Governance
Trust Structure

Trustees and Board of Directors
Directors
Chair of Board
Angela Ager – chair@romerocat.com
Paul Devine
Johanna McManus
Members
Bishop John Arnold
Member Name | Term of Office From | Term of Office To |
---|---|---|
Bishop John Arnold | 28.03.2019 | Ongoing |
Mrs Mary Hunter | 28.03.2019 | Ongoing |
Canon Michael Cooke | 28.03.2019 | Ongoing |
Father Martin Collins | 07.11.2023 | Ongoing |
Mr Simon Smith | 28.03.2019 | Ongoing |
Canon Anthony McBride | 28.03.2019 | 31.10.2023 |
Type of Director | Name | Term of Office From | Term of Office To |
---|---|---|---|
Foundation | Angela Ager | 01.09.2021 | 30.08.2025 |
Director | Christopher Barlow | 09.07.2024 | 08.07.2028 |
Foundation | Joe Hickey | 01.09.2023 | 31.08.2027 |
Foundation | Nancy Walbank | 01.06.2022 | 31.05.2026 |
Director | Johanna McManus | 07.01.2025 | 07.01.2029 |
Foundation | Paul Devine | 07.01.2025 | 07.01.2029 |
Foundation | Donna McNicoll | 13.05.2024 | Resigned 22.01.2025 |
Director | Rose Rouse | 06.09.2022 | Resigned 28.02.2025 |
Foundation | Philip Gunn | 01.09.2022 | Resigned 15.07.2024 |
Foundation | John Corrigan | 12.12.2023 | Resigned 28.03.2024 |
Business Interest Register / Other Governance Roles
Member | Business Interest Register | Other Governance Roles |
---|---|---|
Bishop John Arnold | Atlantic Trading Charitable Trust, Caritas Diocese of Salford, Ushaw College | |
Mrs Mary Hunter | Member of the Romero, St Teresa of Calcutta and Emmaus CATs. Trustee of the Catholic Diocese of Salford. | |
Canon Michael Cooke | Member of the Romero, St Teresa of Calcutta and Emmaus CAT. Trustee The Salford Diocesan Trust, Caritas Diocese of Salford, Catholic Truth Society (Cathedral Bookshop), Salford Diocesan Schools Building Project, Greater Manchester Industrial Mission. Director of Catholic Support Services | Ex-officio Foundation Governor of St Luke’s RC Primary School. |
Father Martin Collins | ||
Mr Simon Smith | Member of the Romero, St Teresa of Calcutta and Emmaus CAT. Director of Salford Diocese Schools Building Programme |
Director | Business Interest Register | Other Governance Roles |
---|---|---|
Angela Ager | Nothing to declare |
Foundation Governor/Chair at St Margaret Mary’s RC Primary School, Manchester: April 2018 to present Trustee of Salford Choral Society, Salford: September 2018 to present Own Governance Consultancy: September 2015 |
Christopher Barlow | Nothing to declare | Nothing to declare |
Joe Hickey | ||
Paul Devine | Nothing to declare |
Chair of Governors at St Herberts Chadderton. Chair of Governors at Holy Rosary Fitton Hill |
Johanna McManus | Nothing to declare | |
Nancy Walbank | Nothing to declare | Nothing to declare |
Katy Cox (Accounting Officer) |
Nothing to declare | Nothing to declare |
Director Committee Structure 2024-2025
Finance and Resouces (including pay)
Angela Ager
Chris Barlow
Paul Devine
Catholic Life and School Standards
Angela Ager
Nancy Walbank (Chair)
Johanna McManus
Audit and Risk
Chris Barlow
Joe Hickey
Paul Devine
Attendance at Meetings
Member | Meetings Attended | Out of a Possible |
---|---|---|
Bishop John Arnold | 0 | 1 |
Mrs Mary Hunter | 0 | 1 |
Father Martin Collins | 1 | 1 |
Canon Michael Cooke | 1 | 1 |
Mr Simon Smith | 1 | 1 |
Board Meetings 2023/24
Directors | Percentage of Meetings Attended | Meetings Attended | Out of a Possible |
---|---|---|---|
Mrs A Ager (Chair) | 100% | 8 | 8 |
Mr C Barlow | 100% | 1 | 1 |
Mr J Corrigan | 40% | 2 | 5 |
Mr P Gunn | 100% | 7 | 7 |
Mr J Hickey | 62% | 5 | 8 |
Ms D McNicoll | 33% | 1 | 3 |
Mrs R Rouse | 75% | 6 | 8 |
Dr N Walbank | 100% | 8 | 8 |
Finance, Audit and Risk Committee 2023/24
Directors | Percentage of Meetings Attended | Meetings Attended | Out of a Possible |
