Craig is Group Commercial Director at NG Bailey, the UK’s largest independent engineering and construction business, responsible for shaping and embedding commercial strategy, governance and performance across the group. He brings extensive experience in aligning complex stakeholder environments and leading large-scale change, with a consistent focus on delivering efficiency, control and long-term successful outcomes.

Originally from Sheffield, Sarah has worked in schools for over 25 years, starting her career as a mathematics teacher in Wiltshire. Sarah has experience of working in 4 Local Authority areas across the country in a variety of leadership roles. She was Principal at South Axholme Academy before becoming substantive CEO of Isle Education Trust (a small MAT in North Lincolnshire currently consisting of a primary academy, a secondary academy and an alternative provision academy) in 2019. Sarah is passionate about improving the educational experiences and outcomes for students regardless of whether they are part of Isle Education Trust or not. She sits on the North Lincolnshire Education Standards Board and the DRET Teaching School Hub Strategic Board. As Chair of the North Lincs Secondary Heads and Principals group she has been instrumental in promoting outreach and collaborative work within her locality, helping to set up the original Peer Review system, now well-established across the area in all phases.

Sarah supports colleagues in their own career progression as an Expert Facilitator for the National Institute of Teachers, delivering the new NPQH programme. She also carries out school improvement work as part of the DfE’s TSIO (Trust School Improvement Offer).

Jude is a school leader and is currently a headteacher and executive headteacher based in Lincolnshire. He began his career in secondary schools as an English teacher and has held posts including Head of English and senior leadership roles. 

Other career experiences for Jude include organising ResearchED Rugby, providing CPD with the Chartered College, and providing feedback and editorial advice to peers in education publishing. 

Jude has been a governor at the primary school his three children attend and is a parish councillor in his Lincolnshire village. 

Jude joined the board at ACET in November 2025. 

Craig Dillon is an experienced education leader serving as Regional Director at Star Academies, where he has contributed to the trust’s mission for more than five years. His current role builds on a leadership career dedicated to raising standards, improving life chances, and transforming outcomes for young people across the North of England. 

Before becoming Regional Director in 2022, Craig served as Executive Principal at Star Academies and previously spent 13 years in senior leadership roles within United Learning. His leadership at Sheffield Park Academy was nationally recognised for exceptional outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged pupils, with the school receiving a Pupil Premium Award and having been identified as one of the very small number of schools in England where disadvantaged pupils consistently made better progress than their peers. 

He holds a PGCE in Business Studies & Economics from Sheffield Hallam University and completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) through the National College for School Leadership.

Lawrence has over 35 years of experience including senior executive roles in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Most recently he was the Director of Strategy & Impact at the British Heart Foundation.

Lawrence was a school governor for over 10 years at the primary school that his two sons attended, and he has been a trustee at a Multi-Academy Trust with schools in London and Peterborough. He is also a trustee of the Geographical Association, the leading subject association for geography teachers in the UK.

Previously he was a trustee at Redthread, a charity that works with children and young people affected by exploitation, violence, mental and physical health issues, grooming and modern slavery.

He and his wife Catherine moved to Sheffield in 2024 at the start of a “gap year” which involved backpacking around India.

Lawrence is also a keen walker, cyclist and runner and has raised over £15,000 for charity through various endurance challenges. Since moving to Sheffield, he has discovered the joys and challenges of fell running.

Lindsay Ball is a Fractional and Board level Marketing Director with a deep belief in the power of brand to shape purchasing behaviour, strengthen relationships, and build long-term loyalty. Her passion lies in unlocking growth potential, elevating customer experiences, and embedding a culture of brand pride that fuel sustainable business performance. She now advises SME’s in growth strategy and developing long standing customer relationship.

Working end to end across marketing strategy and business plans, Lindsay partners with and mentors Senior Leadership teams to uncover untapped potential, solve complex challenges, and deliver practical growth. She brings extensive experience across consumer and Industrial businesses, spanning commercial, retail, e-commerce, and healthcare sectors, with a reputation for strategic rigour, clarity, and impact.

