Governance Membership
Founder Members
Founder Members play a vital role in safeguarding the Catholic identity, vision and mission of our Catholic Multi Academy Trust (CMAT). Appointed in accordance with the requirements of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, they act as custodians of the CMAT's founding principles and charitable purpose.
Their key responsibilities include:
- Upholding the Catholic ethos and values of the CMAT.
- Supporting the mission of Catholic education across all our schools.
- Appointing Directors and holding the Board to account for effective governance.
- Ensuring that the CMAT continues to operate in line with its Articles of Association and the expectations of the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
Founder Members are not involved in the day to day running of the Trust. Instead, they provide strategic oversight and accountability, helping to ensure that the CMAT remains faithful to its mission of delivering excellent Catholic education and serving the communities within the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
Additional Information about Founder Members can be found below when clicking their photograph.
Founder Members (ID 1028)
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Archbishop Bernard LongleyChair
Archbishop Bernard Longley
Bernard Longley, 9th Archbishop of Birmingham, is Chair of the Bishops' Conference Department of Dialogue and Unity and Episcopal Liaison to the Travellers' Issues Working Group.
Archbishop Longley also sits on the Mixed Commission of the Conference of Religious. Archbishop Longley was appointed by Pope Benedict as a member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization and the co-Chairman of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), with oversight of the third phase of Anglican-Catholic dialogue.
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Steve BellMember and Director of Education
Steve Bell
Steve is currently the Chief ExecutiveOfficer of Painsley Catholic Academy- a multi academy company comprising of 16 schools in Staffordshire.
Steve joined the Diocesan Education Service (DES) on an initial two-year part time secondment. As Director of Education, Steve's role is to promote, communicate and implement the Archbishop's vision for Catholic education in the Archdiocese.
The role aims to build capacity, trust and strong relationships within the Archdiocesan family of schools; facilitating collaboration between MACs and schools to achieve continual school improvement and raise aspirations to be the school of choice for parents and children in the local area.
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Kari GordonMember
Kari Gordon
Director and part owner of ITG Resources Limited (company number 06045013)
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Eric KirwanMember
Eric Kirwan
Eric Kirwan is the Chief Operating Officer for the Archdiocese, with effect from Monday 8 March 2021.
Currently the Chair of Directors at Holy Family Catholic Multi-Academy Company (MAC) in Warwickshire. Prior to taking up this role he was a successful Chief Executive Officer with experience in both the private and charity sectors.
He is a parishioner and church warden at St Francis Catholic Church in Kenilworth and has been active in the parish community for many years. Prior to his role at the Holy Family MAC, Eric was CEO at Modulex A/S in Denmark for several years.
Eric also holds the role of Non Executive Director at Snap Vision, UK. A role held since 2012 at an award-winning visual search and AI company. -
Chris LoughranMember
Chris Loughran
Trustee, Archdiocese of Birmingham
Director of Avalanche Capital Limited
Employee of Trafalgar Workforce Solutions, providing services to Deloitte LLP.
Director of two family companies; Luchrain Investments Limited and Luchrain Trading Limited.
Director of Portway Community Rugby Limited, a company limited by guarantee, owner of the land on which Birmingham & Solihull Rugby Football Club play.
Trustee of City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.Trustee of CBSO Development Trust
Trustee of The Lord Mayor of Birmingham's charity -
Canon. Jonathan VeaseyMember
Canon. Jonathan Veasey
Parish Priest of Sacred Heart and Holy Souls
Priest of the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
He trained for the priesthood at St. Mary's College Oscott and completed his studies at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.
Since 1994 he has worked with the Catholic Schools' in the Archdiocese of Birmingham serving as Primary School RE Adviser.
Served as Director of the Diocesan Education Service.
In 2011 amalgamated the Diocesan Department of Religious Education and the Diocesan Schools'
Commission into one organisation and served as the Director of the Diocesan Education Service until 2018.
