Tricia has worked in Education for 8 years and plays a pivotal role as a Senior Leader at Empower Trust. Tricia leads, develops and maintains the sound operation of financial and business policy/practices across the Trust ensuring that all requirements of the Academy Trust handbook are effectively fulfilled.

Before moving into the Education sector in 2013, Tricia worked for 12 years in the legal public sector working in roles such as press and media relations, training and development and business management.

Between 2013 and 2018 Tricia worked as a School Business Manager in a large primary school and it was here that she completed her Level 5 ILM Accredited Diploma in School Business Management in 2016.

Tricia joined the Trust at its inception in 2018 as the Trust Finance & Business Manager. Her role has evolved and she is now the Chief Operating Officer (COO) also incorporating the role of Chief Finance Officer (CFO) for the Trust. She recently completed her CIPFA Level 7 Diploma in School/Financial and Operational Leadership and Certificate in Financial Reporting for Academies (Cert FRA). She is also a member of ISBL (Institute of School Business Leaders).

Tricia is a DfE accredited SRMA (Schools Resource Management Advisor). The SRMA programme is part of the DfE’s wider work to help schools achieve excellent school resource management.​

My Impact:

My role as COO is integral to the success of the multi-academy trust, impacting every aspect of school operations and contributing to the overall mission of providing high-quality education.  My role in maintaining financial sustainability ensures that schools have the necessary resources to provide quality education and by managing operations effectively, I help schools run more smoothly and efficiently, allowing Headteachers to focus on teaching and learning.  Through effective estate management and health and safety oversight, I create a safe and conducive learning environment for students.  My involvement in strategic planning and project management supports the growth and development of the trust, leading to more opportunities for students and staff.

Molly joined our Shared Services Team in September 2025 as People Services Administrator.

Prior to this role, Molly achieved a Distinction in a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship at one of our Trust schools. After completing her apprenticeship, Molly is keen to progress her career in HR and Governance.

Molly will be working closely with various colleagues across the Trust to provide administrative support across key areas such as governance, HR systems, and general people services. In her spare time Molly enjoys travelling, swimming and running.

My Impact:

To provide clerical and operational support with added junior-level Human Resources and Governance responsibilities.

Contribute to a positive employee experience by being approachable, responsive and detail-orientated in everything I do.

Collaborating with colleagues, helping to create a workplace where everyone feels supported and empowered.

I joined Empower Multi Academy Trust in October 2021 as the Trust Administrator. Since then, my role has evolved significantly.

Alongside my initial responsibilities, I took on the role of ITT Coordinator for the Shropshire Primary Partnership, which operates under the EmpowerMAT umbrella. In 2023, I became the Engagement and Communications Administrator for STEP (Shropshire and Telford Education Partnership), supporting wider engagement across the region.

I am now the Trust Communications and Enterprise Lead — a newly created role designed to strengthen strategic communications and enterprise initiatives across the Trust. This position is still developing and will continue to grow with the Trust.

Background:

Before joining the Trust, I worked from 2013 to 2021 as an administrator for a care company supporting adults with learning disabilities. Prior to that, I spent 11 years at the Royal Bank of Scotland, gaining valuable experience in customer service and operational support.

My Impact:

In my multifaceted role, I contribute to the Trust’s mission and vision by:

• Administrative Support: Ensuring the smooth running of operations by supporting senior Trust staff and the Finance team with efficient administrative processes.
• Marketing & Social Media Management: Promoting the Trust’s initiatives, events, and achievements to raise awareness and strengthen community engagement.
• Communication: Facilitating clear and consistent communication across departments and partnerships, helping to build strong internal and external relationships.

Michelle is a highly experienced and dedicated professional in People Practice and Human Resources, currently serving as Director of People & Culture across the Trust. A passionate advocate for mental health and staff wellbeing, Michelle brings a wealth of expertise, strategic insight, and compassion to her role.

She holds an Associate CIPD Human Resource Practice qualification, a CIPD Diploma in People Management, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the leading professional body for HR and people development. Most recently, Michelle has undertaken a Level 7 Senior People Professional Apprenticeship, further strengthening her strategic leadership capabilities and deepening her impact across the Trust.

