Peter has been a solicitor all his working life and retired in 2022. He built a strong reputation as a family lawyer. Described as ‘calm and incisive’ in the 2015 edition of the Legal500, Peter joined his firm’s family team to deal with specifically high-value claims and high net-worth individuals in family and matrimonial proceeds. Peter was also the Diocesan Registrar for the Diocese of Leeds until March 2022, leading on legal advice to the Diocesan Board of Finance including in matters regarding safeguarding legislation. Peter brings legal, policy and negotiation skills to the trust. He was appointed as Chair of LDLT.

Angela is passionate about ensuring all children have the best education but grow up knowing that they each have a role contributing to society. She has recently retired from the post of Diocesan Director of Education for the Catholic Diocese of Leeds where for over 11 years she advised schools in 8 local authorities mainly in West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. She is a member of the DfE Early Years and Schools Recovery Advisory Group and a member of the DfE Working Group 1 advising on the Academy Trust Handbook and a collaborates regionally through the DFE West Yorkshire Strategic Partnership. Angela has been chair of a Leeds MAT since its establishment 5 years ago as a single primary school trust that has since grown to 8 academies. She has also overseen the establishment of a further 4 MATs in the Catholic diocese and the conversion of around 60 schools. Previously Angela worked for the Education team at Leeds City Council specialising in governance and has been a school governor for 26 years at primary, secondary and special schools in the region. Angela was awarded the OBE for services to education in the Queen’s New Year Honours in Jan 2017. Prior to her career with schools, she was a virologist at Leeds University before working as an accountant specialising in trusts. Whilst bringing up her two daughters Angela was appointed to the regional Consumer Council for Water with a special interest in consumer debt issues, complaint management and improving the quality of Yorkshire rivers.

Sofia McGreavy brings a wealth of experience from the Education and Charitable sectors to her role as a Director. With a background in senior HR and Safeguarding roles, Sofia has dedicated herself to serving the community for many years. As a trustee for prominent charity in the Leeds area, she has demonstrated unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of children and young people. 

Sofia's expertise extends particularly to HR within the education sector, where she has amassed valuable knowledge through her tenure with multiple acadmey trusts and as a governor.

Andy retired from full time work in July 2023, having been a Service Director since January 2019 and was part of the Directorate Management Team for Children’s Services in Wakefield. Andy managed a team of 600 individuals and a budget of £46m across a diverse educational landscape. Together the team built on their 2021 ‘Good’ ILACS inspection and developed an integrated system (Wakefield Families Together) with colleagues in health, police, education, voluntary sector and social care to effectively support young people and their families. As part of this approach, Andy co-produced with education leaders, a more inclusive system which reduced permanent exclusions and supported vulnerable young people remaining in mainstream education.

Since retiring Andy has become the Chair of the Barnsley Schools Alliance, the Independent Chair of Rochdale’s Fair Access Panel and a Trustee with Lingfield Academy Trust, Accord Academy Trust (Wakefield) and Leeds Diocesan Academy Trust.

Andy qualified as a Reception Teacher in 1984 with his first post in London and has taught all primary age groups as well as holding senior leadership positions across several Local Authorities; including being a Primary Headteacher for 12 years. Andy has worked in school improvement since 2005; first as a school adviser and latterly as Head of School Improvement for North Yorkshire County Council.

In his spare time, Andy plays guitar, follows Salford Red Devils RLFC and is an avid reader of various genres of literature from Grayson Perry to Bernard Cornwell.

Kate is the Finance Director for the Leeds based Collaborative Learning Trust, a growing multi-academy trust comprising both faith and non-faith schools across Leeds and Bradford.  As a senior leader of a growing Trust, Kate brings a range of experience in establishing a successful and supportive central services function across Finance, HR, Operations, IT, Site and Governance, however her main expertise lies in Trust financial management.  Prior to joining the Collaborative Learning Trust, Kate spent 12 years in the financial services sector for a large, multi-national firm, holding a range of positions across the finance function, most recently working as the Finance Director for one of the global businesses.

Richard is an experienced Town Planner, working for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority for the past 15 years, with 10 years as its Head of Development Management.  This is a senior management role with responsibility for delivering an efficient and effective planning service.  Richard is responsible for over 700 planning decisions made by the Authority on planning matters and representing it on regional and national groups.  He makes a positive contribution to the strategic leadership of the organisation as well as managing a public-facing service. Richard has extensive practical experience of planning and development in urban and rural areas, having previously worked in York, Reading and Oxford.  He is used to working constructively with politicians, developers, partners in other public bodies and the public.  He holds a degree in Town and Country Planning and is a charged member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. As a member of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) of Holy Trinity Church Ripon, Richard makes a positive contribution to the leadership and governance of the church and continues to make particular contributions to developing a church mission that serves its community and in delivering youth activities. He brings a wealth of skills and a strong commitment to the Christian foundation of the Trust.

Geoff has been CFO for the Diocese of Leeds since early 2018, prior to which he was Head of Management Reporting at UK Asset Resolution. He is also a Trustee of Marrick Priory Trust and The Methodist Relief and Development Fund. He brings experience of financial management across a number of companies, alongside the knowledge and expertise developed in other trustee roles within the not-for-profit sector.

Rev. Stephen Hanscombe is the Vicar of Leyburn and Bellerby in the Yorkshire Dales and has been since 2019.  Prior to Stephen’s ordination he was a teacher and a headteacher in primary schools.

As a Headteacher Stephen worked in a variety of schools; both church schools and community schools.  All of the schools Stephen was Headteacher of were schools in challenging circumstances, including the last school he was substantive head of, which was in special measures when he was appointed and was deemed a good school during the time he spent as Headteacher.  Following Stephen’s retirement from his substantive post he worked as Executive Headteacher for a church school in Bradford for two terms.

When Stephen was ordained he wanted to be able to combine his two vocations and he served as a Governor in both primary and secondary schools. This has given Stephen experience in school governance which will be used to support the LDLT Board of Directors.