Members and Trustees

Our members have long-standing relationships with our schools and are the custodians of our values. As such, they have the power to appoint and dismiss Trustees as well as the responsibility for ensuring the Articles of Association are fit for purpose according to national guidance and governance best practice.

We are also proud to work with experienced and widely skilled Trustees, who are strongly committed to raising standards in all our schools and ensuring probity. Directors support the Trust in making strategic decisions and hold our senior leaders to account for our financial and academic performance.

Trust Members

 Trustees

 Commitee Membership (Click to Expand)

Finance Committee

Risk and Audit Committee

HR & Organisational Development Committee

Quality of Education Committee

Former Trustees (Click to Expand)

 Former Trust Members (Click to Expand)

Key Documents

Trustee Pen Portraits

Heidi Hinchliffe - Member appointed Trustee

Heidi has over 25 years in the education sector, working as a primary teacher both in Australia and Newham, followed by nearly 20 years in the field of education recruitment management. Working in partnership with schools and Local Authorities as well as international organisations, Heidi specialises in ensuring recruitment and retention of high calibre staff. Heidi has been an active member of Sheringham Primary School’s Local Governing Body for over 15 years and has completed the NCSL Chair of Governors Development Programme. She has also been a Board Director since 2014 and a Trust Member since 2016.  

Ben Spinks - Member Appointed Trustee

Ben has over 10 years experience in leading services and organisations across the social, public and private sectors. Ben specialises in the leadership of major change programmes, and in the development of sustainable business models in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Ben is currently Chief Executive at BDSIP, where he has worked since 2018. A social enterprise owned by 56 schools in Barking and Dagenham, BDSIP delivers professional support services to schools with expertise spanning curriculum development and pedagogy, school improvement, inclusion, governor services, careers, work experience and CPD.

Ben was previously Local Government Market Director at Capita Transformation – the Capita group’s change and consultancy business. Here he was responsible for shaping and delivering major transformation projects with clients across England and Wales. Ben has also been Assistant Chief Executive at the London Borough of Brent, and Strategy & Communications Director at Oldham Council.

Ben is a governor at Sheringham Primary in Newham and at Rose Lane Primary in Dagenham. Ben is also a member of the national advisory committee for Groundwork, a federation of charities delivering anti-poverty and environmental initiatives across the UK.

Lesley Cartmell (BSc(econ), PGCE, MBA)

Lesley began her professional life as a teacher of economics and mathematics before changing course and moving to the City.  She is a finance professional with over 25 years of experience in investment management as both a fund manager and Board member.  

Lesley has been a member of the local governing body at Hartley Primary School for 7 years as well as a member of the LIHT Finance and Audit Committee.   She is also a Governor of the City of London School.   In addition, she is the Director responsible to finance for a ceramics education charity that provides financial support for apprentices and runs a College in Stoke-on-Trent to train studio Potters.

Gary Wilkie - Trust CEO and Trust Accounting Officer

Having started his teaching career in Newham in 1989, and after being Head Teacher at Sheringham Primary School from 2000 - 2014, Gary is now the CEO of the Learning in Harmony Trust. Gary was chair of the Newham Head Teachers Association from 2001 to 2014 and has been Newham NAHT Branch Secretary since 2008. He has been a National Leader of Education since 2011 and was a member of the NLE Fellowship in 2015. Gary has spoken at a range of conferences both nationally and internationally on topics ranging from Assessment for Learning to Recruitment and Retention in Multi-Academy Trusts.

Gulbanu Kader - Co-opted Trustee

Gulbanu is Director of Education – Secondary for TMET and Executive Principal of Rushey Mead Academy and has had a range of experiences in her various teaching posts in her 20 year teaching career. She is also contracted with Ofsted as an Ofsted Inspector for secondary schools in the East Midlands; in addition to this, she is trained to conduct Pupil Premium Reviews.

Her particular areas of expertise are in whole school improvement, particularly through the effective use of performance information.

Gulbanu believes that a successful school is underpinned by the creation of a dynamic and enjoyable learning environment, driven by high aspirations where children are inspired to embrace challenges, not to give up, make failure the beginning of success and aim for the very top, but at the same time, become responsible, caring and kind citizens. She is an energetic and committed individual, passionate about supporting students to fulfil their potential, regardless of their starting points.

Chilufya Mulenga - Member appointed Trustee

Chilufya is a qualified ACCA accountant with a Master's Degree in Accounting from the University of Cambridge, she is currently the Financial Controller at Tivian a software development company.

Penny Swain - Member appointed Trustee

Penny Swain is an experienced trustee having previously been a trustee of a Free School in Hackney. A qualified secondary science teacher, she previously worked in mainstream and alternative provision in Kent and Newham. With over 30 years of experience in education, Penny is a company director of a school services group of businesses working with over 90% of MATs across England and supporting with financial, operational and strategic processes and solutions with a current focus on workforce planning and people strategy.

Her previous experience as a trustee has provided her with a solid understanding of the legal and financial responsibilities involved in managing a MAT and has been instrumental in developing effective operational structures, monitoring performance, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

As a trustee, she is committed to promoting the values and ethos of the LiHT, understanding the importance of effective communication and transparency in building trust with stakeholders.

Mo Habbas - Member appointed Trustee

Mo is a Partner and Managing Director at AlixPartners, a global advisory firm.  Mo leads both the Private Equity UK and Strategy & Analysis EMEA practices.  He is a Private Equity advisor with more than 25 years of hands-on experience in private-equity, industrials, technology, media, and telecommunications. He has also covered a range of interim roles as CEO, marketing director, and corporate M&A director, among others.

He specialises in carve outs, complex transformations, value creation planning and implementation. He also has a strong delivery track record in large and complex multi-national transformations and turnaround programmes.