Michelle is the Trust Wellbeing Lead and a qualified National Educational Leader in Mental Health, holding a Level 4 Certificate in Mental Health Aware Leadership. She is also a certified Mental Health First Aider, Youth Mental Health First Aider, and Suicide First Aider, reflecting her unwavering commitment to creating psychologically safe and supportive environments for all staff.

Since joining the Trust at its formation in 2018, Michelle’s role has evolved significantly. She has played a pivotal part in shaping the Trust’s culture, providing Executive Assistant duties to the CEO, ensuring the smooth operation of the Shared Services Team office, and serving as a vital link between the Shared Services Team and Trust schools, Headteachers, Governors, and Trustees. As the appointed Trust Governance Professional, she has also completed an accredited qualification to support excellence in governance.

Michelle’s career spans over 20 years in education, including roles as Professional Assistant to Headteachers and Senior Leadership Teams in secondary schools, Educational Visits Coordinator, and PA to a Managing Director. She has also managed an Adult Education Programme, a conference centre, and community facility hire at a large college.

Impact and Initiatives

Michelle’s leadership has already made a profound impact. Last year, she developed and launched a comprehensive Wellbeing Hub for staff, offering access to mental health resources, internal and external signposting, employee benefits, and the Trust’s Employee Assistance Programme. The Hub includes dedicated spaces such as Menopause resources, a Man Cave, Self Care tools, and the Trust’s Staff Wellbeing and Workload Charter.

She also led on a Trust-wide Kindness Initiative, empowering children across schools to lead acts of kindness during Anti-Bullying Week. Activities included writing poems and creating bookmarks, which were shared in public libraries and local communities, spreading positivity and compassion beyond the school gates.

Carla is an experienced leader, who has worked with many national groups and educational influencers. As CEO of Empower Trust. Carla was previously Headteacher of Oakmeadow CE Primary and Nursery School – a Local Authority Advisor and a National College Founding member, sitting on the Leading advisory board at the Chartered College between 2019-2020. Carla is NAHT President within the Shropshire branch, a member of Shropshire Schools Forum and an Executive coach for LLSE.

Carla has been an active voice in Shropshire education for over 10 years, working in close partnership with other Heads to make effective change locally. Carla met Educational secretary, Justine Greening in 2019 as part of this work with Shropshire Heads and has experience of working with Ministers and DfE officials on education policy issues.

As a LA advisor, Executive coach and local leader, Carla has supported over 20 schools and academies in improvement. Under Carla’s leadership Oakmeadow gained outstanding for leadership and management and an outstanding SIAMS inspection.

Carla has led quality assurance work in another successful MAT within Shropshire prior to her CEO role, designed innovative school-led school-to-school support mechanisms, devised networks for effective collaboration between schools, all leading to improved outcomes for Shropshire children.

Carla has delivered keynote speeches at regional and national conferences and has extensive experience specialising in SEND & Safeguarding.

Empower Trust: Strengthening Our Impact Since 2023

Since 2023, Empower Trust has significantly strengthened its impact with the appointment of strategic leads to expertly guide our schools in core areas and welcomed our new Director of Education,  Sam Scott. These appointments have made a notable difference in school improvement support cross our trust,  increased funding for SEND, enhanced inclusion development, developed our teaching and learning expertise, and supported curriculum development.

We are proud to be listed in the expert directory for the regional support team, collaborating with other schools and trusts within and outside of Shropshire to share our knowledge and experience. As an outward-facing trust, we work nationally to secure quality education for our young people and communities.

Over the past nine months, we have restructured parts of our shared services to offer a robust centralised support system, allowing our schools to focus on what truly matters. Our efforts have been recognized with recent award nominations, and we have strong ambitions to grow and positively impact more young lives in the coming years.

A highlight of 2024 was the strong Ofsted judgments in two of our schools and the significant rapid improvement in a previously struggling school. This achievement underscores our team’s dedication to ensuring all Empower children receive the education they deserve.