Meet The Team
Helen Williams - Chief Executive Officer
Helen has worked in education for over 20 years. Starting her career as a primary school teacher, she progressed to becoming a headteacher and executive headteacher in Northamptonshire. As a local leader of education, Helen worked with teaching schools and local authorities, providing support for school leaders. Before joining INMAT, Helen was one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of schools in the East Midlands region.
Dawn Chapman - Chief Finance and Operations Officer
Dawn has over 30 years of experience in the business and education sector, with a wealth of expertise in management, procurement, sales, distribution, marketing and finance. Dawn started her career in social work, then diversified into the corporate world. She obtained a post-graduate diploma in management studies, from De Monfort University and completed accreditation with AAT. Dawn has been with INMAT since 2017.
Renuka Popat - School Improvement Lead
Renuka's experience in primary education spans 33 years. She has worked in a range of roles including as a classroom practitioner, deputy headteacher and headteacher leading the school from ‘notice to improve’ to ‘good.’ She has also been an additional inspector conducting school inspections. In her role as school improvement leader for INMAT, she supports the development of education within the trust.
Simon Blight - School Improvement Lead
Simon has worked in education for over 27 years. During this time he has been a teacher, worked as a literacy consultant for the national literacy strategy, then as deputy head and subsequently headteacher. He has also worked as a local leader of education for the Northamptonshire local authority. His experience includes working with and in challenging schools, including moving a school from 'notice to improve' to 'good' and sustained this over a number of years.
Carole Kirby - Trust Governance Lead
Carole has two decades of governance experience including as a clerk, governor, and as a governor advisor for a local authority. She oversees governance, including compliance with the articles, memorandum, scheme of delegation, government guidance and company law. Carole has also worked in education, teaching A-levels, GCSEs and access to higher education as deputy head of academic studies in a further education college.
Maria Page - Deputy Governance Professional
Maria has worked in education for 15 years beginning her governance career in 2007. She qualified as an accredited clerk in 2011 and has previous experience of being the lead governance professional in two multi-academy trusts.
Hollie Matthews - Executive Assistant
Hollie has a BSc in Business Management and 10 years worth of experience in the education sector, in a variety of roles. Hollie has been with INMAT since the beginning, firstly working with KPJA as their academy administrator and now working alongside the central team. She supports the executive team and looks after communications.
Lorna Cooper - Trust Finance Manager
Lorna started at Little Harrowden Primary School in September 2017 as an Administrative Assistant and then became the bursar for the school. Lorna built her finance knowledge working in the banking industry for over 10 years. Lorna has worked in a range of roles from cashier to service & sales manager. She now works with the central finance team.
Lisa Heacock – Office Manager
Lisa joined INMAT in September 2023. She has over 25 years’ experience in management in the USA and UK. She is also an International Certified and Accredited Life Coach.
