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.

Mr Byrne has 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.

He is actively engaged in Parish life including his role as a children's liturgy catechist in the parish for many years.

A Diocesan Foundation Governor for over 10 years, and  Chair.   He has served on 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.

Miss Higgins is passionate about enabling all young people to grow and thrive, empowering all to be self-confident, well-informed  and leaders of Catholic social teaching in their communities.

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 Headteachers on school improvement and 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 staff and  governing bodies on aspects of their role including self-evaluation, safeguarding, teaching and learning  and preparation for inspection.

As Headteacher, she has sat on all committees of the Governing Body. 

Peter Tomkins

(Acting CFO)

Mr Tomkins has many years' experience of managing school finance systems to ensure best value and the needs of all pupils are met.

As a former Headteacher, he is well-placed to understand the needs of school communities and how resources should be best utilised to address need and raise levels of achievement.  

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 of Personal Development  and Wellbeing and Achievement Committees, lead governor for maths and SEN, member of  steering and pay committees, also chaired the resources committee. 

Richard Hodkinson

(Chair Estates & Premises)

Paula Thompson

(Safeguarding and Wellbeing)

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

Compliance Analyst and Neuro-inclusivity Champion at Financial Services company

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.

I have extensive experience as a professional Project Manager, working in multiple business areas within large corporate organisations and delivering complex technical and business changes.  I am a strong leader, am comfortable managing and motivating teams, passionate about sharing knowledge and encourage open and honest communication.

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

Parishioner for 60+ years at Most Sacred Heart Ruislip Parish

Confirmation Catechist for 5+ years

Foundation Governor at Sacred Heart Primary School

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. 

Bishop John Sherrington

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 2017, Canon Dunne was appointed Chair of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster (RCDOW) Education Commission. In this role he is responsible for all areas related to education  as outlined in Canon law. 

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.

Director for Education 

Westminster

Mr Peter Sweeny has worked extensively in education leadership for the majority of his career. He has been Executive Headteacher over three schools and was CEO of a Catholic Academy Trust. 

He has been a  National Leader for Education providing consulting and mentoring services to Senior Leaders in Education.

In 2020 he joined the Diocese of Westminster as  Director for Education.

Chief Operating Officer

Westminster

Mr Camolletto graduated from the University of Chicago before beginning his career as an   auditor for Arthur Anderson & Co.  Subsequently, he was Vice President at JP Morgan Chase, London.

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. 

In 2016  he 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.