimistically ambitious. She is committed to ensuring that the talents of all are unlocked so that they can flourish and make a valued contribution to the world.
Martine Murphy
Teaching, Learning and Training Director
Louise Levy
Chief Operating OfficerLouise has worked in education for 12 years following almost 20 years in the Financial Services Sector, rising through the ranks to executive positions. Switching to Education was the right move – working within the fast-paced Business and Finance team and using her vast financial and management experience to drive improvements, compliance, and operational practice.
Louise is a Specialist Leader of Education and a member of the DfE School Business Professional Advisory Panel and an accredited School Resource Management Advisor.
Louise is the Company Secretary of Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust and actively serves as Chair of Governors of an Outstanding Primary School and Chair of Members at a Secondary Academy.
Nick Hurn, OBE
Chief Executive OfficerNick has dedicated his entire career to the education sector. A former head teacher, Nick not only understands the challenges and pressures that today’s school leadership teams face, but he is also committed to helping you overcome them.
Nick believes in unlocking the potential of every individual and every school he is involved with, improving standards, and creating opportunities. He is an entrepreneur and innovator. He is a founder member and Chairman of Education Mutual and Schools Mutual Services, and his strategic vision led to the launch of Bishop Wilkinson Commercial Services and several innovative initiatives designed to support schools, improve services, and optimise educational budgets. Education Commercial Services (ECS) is an example of this. He also serves on two strategic Boards for the North East.
In 2017, Nick was given the opportunity to combine his twin passion for football and education, as a Premier league Education Advisor. Nick’s services to education were recognised with an OBE in 2015.
Barbara Reilly-O’Donnell
Director of Ethos
Jacqui Ridley
Director of GovernanceJacqui worked in Governance for 25 years as a clerk in Newcastle, in Gateshead as Governor Support Service Lead and as Training and Development Lead in County Durham where she developed and delivered training for Governors and Senior Leaders across 260 schools, across all phases.
She has also worked as a school business manager in a two form entry primary school in Sunderland so has sound knowledge of school finance and operation and accountability to Governors. She is a qualified assessor and internal verifier for NVQ and an accredited Safer Recruitment trainer and has served as a judge for the Teaching Awards.
Jacqui serves as a Co-opted Governor at Dunston Hill Primary School in Gateshead and sits on the Finance Committee and is a Co-opted Governor, Vice Chair of the Governing Body and Chair of the Resources Committee at Bede Primary School, Gateshead. She works as a facilitator for the National Governance Association (NGA) leadership programmes and sits on Gateshead’s Schools Forum.