Brendan Byrne

(Vice Chair of Trust Board)

IT Programme Manager, a Chartered IT Professional and Member of the British Computer Society.

IT Consultant within the public sector, Project Management of large infrastructure projects.

Worked on large scale IT programmes across multiple sectors with experience in business management, change management, sales, programme and service delivery across different industry sectors including the education sector. Active engagement in Parish life including a  children's liturgy catechist in the parish for many years.

Extensive experience as a Chair of Governors.

A Diocesan Foundation Governor for 10+ years, and  Chair at St Josephs.  He has served on all committees and participated at some point in all committees.

Jim Coyle
(Chair of Trust Board)

Teaching and training, currently part time tutor at UCL and University of Buckingham for PGCE/QTS trainees, educated IOE London University BEd, MA Ac Dip Ed FRSA

Currently is a visiting Lecturer at University of Buckingham. PGCE/QTS. National Leader of governance. 

Previous experience as Catholic secondary school teacher London Borough of Brent, Economics and Social Sciences subject manager University of London Examinations Council, Head of Education ILEX, Senior Manager Pearson, Director of Standards and Qualifications LLUK, Ofsted and Section 48 Lead Inspector.

Chair parish council St Joseph’s Wealdstone, Board Member Harrow Council Schools Standards and Effectiveness Committee, previous Chair St Joseph’s Primary Harrow, Chair Sacred Heart Language College, National Leader of Governance DfE, Regional NLG Advocate for West London boroughs RSC/TSA, Member Diocesan Governors’ Academy strategy and policy advisory group

Geraldine Higgins
(CEO / Accounting Officer)

The founding CEO of the Blessed Holy Family Catholic Academy Trust. Previously Headteacher of The Sacred Heart Language College for over 17 years.

Has previously worked as a Head of English Department and Head of year,  has undertaken various roles as a senior leader in Catholic education.

She has worked for a local authority as a senior school improvement adviser linked  to a range of primary and secondary schools. She  has led school inspections across both phases. As an accredited school improvement partner she has worked with a range of governing bodies on Headteacher performance management.

She became a Headteacher in 2007.  Since 2019 she has also been our CEO establishing all BHFCAT and policies and systems to make the Trust effective. This includes mentoring of Headteachers, leading on training for teaching and learning, safeguarding and leadership. 

Experience of providing training for governing bodies on aspects of their role including self-evaluation and the use of data.

As Headteacher, has sat on all committees of the Governing Body at The Sacred Heart.

Peter Tomkins

(Acting CFO)

John Hamilton

(Chair of Finance & Risk)

Interim Management Finance professional BA (Hons) Economics, MBA - with expertise in business strategy, performance management, project/programme management and team management.

Head of Sustainability and Data Insight in the Finance and Resources Directorate of Westminster City Council. 

Career progression as manager in and across London Boroughs, London Development Agency and Whitbread PLC, In-depth experience of running Divisional support functions, instigating and leading challenging, new and novel projects to successful conclusions. Extensive experience as a member of a governing body.

A parishioner of Wealdstone Parish. Foundation Governor at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, chair personal development & wellbeing and achievement Committees, lead governor for maths and SEN, member steering and pay committees, also chaired the resources committee. Member of the GB team presenting at Ofsted inspection.

Richard Hodkinson

(Chair Estates & Premises)

Chartered Civil Engineer. Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building, Member of the Institution of Structural Engineers

Founder and Chairman of Hodkinson Consultancy a leading specialist energy and environmental consultancy for urban regeneration. The company has advised on some of the largest regeneration projects in the UK. Extensive experience managing integrated specialist teams at all stages of the construction process.

Parishioner of St Matthew’s Northwood. Formerly Chair of the parish Finance Committee.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols

In 1998 Bishop Nichols was appointed chair of the Bishops’ Conference Department for Catholic Education and Formation and also chair of the Catholic Education Service.

In 2008 he was appointed President of the Commission for Schools, Universities and Catechesis of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE).

In 2014, appointed by Pope Francis, he became Cardinal.  He was asked to lead the work of the Church against human trafficking and modern slavery. He is President of the Santa Marta Group, which gathers together Catholic bishops, police chiefs and government officials from over 30 countries around the world in a partnership to work towards the eradication of these twin scourges.

Prior to his ordination, Bishop Sherrington worked for a short period in management consultancy. He was ordained a priest in 1987 and lectured in Moral Theology at All Hallows College, Dublin and St John’s Seminary, Wonersh.

Bishop Sherrington is responsible for the pastoral care of the parishes and deaneries of North London and is Moderator of the Curia and a Trustee of the Diocese. He is Chair of the Governing Body of Mater Ecclesiae College and oversees the Diocesan Education Service.

Chair of the Education Committee, Diocese of Westminster

Canon Michael Dunne is Parish Priest at Our Lady of Grace and St Edward, Chiswick. In his role as Parish Priest, he supports in the creation and execution of the school’s strategy helping them towards their goals. He also plays an integral role in the development of the students’ spiritual growth and is a regular visitor to the school for celebration masses and other events.

In 2017, Canon Dunne was appointed Chair of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster (RCDOW) Education Commission by Cardinal Vincent Nichols. In his role, Canon Dunne is responsible for all areas related to education in schools and colleges as outlined in Canon law. He oversees the financial aspects of providing and maintaining Catholic education in the Diocese and leads on cross-communication with the Archbishop, his Auxiliary Bishops and the Diocesan Trustees.

He is also Chair of the RCDOW Academy Project Board and has played a pivotal part in enacting the vision that every school and college will sit within a nexus of collaboration and support.

Mr Peter Sweeny has worked extensively in education leadership for the majority of his career. He has been Executive Headteacher at St Joan of Arc Catholic School Rickmansworth, St Mary’s Catholic School Bishops Stortford and St John’s Catholic Primary School Mill End. As an Executive Headteacher, Mr Sweeny worked closely supporting school governors and leadership teams to develop progress and capacity for sustainability and success.

In 2012 he joined All Saints Catholic Academy Trust as their CEO where he led for just short of ten years. During this time Mr Sweeny was also National Leader for Education providing consulting and mentoring services to Senior Leaders in Education.

In 2020 he joined the Diocese of Westminster as Interim Director for the Education Service and was appointed to the full position in 2022. As Director of the Education Service he brings his skills in building leadership capacity, professional development and senior-level negotiation as well as his unwavering passion for improving outcomes and opportunities for students.

After graduating from the University of Chicago with a BA in Economics in 1991, he  began his career as an Auditor for Arthur Anderson & Co. In 1995 he became Finance Manager for NCR Corporation before moving on to take the position of Vice President at JP Morgan Chase, London in 1999.

In 2007 he joined the Diocese of Westminster where he held the position of Financial Secretary with responsibility for reshaping the financial and asset management of the charity. He led on developing the new financial strategy of the Diocese by creating innovative income streams and restructuring capital.

In 2016 Mr Camoletto was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Diocese of Westminster, where he continues to provide strategic and operational oversight for Education Services, Caritas (Social Justice), youth provision and the Financial Secretariat.