Continues to lead the Diocesan Academy Strategy as Chair of the Diocesan Academy Strategy Board.
Foundation Directors
The Foundation Directors, also known as Board of Directors, together with its Board-level committees, provides strategic leadership and oversight for St Raphael the Archangel Catholic Multi-Academy Trust (CMAT). A fundamental responsibility of the Board is to preserve, promote and develop the Trust's Catholic identity, ensuring that its mission and values are reflected in all aspects of the Trust's work.
Directors serve as both company directors and charity trustees. They are accountable to the Archbishop of Birmingham, the Department for Education and the Members of the Trust for the quality of education provided across all academies. They are responsible for the overall governance, strategic direction and effective management of the Trust, while ensuring compliance with the Trust's charitable objectives and any guidance issued by the Archbishop through the Diocesan Education Service.
The Board comprises eleven Directors, who work collaboratively to ensure that the Trust delivers its vision and priorities in line with the educational mission of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. The Directors set the strategic direction of the Trust, uphold the highest standards of governance and provide robust challenge and support to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Leadership Team.
To learn more about our Directors, please click on the profiles below.
Foundation Directors - St Raphael the Archangel CMAT (ID 1030)
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Mrs Una BennettChair
Mrs Una Bennett
Una is a retired senior civil servant with a career spanning project delivery and operational leadership across government agencies and the private sector, including roles at the Standards and Testing Agency, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, the Department for Education and Barclays.
Her experience includes strategic leadership of large-scale operations (including teams of more than 2,500 staff), leading change and performance improvement across complex organisations, and strong governance and board experience.
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Fr Paul Whieldon
Fr Paul Whieldon
Fr Paul is the parish priest serving St Joseph, Carterton and St John Fisher and St Thomas More, Burford. Fr Paul has extensive pastoral experience of youth ministry as the former Parish Priest and Chaplain at the Kenelm Youth Trust in Alton.
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Mr Keith Ainsworth
Mr Keith Ainsworth
Keith is a solicitor with a background spanning criminal law, private equity and corporate finance. He has held senior leadership roles in legal practice and in industry, including board responsibility for audit, compliance, governance, legal matters and risk management.
His expertise includes corporate governance, risk management, public procurement, audit, compliance and regulatory oversight.
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Mr Paul Concannon
Mr Paul Concannon
Paul has almost 30 years' experience in the governance of Catholic schools as a governor and director. He is currently Chair of the Pope Francis MAC and has held senior roles in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.
His background includes strategic planning informed by executive board experience, commercial leadership skills across sales and marketing, finance, HR and legal, and experience of transformation and growth, including partnership with the DfE to support a trust merger.
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Mr Jim Foley
Mr Jim Foley
Jim retired as Headteacher of St Thomas Aquinas School, Kings Norton, after 37 years in Catholic education. He is a Foundation Director and Chair of the Holy Spirit Multi-Academy Company.
He brings deep experience of Catholic education and school leadership, with a track record in school improvement, including supporting transformational change within challenging schools, alongside governance leadership as a Trust chair and foundation director.
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Mr Phillip Richardson
Mr Phillip Richardson
Philip is a retired Director of Democracy, Planning and Public Protection at Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council and a practising barrister.
His experience includes public-sector leadership and governance, facilities management and ongoing health and safety training, executive coaching and mentoring (ILM Level 7),and Trustee of the Apostle of Jesus Missionaries Support UK Charity.
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Mr Joseph McLoone
Mr Joseph McLoone
Joseph is an experienced executive and non-executive director across commercial, public and voluntary sectors, with considerable organisational development experience and strong people management and finance skills.
His background includes managing people and finances, supporting public-sector governance, including local government standards work. He also has NHS non-executive experience, including supporting the establishment of new NHS trusts.
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Mr Daniel Gavin
Mr Daniel Gavin
Daniel is Head of Estates Operations at an NHS Trust, with extensive estates and operational experience across large, multi-site hospitals.
