Our Team
Katy has over twenty yearsโ experience as a senior leader in three Catholic Dioceses: Salford, Leeds and Plymouth, as Chief Performance Officer, Education Director, Headteacher and Executive headteacher.
She 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.ย
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 Johnโs vision.
EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION
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Emily joined the Trust in May 2025, bringing with her over a decade of experience in administration and project management across the private sector, higher education and Local Authority organisations. She has a keen eye for detail and a deep-rooted passion for planning and systematisation.
Outside of work, Emily enjoys spending time with her dog and exploring new destinations. She has a particular love for travel experiences that offer opportunities to observe wildlife in their natural habitats.
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Her role is wide-ranging, and she is the editor and coordinator of the Trustโs bi-weekly newsletter, ensuring timely, clear communication across all academies and teams.
Outside of work, Caitlyn enjoys going on holiday and making the most of her free time with her friends.
EDUCATION
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Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time with family and friends and walking in the beautiful Pendle countryside where she lives.
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Outside of work, John enjoys running, walking and spending time with his family. He loves to read and enjoys watching sport and coaching young athletes.
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Holding a degree in Psychology and Counselling Studies as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work, Rebecca is passionate about creating safe, supportive environments where children and young people can thrive and where staff feel supported in their safeguarding decision making.
Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys music and travel, and is always up for discovering new artists, sounds and destinations around the world.
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Outside of work, Helen enjoys spending time with her family and walking her dog. She is an avid reader and enjoys keeping up to date with relevant educational research.
GOVERNANCE
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Her warm, approachable nature and professional integrity make her a valued colleague and a trusted voice in the governance community.
Outside of work, Lauren embraces family life and enjoys spending quality time with her husband, children and their dog Pixie. Lauren also enjoys socialising with friends, valuing good conversation and laughter as key ingredients for a balanced life.
FINANCE
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Liz Fleming is the Chief Financial Officer at the Trust, where she strategically leads the Trustโs finance function with a clear focus on long-term sustainability and value for money. A qualified CIPFA accountant with over 22 yearsโ experience in the finance sector, Liz brings a wealth of expertise drawn from a diverse career spanning accountancy practice, local government, and education.
Since moving into the education sector in 2018, Liz has played a pivotal role in strengthening financial governance and supporting strategic decision-making across the Trust. Her earlier roles in both public and private sectors have provided her with a strong foundation in financial management, compliance, and organisational leadership.
Beyond her professional commitments, Liz is a dedicated CrossFit enthusiast and enjoys spending quality time with her young family. She is also proud to have completed the Everest Base Camp challengeโan achievement that reflects her resilience, focus, and drive both in and outside the workplace.
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Mandy McFadden is a Finance Manager at the trust where she plays a key role in supporting our schools to manage their finances, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to support education.
Mandy brings over 21 years of experience in education finance, including 18 years dedicated to further and higher education. Her extensive background has given her a strong grasp of the sectorโs unique challenges and complexities. Since joining the Romero finance team in 2022, she has broadened her expertise to include finance within primary and secondary education.
Outside of work, Mandy enjoys renovating her home and travelling, particularly to sunny destinations where she can relax and recharge.
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She has had a 35-year career in finance and has worked in the education sector since 2017. She joined Romero in April 2024 bringing her knowledge of academy trusts, which has strengthened the finance team and the support we give to schools.
Outside of work, Christine spends all of her free time working on the family farm, looking after 180 cows and 15 sheep. She also enjoys showing the cattle at agricultural shows.
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Outside of work, Lisa enjoys spending time outdoors and travelling abroad whether it be at the top of a mountain skiing or relaxing on a beach.
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She works closely with School Business Managers and the leadership team to set long-term financial goals and develop strategies that ensure the financial sustainability of the Trustโs schools. Her strong understanding of educational environments enables her to align financial planning with school improvement priorities, supporting positive outcomes for all pupils across the Romero CAT schools.