---|---|---|---|
Mrs A Ager | 100% | 6 | 6 |
Mr J Corrigan | 66% | 2 | 3 |
Mr P Gunn | 83% | 5 | 6 |
Mr J Hickey (Chair) | 100% | 6 | 6 |
Full Board Meetings 2023/24
Name | Type of Director | 25.09.23 | 28.11.23 | 19.12.23 (Board and AGM) | 06.02.24 | 26.03.24 | 21.05.24 | 09.07.24 | 20.08.24 (EGM) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Angela Ager | Chair / Foundation | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended |
Chris Barlow | Director | Attended | |||||||
John Corrigan | Foundation | Not in attendance | Apologies | Attended | Apologies | Attended | |||
Philip Gunn | Foundation | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended | |
Joe Hickey | Foundation | Attended | Attended | Apologies | Not in attendance | Apologies | Attended | Attended | Attended |
Donna McNicholl | Foundation | Attended | Apologies | Apologies | |||||
Rose Rouse | Director | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended | Apologies | Apologies | Attended |
Nancy Walbank | Foundation | Attended | Apologies | Apologies | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended |
Finance, Audit and Resources Committee Meetings 2023/24
Name | Type of Director | 01.11.23 | 12.12.23 | 30.01.24 | 19.03.24 | 14.05.24 | 02.07.24 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Angela Ager | Chair / Foundation | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended |
John Corrigan | Foundation | Attended | Not in attendance | Attended | |||
Philip Gunn | Foundation | Attended | Attended | Attended | Apologies | Attended | Attended |
Joe Hickey | Foundation | Attended | Apologies | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended |
HR and Remuneration Committee 2023/24
Name | Type of Director | 21.11.23 | 20.06.24 |
---|---|---|---|
Angela Ager | Chair/Foundation | Attended | Attended |
Joe Corrigan | Foundation | Attended | |
Philip Gunn | Foundation | Apologies | Attended |
Rose Rouse | Director | Attended | Apologies |
Nancy Walbank | Foundation | Attended |
Catholic Life and Standards Committee Meeting 2023/24
Name | Type of Director | 10.10.23 | 12.03.24 | 15.07.24 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Angela Ager | Foundation | Attended | Attended | Attended |
Rose Rouse | Director | Attended | Attended | Attended |
Nancy Walbank | Foundation | Attended | Attended | Attended |
Angela Ager, Chair of Directors
Angela worked for nearly 40 years in secondary education, the majority of which was spent in senior Catholic leadership roles.
Angela was a National Leader of Governance from 2014 to 2021, supporting governing boards in a range of schools to improve their effectiveness. She has continued to provide support to governing boards by delivering training for governors as part of Salford Diocese Governors’ training programme and through her independent consultancy work.
Angela has been a Foundation Governor for 13 years and is currently a Foundation Governor at two Manchester primary schools, and has been Chair of Governors at one of these for over 10 years.
Chris Barlow
Chris currently works as the Chief Operating Officer in a Cabinet Office business unit.
Chris is an experienced programme, finance and commercial specialist with a track record of working in large global organisations and the UK public sector. His primary experience is in financial leadership and in developing programmes and systems for improved corporate operational efficiency and savings. He also has experience in vendor management and contract negotiation and his industry sector expertise covers accounting practice, global procurement outsourcing, pandemic response, public sector commercial services and national security.