His expertise includes estates strategy and operational delivery across complex portfolios; health and safety, statutory compliance and business continuity.
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Dr Priscilla A. Duodu Vitoh
Dr Priscilla A. Duodu Vitoh
Priscilla is a legal academic, qualified solicitor and governance consultant with over ten years' experience across financial services and legal education in Africa and the UK. Holding a PhD in Law, she specialises in corporate governance, supporting organisations to establish and strengthen effective governance frameworks.
She is a lecturer in company law at Loughborough University and an active researcher, contributing to governance policy and practice across academic and professional contexts.
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Mrs Joanne Murphy
Mrs Joanne Murphy
Joanne has had a long and varied career across both the public and private sectors, with senior experience in sales, communications, marketing and project management. She is currently a Project Director for the Department for Education, overseeing a portfolio of capital construction projects from feasibility through procurement and delivery, with a value of approximately £300 million.
She is an experienced line manager and negotiator and brings a diligent, trustworthy and conscientious approach to her work, with a clear understanding of the responsibility and importance of governance roles.
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Mrs Marjorie Bannister
Mrs Marjorie Bannister
Marjorie Bannister is an entrepreneur, educationalist, mother and Christian whose life has been shaped by leadership, service and faith.
She was born in Connecticut, USA, holds an undergraduate degree from Boston College, a Masters degree from London School of Economics and a Theologydegree accredited by Durham University.
Her business career began in management consulting with BoozAllen London in a specialty offshoot in financialservices called Spicer and Oppenheimer. She is Co-founder and CEO of Wax Lyrical Ltd, a retail chain of candle stores which was built up to 50 shops across the UK, then sold to a US manufacturer in 2003.
Her educational posts include being Chair of St Michael's Catholic College from 2013-2025, a Catholic comprehensive with 1000 students in Bermondsey, achieving 2 Outstanding Ofsted ratings during that period. Marjorie is currently Chair of Hungerford Nursery School with 120 children and a staff of around20.
Marjorie's current Directorships include Trustee of EducareM since 2015 which is led by Sister Judith Russi and provides formation for Catholic leaders in education. She is a trustee of The Archbishops Anglican Communion Fund based in Lambeth Palace which provides funding for Anglican Communities in need, around the world and a trustee for the Personal Emergencies Fund which provides funding for clergy in need of medical care.
A passionate Christian who is a baptised Catholic working across Anglican and Catholic institutions.
COMMITTEES AND MEMBERS
To support its work, the Board operates through the following committees:
| Committee | Membership |
| Audit and Risk Committee |
Philip Richardson Priscilla A. Duodu Keith Ainsworth |
| HR, Finance and Operations Committee |
Paul Concannon Joseph McCloone Una Bennett Marjorie Bannister Daniel Gavin |
| Flourishing Catholic Standards Committee |
Jim Foley Fr Paul Whieldon Una Bennett Joanne Murphy |
| Pay committee |
Una Bennett Jim Foley |
LINK DIRECTORS
| JCNC Committee | Jim Foley |
| Safeguarding | Philip Richardson |
| SEND | Marjorie Bannister |
| PP | Priscilla A. Duodu |
| Health & Safety | Daniel Gavin |
| Finance/Operations | Joseph McCloone |
| Careers | Priscilla A. Duodu |
| HR | Paul Concannon |
| Attendance | Joanne Murphy |
| Flourishing Catholic Standards | Fr Paul Whieldon & Jim Foley |
Local Governing Body
Our Local Governing Bodies comprise representatives from parents, staff and the wider Catholic community. They play an important role in supporting the operational effectiveness and educational performance of each academy within St Raphael the Archangel CMAT.
Working closely with school leaders, Local Governors provide support and challenge to help ensure that each academy achieves its objectives and delivers the best possible outcomes for pupils, in line with the vision, values and strategic direction set by the Trust Board.
Please click below to view the membership of each Academy's Local Governing Body. If you wish to contact your Local Governing Body, please do so through the school office at the relevant academy.