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.