Our Members
The National Governance Association (NGA) describes a Trust’s Members as “the guardians of the governance of the trust.”
Their responsibilities are limited but very important. They appoint the board of directors and have a legal responsibility to appoint the trust’s auditors. Members meet twice a year and can make decisions between meetings in writing.
Co-op Academies Trust has five Members. The Co-op Group as a corporate Member, the chair of the trust board and one other trustee, and two independent Members:
Mr Russell Gill (Date of Appointment: 19/08/11)
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Employee of the Co-op Group; Trustee of Co-op Group Northern Pension Trustees Ltd
Mrs Gill Gardner (Date of Appointment: 19/08/11)
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Employee of the Co-op Group since 28 September 2015; Director of The Grocery Girls (a not for profit organisation) since 16 August 2021.
Ms Rebecca Birkbeck (Date of Appointment: 10/08/20)
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Employee of the Co-op Group
Mr Paul Gerrard (Date of Appointment: 29/05/22)
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Employee of the Co-op Group; Board member of Co-operatives UK; Trustee of the Co-operative Heritage Trust; Board member of the PRCA Public Affairs Board Executive Committee; Director of the Phone Co-op Foundation for Co-operative Innovation; Spouse is an employee of the Department for Education (Human Resources)
Mr Dominic Kendal-Ward – Representative of the Corporate Member (Date of Appointment: 28/07/22)
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Employee and Officer of the Co-op Group (Group Secretary of Co-operative Group Limited and a Director of various Co-op Group entities) since 1 July 2022.
Previous Members:
Mrs Caroline Jane Sellers (Date of appointment: 19.08.11 / Date of resignation: 24.10.22)
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Employee of the Co-op Group; Chair of Governors at Co-op Academy Friarswood.