Spencer Academies Trust welcomes three new members to its Board of Directors
Spencer Academies Trust is delighted to welcome Sam Sykes, Chris James and Richard Goodman as new members of our Board of Directors, joining the Trust from 1 September 2026.
The three new Directors bring a wealth of experience from across education, finance, strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement and the charity sector, further strengthening the expertise and perspective of our Board.
Sam Sykes brings more than 15 years of experience across education, stakeholder engagement and the charity sector. A qualified teacher, Sam has worked in secondary education and spent ten years at UCAS in roles spanning operations, customer experience, learning and development, and strategic engagement. She currently works for Sue Ryder as a Senior Regional Fundraiser and brings particular expertise in strategic planning, partnership working and improving opportunities for young people.
Chris James joins the Board following an extensive career in education and school leadership. Most recently CEO of Chorus Education Trust, Chris has spent 35 years working across schools in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, including as a Headteacher and Executive Headteacher. He brings significant experience of school improvement, governance and leadership within the multi-academy trust sector.
Richard Goodman brings 38 years of experience from the banking and finance sector, with a career spanning relationship management, business transformation, technology and project management. His extensive experience of leading change, working with stakeholders and delivering strategic transformation will bring valuable additional expertise to the Board.
We are delighted to welcome Sam, Chris and Richard to Spencer Academies Trust and look forward to the contribution they will make as we continue working to improve the life chances of children and young people across our communities.