Central Team

David is a National Leader of Education (NLE) and has extensive experience in education. David has over 20 years’ experience in senior leadership in different settings. David has completed the NPQH and the Professional Qualification for Schools Inspectors. David has been a Headteacher in two different settings. David has taken a school from special measures to good with outstanding features. David works with school leaders to empower them to drive and embed positive change. As an NLE  David and his team have worked with a large number of schools, locally and nationally, to improve outcomes and build leadership capacity. David’s last school is graded outstanding and his leadership was described as ‘innovative, passionate and inspirational’.

David has a passion for running and has completed a couple of marathons, including the London Marathon. When David is not running he enjoys watching and coaching rugby.

David is the CEO of Engage Enrich Excel Academies and is working with the board to build a primary trust built on trust, support and corporate responsibility. David is passionate about education and is passionate about improving the hopes and dreams of every child, employee and family connected with EEEA.

David is always keen to talk to schools about how EEEa enables schools to meet their community needs. If you are interested in finding out more please email David at dharris@eeea.co.uk.

As Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO) of the Trust, Ali works closely with Trustees, School Leaders, School Business Managers and their teams. At EEEA, people matter. Ali’s leadership approach is grounded in respect, creating a sense of belonging, and empowering teams to unlock future potential for every pupil.

Ali is a collaborative operational leader with 12 years of foundational experience in business process consulting, followed by a career dedicated to supporting school communities since 2011. She combines executive-level leadership experience within secondary schools and standalone sixth forms with deep, personal experience of working in primary schools, where she has guided others through the practical and emotional realities of academisation. Having worked across multiple Trusts in education management; from clerking to the executive board; Ali focuses on delivering robust financial, HR, IT and administrative frameworks that support staff, reduce workload pressures, and create a stable environment in which both teams and pupils can thrive.

Petra has over 30 years of experience in finance across a variety of sectors. Since January 2026, she has been working as Finance Manager at EEEA, where she is part of the Central Team responsible for overseeing the Trust’s overall financial position. Petra has greatly enjoyed the role, particularly the opportunity to build relationships and work closely with School Business Managers across the Trust. She also values having a Trust-wide perspective and understanding how the finances come together across all schools.

Her previous experience includes working as Finance Manager for a telecommunications company, with full responsibility for the organisation’s finances; Finance Analyst within a Multi-Academy Trust, producing management accounts as part of the central finance team; and Finance Manager for several golf clubs, overseeing their accounts and preparing management reports.

Megha is a highly skilled Business Manager with over 10 years of experience working in leadership roles in the education sector. She works closely with the COO and CFO in undertaking some high-level tasks on behalf of the schools within the Trust. She also delivers tailor made training solutions to our school-based colleagues. Her key skills lie in being able to support the schools in daily operational and managerial tasks without losing strategic focus.

Megha is fluent in 5 languages. When not working, she enjoys reading Gujarati literature, cooking and going on long walks with her family. 

Megha is a part-qualified accountant (ACCA) and has completed her Certificate in School Business Management (CSBM) qualification.

Kate serves as Governance Professional to the Trust Board, ensuring that governance arrangements across EEEA operate effectively and efficiently. She works closely with all Local Academy Committees and the various Trust Board Committees, providing expert support to maintain robust governance processes throughout the Trust.

Drawing on her experience as a primary school Headteacher, Kate is well placed to support Headteachers and School Business Managers in the preparation and organisation of the six annual governance meetings. Her understanding of school leadership and governance enables her to provide practical guidance, helping schools meet statutory requirements while ensuring governance remains focused on strategic priorities and continuous improvement.