Steve started his teaching career in 1977, retiring in 2016 from his Executive Headship and Director post in a large Multi-Academy Trust encompassing both primary and secondary age groups. Following retirement he has continued to be involved through various roles successfully helping schools to improve. Steve's educational philosophy is driven to ensure that the student is at the centre of all that is done.

Steve is a Methodist member of the Cirencester Ashcroft Methodist/URC Church where he has an active role within the Church Community.

Barbara has been Head of Service for the Methodist Academies and Schools Trust (MAST) since 2019 and, before that, Director of Education for the Methodist Church in Britain. Her professional background is as a Secondary Head and church school leader in the West Midlands; she has also been a consultant to the Local Authority, PGCE course leader in Higher Education. Within school her specialisms have always been school improvement, pedagogy, diversity and church school ethos. She is a Fellow of Southlands College in the University of Roehampton and has had held secondments with the Farmington Institute and the employers’ organisation, HTI. Her proudest moment is probably when her team won the national award for being the best subject department in the country.

I joined our Methodist family of schools over 20 years ago and have remained dedicated to Methodist education ever since. In 2021, I became part of the MAST executive team, continuing my role as a Regional Leader of Education, developing the CPD training programmes for schools and governors and supporting the recruitment of new head teachers.

As a serving executive headteacher in one of the most deprived areas of Birmingham, and a SIAMS inspector, I continue to be excited by the future for our Methodist schools. As the academisation of all schools continues, I am proud to be a part of developing of our brand-new Methodist Trust as interim deputy CEO

Andrew has been headteacher of Hey with Zion C of E/ Methodist Primary School since 2015. During that time the school has gone from strength to strength. Andrew has led the school through two "good" Ofsted inspections and an "excellent" SIAMS judgement. His school was included as a "Best Practice" representative in the 2019 Education Parliamentary Review. Andrew sees the strengthening of the Christian ethos at the school as being inextricably linked with the rising academic outcomes.

Andrew is also a member of the Leaders Council of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as being a Manchester City season ticket holder.

He lives with his wife, children and two dogs in Saddleworth.

Administration Executive, MIST

Bisi joined MIST in January 2018. She graduated from Birkbeck College, University of London with a degree in Psychology.

Bisi worked in the Civil Service for over two decades, in casework and business management roles. Her most recent stint in the Civil Service was as a Business Manager at the Office of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.