Central Team

Richard was appointed by the Board as the Trust’s first full time CEO in January 2024. He has supported the development of Leeds Diocesan Learning Trust from its earliest days in 2021 and in September 2022 was seconded to the role of part-time CEO alongside his work as Director of Education for the Anglican Diocese of Leeds.

Richard has worked in education all his professional life. He moved from middle leadership roles in secondary schools to pursue a career in primary and secondary teacher education and academic subject teaching and leadership at York St John University. He spent ten years as Head of Theology, Religion and Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Church School Education, through which he worked with church school leaders and Diocesan Directors of Education. At York St John Richard taught across a range of degree programmes in the areas of education, Religious Education and the study of religion and theology. He has also been a governor and a chair of governors in church primary schools.

In 2014 Richard took up post as the first Director of Education for the new Diocese of Leeds, having statutory responsibility for the learning of over 64,000 children across some 250 Church Schools and 11 Church Multi-Academy Trusts. He has operated at Member and Director level in a number of Church Trusts and has completed the Church of England’s programme for Trust CEOs. Richard has supported the work of the Church of England in Education at a national level through membership of the National Society’s Reference Group for Higher and Further Education and was an inaugural member of the first National Advisory Group for SIAMS.

As a regional system leader Richard has worked closely with multiple stakeholders, including the DfE, local authorities, Church of England and Roman Catholic Dioceses, Ofsted, and National SIAMS. These experiences and opportunities have equipped him well for life as our Trust CEO, a role which he feels privileged to fulfil to the best of his ability.  He feels passionate about the role that education and schooling plays in the life chances of children and young people. At its best education should be a liberating experience and teaching a vocation. There is little more important than enabling children to learn how to learn and to nurture a love for learning in all those in our care. Supporting our children and our colleagues to flourish through their time in our schools and Trust is what the job is all about.

Richard is married to Shirley a secondary English teacher. They have three grown up children.

Mark began his teaching career over 20 years ago in North Yorkshire. Since then he has held senior leadership positions in Leeds and Calderdale where he oversaw areas such as Teaching & Learning and Assessment. During this time he began offering support to other schools and quickly became a System Leader culminating in him leading a nationally accredited Teaching School operating across West Yorkshire and based in a highly performing Multi Academy Trust in Calderdale.

Mark is committed to the principle that all children should have the opportunity to succeed regardless of background and has worked collaboratively throughout his career to ensure this is realised. Through his role as Director of Teaching School he has been heavily involved in school improvement, leading and administering projects for schools, Local Authorities and the DfE. He was instrumental in the roll out of the Calderdale and Kirklees Teaching School Hub in 2021 bringing together over 300 schools across the region.  Mark joined LDLT as Director of School Effectiveness in January 2024 and relishes the chance to work collaboratively with such a talented group of leaders who are all committed to the shared vision of the Trust.

In his spare time Mark enjoys spending time with his family, reading, cooking and following a number of sports.

After three years working for the NHS, Leanne began her career in practice accounting, where she specialised in audit and not-for-profit clients, including academies. It was during this time that Leanne gained her Chartered qualification with the ICAEW, also obtaining two prizes for the best result in the region.

Leanne is passionate that children from all backgrounds are given the opportunities to thrive and in 2020 Leanne decided to leave practice accounting and became the CFO of a three school multi-academy trust in an area where over 50% of the school children were eligible for free school meals. Leanne expanded to also lead in operations and support the schools with their Covid-19 response.

In 2021 Leanne was recruited to support a five school MAT that had been issued with a Notice to Improve (NtI). Leanne led the schools to resolve all twenty issues and five months later the notice was lifted. This was the quickest turnaround reported by the ESFA.

Leanne has worked with small and large primaries, all through settings, special schools and large secondaries across six local authorities and gained experience in both the Catholic and Church of England Dioceses.

In February 2022 Leanne became the CFO of Leeds Diocesan Learning Trust and has supported the Trust through its rapid growth to fourteen schools across three geographical areas.

At home, Leanne keeps active by looking after her four young children, including boy-girl twins.

Talitha joined the trust in October 2022 and is an experienced finance and business support professional who manages a range of finance functions, budgets and cost centres. The demands on her role and her responsibilities have developed as the trust has grown. She is currently studying toward her AAT level 4.

In her spare time Talitha is a keen runner and member of her local running club, regularly competing in races across the north of England. She is also a prize-winning baker with awards from various shows and the central team can certainly vouch for the quality of her delicious baked goods!

Chris currently works part time for LDLT as a Project Manager having worked in education for over 34 years.  Through a long and successful teaching career, Chris spent 21 years in senior leadership roles at a large Church of England secondary school and was CEO of a multi academy trust comprising 9 schools with approximately 3500 pupils on roll and over 600 staff.

Chris was given responsibility for and led the growth and development of this 9 school multi academy trust gaining invaluable insight along the way.  During his time in secondary school leadership he held various responsibilities including financial management and physical resources, timetable construction and external visits coordinator.

When he is not at work, Chris enjoys cycling and a range of other outdoor activities.

More information to come soon...

Lucy was thoroughly excited to be appointed as the governance and compliance officer for LDLT. She has worked in Education for over 5 years, starting as an apprentice at a Multi Academy Trust in Rotherham. Her most inspiring moments in governance have been watching new governors flourish in their roles. When she is not at work, you'll find Lucy playing football, walking the dog or spending quality time with family and friends!

Having worked as a PA for 10 years, Lisa moved into education 14 years ago working as an administrator at a Ripon primary school. Lisa lives with her husband, teenage son and 2 crazy cats, and is passionate about contributing to the smooth functioning of educational governance within LDLT.

Colette joined LDLT as Casual Governance Clerk in September 2024; Colette has recently worked as a school administrator. She has been involved with education for a number of years in different roles, and education recruitment. Colette enjoys creative writing, rehab fitness classes, volunteering in the local community and spending time with her friends and two adult children.

Rebecca is delighted to have been appointed as a Governance Clerk for Leeds Diocesan Learning Trust. Rebecca has been Clerking for around 20 years in different sectors. She thrives on the unpredictability of Clerking, as well as being able to develop relationships and work with communities. When she isn’t working, Rebecca enjoys DIY, walking, yoga, mountain biking and scuba diving.