Leadership team (ID 1542)

• Rachel Shaw
  Trust Leader and CEO
  Rachel Shaw

  Rachel has over 30 years of experience working in schools across Devon. She began her career as a primary teacher before progressing into headship and, subsequently, executive leadership roles. An accomplished CEO, Rachel has led three multi-academy trusts within the county and has also served as Interim Director of Education for Devon County Council, supporting the authority through a significant period of change.

  Rachel is deeply committed to ensuring that every child has access to a positive, enriching educational experience that prepares them well for adult life. She is a passionate advocate for inclusion, championing the importance of enabling local children to attend their local schools. In addition, she represents education on Devon's Children's Social Care and Special Educational Needs board.

  Rachel firmly believes in the vital role that communities play in nurturing confident, well-rounded individuals. She is delighted to be working in the heart of Dartmoor—an area where she spent much of her own childhood and with which she has a strong personal connection.

• Susanne Kiff
  Deputy Trust Leader and CFO
  Susanne Kiff

  Susanne is the Deputy Trust Leader and Chief Finance and Operations Officer; she plays a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of the Trust's 19 schools. With oversight of the multi-million-pound budget and 800 staff, Susanne leads key operational areas including Finance, HR, Estates, Digital, Health & Safety, Catering, Compliance, and GDPR. She brings extensive experience in educational leadership and holds an Executive MBA in Education Management. A Fellow of both the Chartered Management Institute and the Association of Accounting Technicians, Susanne is dedicated to ensuring excellence and equity across the Trust.

• Phil Whittley
  Director of School Improvement - Primary
  Phil Whittley

  Phil has worked in primary education since 2004 and has held senior leadership roles since 2009, supporting schools across Devon in a wide range of contexts. Throughout his career, he has specialised in school improvement and has worked closely with both Local Authority and Trust Leaders to secure sustainable improvements in teaching, leadership and outcomes for children.

  
  As an Executive Head Teacher within DMAT, Phil supported in the establishment and development of the Trust as 15 primary schools and 3 secondary schools converted to academy status. He has extensive experience working across multiple schools, supporting leaders through inspection preparation, and strategic improvement planning.

  Phil is passionate about creating ambitious, inclusive school cultures where children and staff can thrive. He believes strongly in collaboration, evidence-informed practice and developing leaders at all levels.

  
  Outside of education, Phil enjoys spending time with his family and making the most of the outdoors in North Devon, where he lives by the coast. A keen endurance athlete, he competes in triathlons and enjoys cycling, running, open water swimming, and exploring new challenges through travel and adventure. He also values wellbeing and balance, practising yoga and mindfulness as part of daily life.

• Andrew Finney
  Director of School Improvement - Secondary
  Andrew Finney

  Andrew is the Director of School Improvement for Secondary Schools at Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust and a nationally respected education leader. He has held several headships and senior leadership roles across both the UK and Australia, bringing a wealth of international experience to his work. Andrew supports school improvement across primary and secondary phases, driving excellence and innovation. He is co-author ofCodified Leadership, a practical guide that distils effective leadership behaviours into actionable habits. Passionate about system leadership and professional development, Andrew plays a pivotal role in shaping strategic direction and fostering collaborative growth across the trust and beyond.

• Hannah Rose
  Director of Inclusion
  Hannah Rose

  Hannah is a passionate leader of Inclusion, dedicated to enabling every child to flourish.

  She has worked in schools across the South West since 2007. In 2019 Hannah and her family made their home on Dartmoor. She continued her career in Newton Abbot, serving as a SENDCo, Assistant Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher, before joining the Ted Wragg Trust as a Trust Leader and Acting Headteacher in a new all-through school.

  Throughout all her roles, she has loved working to alleviate the barriers some children and young people face accessing education. She aims to engage with families and communities and work with school leaders and teams to achieve this.

  Hannah also trains future SENDCOs by facilitating the NPQSEND for local training partner SWIFT. She participated in West 100, a programme for school leaders who aspire to eradicate educational disadvantage in the West Country.

  Hannah always works with inclusion as her focus and is committed to embedding inclusive practice across our Trust, proudly serving the Dartmoor area she calls home.

  Outside of work, she can be found walking on the moor, playing board games and exploring near and far with her family. She always has a good book on the go.

• Jon Galling
  Director of Safeguarding
  Jon Galling

  Jon is our Director of Safeguarding. He feels privileged to work alongside dedicated, passionate, and highly skilled colleagues who share a commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of their circumstances, has the best possible opportunities to thrive.

  Previously, Jon was the Strategic Safeguarding Lead for Education within the Local Authority, and before that, he spent ten years as a Headteacher. These roles have shaped his pragmatic, supportive, and collaborative approach to safeguarding. He recognises that safeguarding is an ever‑evolving and complex landscape but remains steadfast in his belief that the welfare and wellbeing of the child must always sit at its heart. Jon's role supports leaders, at all levels, to ensure our schools have a robust safeguarding culture.