Board of Directors

Helen O'Neill

Chief Executive Officer

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 12TH FEBRUARY 2020

Helen is a qualified teacher who holds a Masters degree in education leadership. She has extensive experience of teaching and leadership in a range of schools across the North West and Midlands areas.

Before becoming CEO at the Trust, Helen worked as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) working for Ofsted. During this time, she gained invaluable experience of inspecting and supporting schools on their improvement journeys. As an HMI, Helen inspected a wide range of schools, from primary, secondary and special schools to alternative and independent providers. Helen also inspected local authorities, focusing on children looked after, care leavers, children missing in education and children educated at hom

Elizabeth Kelly

Foundation Director, Chair of the Trust

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018
TERM OF OFFICE: FOUR YEARS
APPOINTED BY: BISHOP OF LANCASTER

Liz graduated as a Catholic Primary School Teacher in 1974 from Craiglockhart College of Education and worked in a variety of primary schools, some in challenging circumstances, both in Scotland & in Lancashire, England. She was appointed Headteacher to St Peter’s in in Lytham in 1997 and after 17 years at the helm retired in August 2014. Since January 2006 she has also worked part-time as an Associate Advisor in the Monitoring & Intervention Team (MIT) within Lancashire Education Authority supporting & developing both Teaching & Learning and Leadership & Management in schools in challenging circumstances. 

Sue Ridyard

Foundation Director, Vice Chair to the Trust, Chair of Finance, Staffing & Premises Committee

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018
TERM OF OFFICE: FOUR YEARS
APPOINTED BY: BISHOP OF LANCASTER

Sue was born and spent the first 23 years of her life in Durham City before moving to the Fylde Coast. Her career was as a Civil Servant then an employee of Siemens Business Services in the Finance Sector. For the last 25 years Sue worked in IT as a Software Engineer before taking early retirement. She is married with 2 children, both of whom were educated at Christ the King and St Mary’s. Sue became a governor in 2007 after being elected a ward councillor in Blackpool. Since losing her seat in 2011, she has been appointed as a magistrate to the Fylde Coast Bench. She also works closely with a Blackpool Children’s charity which is developing links with St Mary’s.

Elizabeth Boniface

Foundation Director, Chair of Quality of Education

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018
TERM OF OFFICE: FOUR YEARS
APPOINTED BY: BISHOP OF LANCASTER

Liz was born and brought up in Blackpool. She was educated at Layton Hill Convent before going to Digby Stuart Teacher Training College, London. She is married to Michael with five sons who all attended St Mary’s between 1986 & 2004. Now retired from the Deputy Head teacher role at St John Vianney’s Catholic Primary School, Blackpool she has a vast experience of primary education. She now enjoys seeing more of my family & friends; school governance; volunteering with the National Trust; choral singing and occasionally working as a TV extra. Her other interests include a love of reading, travel, walking & swimming.

Fr Andrew Dawson

Foundation Director, Vice Chair of Audit and Risk Committee

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 1ST SEPTEMBER 2021
TERM OF OFFICE: FOUR YEARS
APPOINTED BY: BISHOP OF LANCASTER

Fr Andrew is Parish Priest of the parish of Christ the King and St Kentigern in Blackpool, and Catholic Chaplain at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.  Prior to coming to Blackpool in early 2018, he served parishes in West Cumbria, Kendal and Lancaster.  Fr Andrew holds degrees in Religious Studies from Lancaster University and Theology and Ministry from Durham University.  Prior to his training for the priesthood, Fr Andrew had a career in retail, and lived in community with adults who have a learning disability.

Camilla Hardy

Foundation Director, Chair of Pay Committee

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018
TERM OF OFFICE: FOUR YEARS
APPOINTED BY: BISHOP OF LANCASTER

Camilla was born and brought up in Blackpool and educated at Layton Hill Convent.  She has three sons who all attended St Mary’s and one of whom currently teaches there.  She was appointed as a Foundation Governor of St Mary’s Catholic College in 1988 and of Christ the King in 2005.  With more than twenty five years’ experience of working in Adult Social Care in Blackpool and Lancashire , most recently as Head of Service for the County, she brings a wealth of experience of public services, leadership of complex organisations and management of people to this role.

She also serves as a Public Governor on Blackpool Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Paul Hardy

Foundation Director

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018
TERM OF OFFICE: FOUR YEARS
APPOINTED BY: BISHOP OF LANCASTER

Paul was born and raised in Blackpool and was educated at St. John Vianney R.C. Primary School and then St. Mary’s R.C. Secondary School.  He studied law at the University of Sheffield from 1995-1998 and has been a practising solicitor since 2001.  Paul worked and lived in Manchester for a number of years before returning to the Fylde Coast in 2011.  He joined Napthens LLP as a Partner in April 2016, is Head of the Blackpool Office and specialises in commercial property.

Chris Massey

Foundation Director, Director of Catholic Life, Vice Chair of Finance, Staffing and Premises, Vice Chair of Pay Committee

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 26th March 2021
TERM OF OFFICE: Four Years
APPOINTED BY: Bishop of Lancaster

Chris was born in Preston and brought up in Hoghton, in the Ampleforth Benedictine parish of Brindle St Joseph’s. Attending Catholic schools throughout his education before obtaining a history degree from the University of Central Lancashire. He has worked in the private sector, including time in manufacturing as an expeditor for a printing company. Following this, Chris has worked with the Civil Service and DWP, carrying out contracts management and procurement work. Chris has also spent several years at Warbreck House, on the Parliamentary Correspondence Team, before dealing with a variety of other complaints work for the department and is now currently working in DWP Digital.

