The Central team of the Diocese of St Albans Trust includes:

Carole Bennett

Carole Bennett is the Chief Executive Officer.  She has overall responsibility for the DSAT and is accountable to the Directors' of the Trust.  Carole has more than 25 years' experience in the education sector, leading and delivering educational development, teaching and learning and school business support services.  She has worked within local authorities and the third sector, supporting a wide range of maintained, academy and free schools.  Most recently, she was a Director of the largest schools' company in the UK, providing education and business services to over 600 schools.

Natalie Dalvarez

Natalie is the Trust Deputy CEO.  She has overall responsibility for all operational functions across the Trust.  Natalie has worked within the Educational sector for over 10 years', and has experience of working in and supporting Academies, Maintained, Free Schools and Special Schools across all key stages.  Natalie is a Fellow of the Institute of School Business Leadership and sits on their Advisory Board and is an experienced Trustee and Chair of Governors.

 Julie Garstang

Julie Garstang is the Trust Secretary.  She has overall responsibility for the governance and organisational management of the Trust.  Julie has more than 15 years' experience in the education sector, providing organisational support and managing business services to schools'.  Prior to this, she worked in the commercial sector, managing retail establishments.  Most recently, she was a Business Services Manager of the largest schools' company in the UK, supporting key development projects, IT, GDPR, financial and governance services for maintained, academy and free schools.

Karen Dyer

Karen Dyer is the Operations Officer and manages all operational functions across the Trust.  She has over 10 years' experience in a Primary School providing HR support to staff and PA support to the SLT.  Prior to this, she worked in the private sector as a PA to a Sales Director and provided support to several Sales Managers, she implemented a successful interactive management system for the Director and Sales Managers.  Karen is enthusiastic about the challenges ahead and looks forward to the new venture in supporting the schools and staff.

Rachel Palmer

Rachel Palmer is the Finance Manager.  Rachel has more than 12 years' experience in the education sector, providing finance and business management support to schools and academies.  Rachel's last role was School Manager.  Rachel is excited about working closely with the schools within the Trust and supporting them in Finance.

Gemma Barber

Gemma Barber is the Trust Education Director.  She started her career as a primary school teacher before becoming the head of a village Church of England school.  Gemma then decided to diversify and move into secondary education where she ran the Accelerated Curriculum on Entry for under-performing students in Year 7.  Her most recent challenge has been to set up a Teaching School Hub in one of the Opportunity Areas, organising and delivering high quality CPD for both primary and secondary practitioners.

Steph O'Neill

Steph is the Trust Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Lead.  Steph has more than 25 years' experience as a teacher, largely in primary schools and with some time spent in the secondary sector, and she has enjoyed several senior leadership roles.  Steph is a qualified special needs co-ordinator and specialist dyslexia teacher who is most passionate about making a difference for all children, but especially those who are disadvantaged.

Mannewar Hussain

Mannewar Hussain is the Trust IT Network Manager.  Prior to joining the Trust, he has over 10 years' experience within the education sector working closely with Senior Leadership Team and IT Managers in providing, supporting and implementing best practice for IT supports, infrastructures and customer services.   Working for the Trust provides him with opportunity to utilise his skills.

Michael Ward

Michael Ward is a the Senior IT Technician.  He works within the IT Networks Team, across the Trust to maintain and develop the standards of ICT within the Trust's academies.  Michael started his career as an IT Apprentice within a senior school before moving onto the role of IT Technician.  After the opportunity arose, Michael moved on to join the Trust in September 2018.

Hue Mondesir

Hue Mondesir is a the IT Technician.  He works within the IT Networks Team, across the Trust to maintain and develop the standards of ICT within the Trust's academies.  Hue brings with him 15 years' of IT experience from primary and secondary schools.  Hue joined the Trust mid 2019 and looks forward to supporting the Trust and the challenges ahead.