Outside of work, Sarah is a proud mother of two childrenโa gymnastics-loving, shopaholic daughter and a football-obsessed, cricket-playing son. She enjoys travelling with her family and loves escaping to her โhappy placeโ on a sunny beach whenever she can.
OPERATIONS AND ESTATES
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James has wide ranging experience in estates management, compliance, operational delivery and project management.
His team ensures that every school provides a safe, functional, and inspiring setting for pupils and staff. Additionally, they oversee capital projects, sustainability and health and safety.
Outside work, James loves to travel and is an avid (but pretty bad) golfer.
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Outside of work, Raja leads an active lifestyleโplaying badminton, cycling, hitting the gym, and trekking, including completing the Yorkshire and National Three Peaks challenges. A dedicated runner, he averages 100km a month and maintains a strong interest in history, philosophy, psychology, theology, and world affairs.
Heโs passionate about travel, culture, and food, and believes the true measure of life lies in the number of faces that light up with a smile when they hear your name.
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A Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH), Heather began her career with Bolton Council, working across nurseries, primary and secondary schools, colleges and special education providers.
Since joining Romero in November 2024, Heather has implemented her wealth of expertise; taking a hands-on, practical approach to health and safety, collaborating closely with Trust schools to enhance their policies and procedures. Heather particularly enjoys visiting the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) as they are vibrant, busy spaces for young learners.
Outside of work, Heather has 3 children, one of whom has a great love of horses, this means she spends much of her free time outdoorsโrain or shineโsupporting their equestrian pursuits, whether at the stables, on the sidelines of competitions or simply enjoying the fresh air.ย
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Rick Darby is the Site Services Manager at the Trust, where he leads a small dedicated team currently providing site management services across six primary schools. With a professional background spanning many sectors, Rick is a retired Police Officer, with electrical qualifications, and also an experienced site manager. This wide-ranging experience allows him to bring practical skills, reliability, problem-solving and a strong work ethic to the role.ย
Outside of work, Rick enjoys playing golf, despite not being the most competitive! A regular Park Runner on a Saturday morning and a keen supporter of Liverpool FC. Rick also loves to travel whenever he gets the opportunity and is always looking for his next trip or holiday.โฏโฏย
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Lee brings a wealth of experience to his role, from his time serving in the Royal Navy and his previous role at Openreach. Known for his strong work ethic, attention to detail and problem-solving skills, Lee thrives in dynamic environments.
Outside of work, Lee is an adventurous spirit – whether he’s tearing through trails as an avid mountain biker or meticulously crafting stunning underwater landscapes through his passion for aqua scaping; Lee’s blend of discipline, technical expertise and creative flair makes him a valued colleague at Romero.
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Steve brings a career of over 30 years expertise in operational leadership, property maintenance and facilities management. His strong background is a real asset for Romero and ensures efficient and effective support across our schools.
HUMAN RESOURCES
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Kelly is a Chartered Fellow member of CIPD and has worked in a variety of Human Resources roles for over 25 years, including 20 years working within the Education sector.
Outside of work, Kelly enjoys playing netball and is a keen follower of Burnley Football Club.
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Helen Swinson is a HR Advisor at the Trust, where she supports schools with all areas of human resources management and employee wellbeing. With a leadership background in the Education, Social Housing and Retail sectors, she has a broad experience of working with, and managing, a wide variety of staff teams which is what sparked her interest in working in a designated HR role. โฏย
Outside of work, Helen enjoys time with her family and friends and opportunities to be outdoors – walking the dog, jogging and we love barbeques, whatever the weather.ย ย
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Holding a CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management, Zoe is an Associate member of CIPD with over seven yearsโ experience in both public and private sector, specifically in retail and education. She provides advice and guidance in relation to casework and contributes specialist knowledge in areas such as people management and recruitment to the team.
Outside of work, Zoe enjoys spending quality time with her husband, son, daughter and dog. She is a passionate music enthusiast; her favourite bands are Courteeners and Blossoms. While she has a love for cooking and singing, she cheerfully admits that these are best left to her husband.
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Kathy is currently on maternity leave, returning in September 2025.ย