Since graduating at Manchester Metropolitan in Business Management, she has held Board positions with many youth brands such as Boots, Dominos, Gregg, Beelivery.com  as well as healthcare organisations such as Care IVF clinics, MSI( Marie Stopes) and Marsden Group. 

Lindsay was schooled and lives in North Notts and has a passion for golf and gardening.

Maxwell brings financial leadership and governance expertise, shaped by over a decade of experience as Financial Controller for a Sheffield-based subsidiary of a USA multinational corporation, where he has collaborated and led on digital transformation, process improvement, and systems integration initiatives across international operations. He is a qualified accountant, a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and holds an Executive MBA.

His governance background is rooted in Sheffield. Maxwell previously served as a Non-Executive Director for Sheffield Homes Ltd, then the UK's largest Arms Length Management organisation, where he sat on the Audit & Finance Committee, and as Trustee and Treasurer of ASSIST Sheffield. He currently continues his commitment to local stewardship as Treasurer of a Sheffield church.

A long-standing resident of the city and a proud football dad, Maxwell is passionate about using strong financial governance to support the Trust and widen participation, improve outcomes, and raise aspirations for young people. Alongside his trustee role, he serves as a Career Mentor at Arden University, supporting students from diverse backgrounds to develop confidence, leadership capability, and long-term career success.

Danni is an education marketing and communications specialist with nearly 20 years’ experience supporting schools, trusts and education organisations. She has helped education leaders better understand the needs of their staff, pupils and parents, strengthen stakeholder engagement and communicate more effectively with their communities.

She currently serves as Head of Marketing at Edurio, where she works closely with school and trust leaders across the country to help them use stakeholder voice to drive improvement. Prior to joining Edurio, Danni held senior marketing leadership roles at Xeros Technology Group and Osiris Educational, leading business growth, product development and large-scale marketing strategies.

Throughout her career, she has specialised in helping organisations understand the needs and experiences of their communities, using insight and evidence to inform strategic planning and continuous improvement.

Danni brings valuable expertise in stakeholder engagement, communications, digital transformation, customer insight and strategic leadership. In her current role, she works closely with school and trust leaders across the country, giving her a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing education today, including pupil experience, staff wellbeing, governance and accountability.

A graduate of Liverpool John Moores University with a BA (Hons) in Journalism, Danni is passionate about ensuring that pupils, families and communities feel heard and valued. As a parent of two young children, she has a particular interest in primary education and the role schools play in shaping children’s confidence, aspirations and life chances. She is committed to helping ACET continue to build strong relationships with its communities and deliver excellent outcomes for all children.

Sharon Phillips is an experienced HR and organisational development leader with more than thirty years of senior leadership experience spanning healthcare, financial services, consultancy and corporate governance. She is currently Founder and Director of People Bridge Consultancy Limited and previously served as Director of HR for PHL Group, where she led strategic people initiatives, organisational transformation and workforce development across a complex national organisation.

Throughout her career, Sharon has held executive and board‑level positions with organisations including PHL Group, Barbon Insurance Group, Egg Banking, Citigroup, Experian and Boots. She has extensive experience overseeing large‑scale organisational change, acquisitions and business transformation programmes, while leading initiatives focused on employee engagement, leadership development, wellbeing and organisational culture.

Sharon also brings significant governance experience, having served as a Non‑Executive Director and school governor. Her expertise includes people strategy, safeguarding oversight, leadership development, organisational performance and risk management. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Batchelor of Science in Business Operations and Control and holds qualifications in coaching and professional HR practice.

As both a parent and an experienced governor, Sharon is passionate about ensuring that every child has access to high‑quality education and the support they need to thrive. She has a particular interest in safeguarding, inclusion and wellbeing and is committed to supporting ACET’s mission of improving life chances for children and young people through strong governance, constructive challenge and collaborative leadership.

Outside of her professional life, Sharon enjoys keeping fit, spending time in the gym, and hill walking in the outdoors; activities that reflect her commitment to wellbeing and resilience. She also loves spending time with family and friends, valuing connection and the balance that time with loved ones brings.