Chris has experience of being a Governor at the Willows Primary School in Kirkham where he is now the Vice Chair of Governors, included in his role he is the RE Governor. Chris is a parishioner at the Parish of the Holy Cross, running one of the two parish choirs, reading and bell ringing. Chris is an altar server for the parish, having served at numerous diocesan events and is a member of the Archconfraternity of St Stephen. Chris has also sung for a variety of events in the Lancaster Cathedral choir and hopes to be able to do this again in the future.

Chris is married with two children, one of whom is of primary school age and the other at St Bede’s in Lytham.

Mary Speakman

Foundation Director, SEND Director, Vice Chair of Quality of Education Committee

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 
TERM OF OFFICE: FOUR YEARS
APPOINTED BY: BISHOP OF LANCASTER

Mary was born and bred in Blackpool. She attended local Catholic schools St John Vianney’s and St Mary’s. Mary has three young children who currently attend local Catholic schools. Mary has over ten years of experience working with children in various settings across Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde. She now owns a Blackpool based website development and marketing business with her husband, Nicky. Mary is passionate about helping others and giving back to the local community.

Richard Turpin

Foundation Director, Chair of Audit and Risk Committee

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018
TERM OF OFFICE: FOUR YEARS
APPOINTED BY: BISHOP OF LANCASTER

Richard was born in Preston and received his primary and secondary education at catholic schools in the town.  He has been a Chartered Surveyor for over thirty years and has extensive property experience in both the public and private sectors having worked for the Department of Environment , Co-operative Insurance Society and a private development company in Manchester.

For 16 years Richard worked with Eric Wright Group in Preston serving as a main board director and Managing Director of its Facilities Management and Partnerships divisions. During that period, Richard was responsible for the development of Fleetwood High School where he served as a Trustee to the Education Trust for four years, and primary schools in Cheshire.

In Blackpool, Richard was instrumental in the development of Whitegate Drive primary healthcentre and three elderly care rehabilitation centres for the NHS and led the procurement team that designed and built Highfield school , St Mary’s and Christ the King , refurbished Unity College as well as a number of other primary schools in the town.

Richard is married with three daughters and enjoys travel, mountain walking and is a flying member of Bowland Forest Gliding Club.

Sandra Witton

Foundation Director, Safeguarding Director

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 12TH NOVEMBER 2021
TERM OF OFFICE: FOUR YEARS
APPOINTED BY: BISHOP OF LANCASTER

Sandra was born in Fleetwood and educated at St Wulstan’s Catholic Primary School, and then transferred to Cardinal Allen Catholic High School, in 1969. On completing her Teacher Training Course in Liverpool she returned to Cardinal Allen as a “rookie” English teacher on a temporary one-year contract due to a member of the English Department being on secondment studying for a Masters’ Degree. Sandra retired from Cardinal Allen as the Deputy Head Teacher in August, 2021, 42 years later, having been a teacher responsible for the school library, Head of Year 9, Assistant Head Teacher responsible for Pastoral, throughout her very long and happy tenure there.

As Deputy Head, Sandra was responsible for Behaviour Management and was the school’s DSL working with many external agencies to help and support pupils and families in need, and feels very privileged and honoured to have been able to serve the members of the “Cardy” community throughout her teaching career.

Sandra has been the Safeguarding Officer for St Wulstan’s and St Edmund’s Catholic Church, Fleetwood, and has served on the Governing Body at Cardinal Allen for many years. She is very much looking forward to her new role as a Foundation Director of the BEBCMAT Trust.

David Bookes

Co-opted Director

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 13 JULY 2022
TERM OF OFFICE: ONE YEAR
APPOINTED BY: BISHOP OF LANCASTER

David was born and bred in Blackpool and has lived in the area for most of his life. After education, he joined Midland Bank, then becoming HSBC, and worked through the ranks to become a Financial Planning Manager. Thereafter, David moved to the R.C Diocese of Lancaster, working in finance and property matters, focusing on charitable accounting and schools finance. From the Diocese, David then worked for the Church nationally in insurance as a Customer Service Manager for the Catholic Church Insurance Association. For the past twelve years, David has held various roles as a School Business Leader including School Business Manager and Director of Finance & Operations. David currently is back working for the Church as a Finance Manager at the Mater Ecclesiae Catholic Multi Academy Trust in Preston.

David has extensive experience of being a Governor/ Vice Chair of Governors and has been a Member of a Multi Academy Trust in Blackpool.

David is married with two children and two beautiful ‘fur’ babies.

Michelle Staveley

Foundation Director

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018
TERM OF OFFICE: FOUR YEARS
APPOINTED BY: BISHOP OF LANCASTER
RESIGNED: 2022

Julie McLeod

Foundation Director

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018
TERM OF OFFICE: FOUR YEARS
APPOINTED BY: BISHOP OF LANCASTER
RESIGNED: 2022

Paul Desborough

Foundation Director, Vice Chair of the Trust, Chair of the Audit Committee, Chair of the Standards Board

DATE OF APPOINTMENT: 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018
TERM OF OFFICE: FOUR YEARS
APPOINTED BY: BISHOP OF LANCASTER
RESIGNED: 2020