Our experienced Trustee Board is responsible for running Peak Edge and holding our Leadership team to account.

Dave Cates

Chair of Trustee Board

Dave is managing director of Redemption Media, an award-winning digital solutions company and founder of four tech startups. He is a highly experienced software developer, consultant, team leader and entrepreneur. Dave also has an extensive background in effective school governance having served as a Parent Governor and Chair of Governors. As a National Leader of Governance, Dave supported governing boards across Sheffield to bring change and improvement to their schools and uses this expertise to support Governance across our Trust.

Dave was appointed by the Members in accordance with the Trust’s Articles of Association on 30th October 2018.

Jim Dugmore

CEO

Jim is an experienced Headteacher and has worked as a National Leader of Education and System Leader across the region for several years. He is the former Headteacher of Oughtibridge Primary School, one of Sheffield’s highest performing schools. He has successfully led transformational school improvement programmes across several schools, including leading one of his previous schools from performing within the lowest 200 in England to an Outstanding Ofsted in 2015. He currently supports schools across South Yorkshire and is a Trustee of the Diocese of Sheffield Academy Trust.

Jim was appointed by the Members in accordance with the Trust’s Articles of Association on 17th October 2023.

Dan Andrews

Dan is a chartered accountant with over 17 years’ experience in both professional practice with KPMG, and more recently in the commercial sector with as the Group Head of Finance at the £500m turnover food manufacturing group Hain Daniels, working closely with the Group Finance Director. He has a breadth of experience over a wide range of industry sectors (including education in working with Sheffield Hallam University), and a wide range of scenarios (from clients in distressed situations to clients in high growth scenarios).

Dan was appointed by the Members in accordance with the Trust’s Articles of Association on 1st May 2019.

Joseph Birkby

Joseph is General Counsel at BigHand, a global technology company, advising the Board. He is also studying for an Executive MBA at Cranfield School of Management. Joseph qualified as a solicitor in Sheffield in 2010 and since then has mainly held in-house roles with a focus on the technology industry. Joseph previously co-chaired the BigHand Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee and is a certified Data Protection Officer.  

Joseph was appointed by the Members in accordance with the Trust’s Articles of Association on 24th November 2023.

Nicola Dennis

Nicola is an experienced marketing and communications professional who’s worked in higher education at Sheffield Hallam University for over 15 years. She’s managed the marketing strategy in several overseas markets and now leads the communications strategy for the University’s diverse 30,000-plus student community. She’s led brand development and numerous campaigns, with experience in creative and innovative leadership, change and project management. 

Nicola was appointed by the Members in accordance with the Trust’s Articles of Association on 27th November 2023.

Antoinette Drinkhill

Antoinette is a recently retired Executive Headteacher of a three form entry primary school. She has worked in a wide variety of settings and has undertaken school improvement work as a Local Leader of Education.  She was formally an accredited Professional Partner, Consultant Headteacher, and SIAMS Inspector. As head of a lead school for School Direct she was involved in initial teacher training. She has direct experience of successful school amalgamation and expansion, finance and budgeting, and developing innovative leadership. She currently serves on the Diocesan Board of Education, the Oversight and Scrutiny Management Committee for Doncaster Council (children and young people) and as a governor of a local school.

Antoinette was appointed by the Members in accordance with the Trust’s Articles of Association on 2nd March 2023.

Martin Perryman

Martin is a chartered surveyor specialising in project management. A former director with global business Turner & Townsend, Martin set up his own project management consultancy, Crucible Project Management in 2022. Martin’s specialism is within the education sector, having delivered numerous school, college and university projects. He was previously a framework manager providing technical advisor services for the Department for Education and also spent time seconded into Sheffield City Council managing the delivery of the capital programme for school projects.

Martin was appointed by the Members in accordance with the Trust’s Articles of Association on 24th November 2022.

Michelle Turner

Michelle has extensive experience as a Deputy Director in the Department for Education, most recently as Capital Programme Director for Further Education and in delivering new free schools in the Midlands and the North. She has worked in programme, project and policy development in the schools, youth, FE and skills sectors. She is a graduate of the Project Leadership Programme at Cranfield, and an assurance reviewer for the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA.)

Michelle was appointed by the Members in accordance with the Trust’s Articles of Association on 2nd March 2023.

You can view full details of Trustees’ attendance at meetings in this summary document.

The following personnel also attend Trustee Board meetings to support the work of our Trustees:

Yvette Hawksworth

COO

Yvette has comprehensive experience and knowledge around all aspects of business, finance and strategy.  Prior to joining Peak Edge in 2019, she worked within Sheffield schools for over 18 years, most recently working as a Vice Principal for Business and Strategy within another academy trust.  She was previously a Business Manager at Natwest Bank.  Yvette leads on all areas of financial management and compliance at Peak Edge and has a track record of ensuring extremely high levels of financial performance in our schools. 

Sarah Binns

Headteacher Board link

Sarah has been a teacher in Sheffield Schools for 30 years and Headteacher of Stannington Infant School for twenty years. She has successfully lead the school in Ofsted inspections, building its reputation within the community and having achieved an ‘outstanding’ inspection result.  She has been an Executive Headteacher and has successfully mentored and coached Headteachers who are new to post. She previously worked in the Local Authority advisory team supporting schools city wide in the development of maths teaching.