Johanna McManus
Currently, as Head of Alternative Provision at Navigators, Manchester, Johanna ensures that the needs of all students are met effectively. Johanna regularly reviews provision against set targets, challenge assumptions and gathers feedback, and report findings to key stakeholders, ensuring that any areas for improvement are identified and addressed. This structured approach allows leaders to lead with clarity, and requires a strategic approach from Johanna. She fosters a culture of reflective practice and continuous improvement.
Johanna has had the privilege of working in schools that have successfully improved, including those that have been placed in an Ofsted or local authority category of concern. She has been part of the leadership teams in schools that have progressed from Special Measures to achieving Good or Outstanding (eg St Damian’s RC High School, Tameside, St Monica’s, Bury)
Johanna has led the development of Special Educational Needs (SEND) provision, driving significant improvements to ensure that students with additional needs received a high-quality education. Through strategic planning, targeted interventions, and close monitoring, she is able to elevate the SEND provision to at least a good standard, ensuring that outcomes for students are consistently at least Good.
Donna McNicoll
Bio coming soon…
Joe Hickley
Joe is a qualified accountant and member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants with over 30 years’ experience. Joe works for a FTSE 100 company which he joined as a graduate in 1990 and has held a number of different leadership positions within the finance function, he is currently Finance Director of one of their businesses based in Lancashire. In Joe’s role he has established a number of Joint Ventures for the company, and served as a director and been the chair of the associated audit committees. Joe has been a governor at a Roman Catholic school in Blackburn for over 15 years and has been chair of governors for 5 years during that period.
Nancy Walbank
Nancy Walbank is a freelance educational consultant. She is the series editor for the ‘Lighting the Path’ primary RE resource. Her previous roles include Senior Education Adviser for the Catholic Education Service and Diocesan Schools Commissioner for the Diocese of Lancaster. Nancy has experience in the education sector across early years, primary and tertiary settings. She has served as a foundation governor and on the governing body for an initial teacher training provider.
Nancy is passionate about educational opportunities for all children. She was educated in Catholic schools in Colne and Burnley. She holds a PhD in Religious Studies from Lancaster University and believes that a Catholic school should help each child grow to fulfil their potential.
Rose Rouse
Bio coming soon…
Katy Cox, CEO
Katy has over twenty years’ experience as a senior leader in three Catholic Dioceses: Salford, Leeds and Plymouth, as Chief Performance Officer, Education Director, Headteacher and Executive headteacher. She has a proven track record of leading school improvement in her own schools and supporting other school leaders to improve standards for all pupils and has an impeccable record of securing improvements in both Ofsted and CSI outcomes. She works with both primary and secondary schools and has been a governor at a Catholic Secondary school. Katy was instrumental in the development of the Catholic Schools Partnership Teaching School Alliance in Bradford and was seconded to be the Director of the Teaching School on a part-time basis in the first two years of its existence leading the executive team, managing financial modelling and funding streams and delivering professional development at all levels to promote succession planning. Katy brings a wealth of experience to Romero CAT, which she joined in September 2024 and is delighted to be working with colleagues from across the footprint and the Diocese to fulfil Bishop John’s vision.
Paul Devine
Paul is a foundation director (trustee) of the Romero Catholic Academy Trust. He was appointed by the Bishop because of his expertise in public service as a retired police officer with Greater Manchester Police. Paul subsequently worked with the Forensics Department of the force and has since established an SME in forensic technology based in Greater Manchester.
Paul is chair of governors in two Oldham primary schools, one of which was inspected in autumn 2024; as a section 8 report, the school continued to be good although would possibly be outstanding if inspected under section 5. His other school, in a different context, has improved from requires improvement to good. Paul was appointed to oversee the improvements and establish a culture of change using his evaluative and analytical work to support the required changes.
Paul is a practising Catholic and lives in Oldham.