Susan Fielden

Susan is a school funding specialist working with school trusts in England. Susan has worked in the field of school finance for over 30 years, at a school, local authority, and national level, and as the CFO in a ten-school multi-academy trust.

As a qualified accountant, she has dealt with complexity and detail, a wide range of stakeholders and an ever-changing political and regulatory context, always seeking to find strategic solutions and improving the cost- effective use of public funding.

She is a trustee/director in a multi-academy, represents school trusts at various national policy groups on funding, finance, pay and pensions and delivers consultancy support to schools and academies on strategic education-led financial planning.

Lisa Sproats

Lisa is an experienced chartered management accountant and throughout her career has always had a keen focus on the operational side of the organisations she has worked in, ensuring the finance function is an effective enabler providing great service to all stakeholders.

Lisa has worked in a variety of roles ranging from those with a focus on financial compliance and statutory reporting to planning, analysis and total cost productivity. Following a number of years working in finance teams internationally within the manufacturing sector Lisa returned to the UK and joined NCG as its management accountant in January 2008.

In the 14 years Lisa has been part of NCG it has grown from two colleges to the group of seven colleges it has become today. In this time Lisa has held a variety of roles in the finance team which have equipped her to now lead the finance function across the group in her role as CFO of NCG.

Yvonne Moult

Yvonne has worked for a Local Authority for more than 25 years, always working within payroll but primarily looking after pension obligations. Yvonne is now the Payroll and Pensions Manager where amongst other things she is responsible for meeting all employer obligations for Local Government, Teachers and NHS pension schemes for both the authority and their external customers. Yvonne has helped administer the TPS as an employer since 1998 and is in regular contact through her work with schools, academies and teachers around various aspects of the scheme.

Yvonne has worked closely with the Local Government Association on Teachers’ Pension (TP) issues chairing two of their groups. This involved working with the LGA, colleagues from other local authorities as well as representatives from TP on various administration or policy issues.

Between 2015 and 2023 Yvonne was a member representative on her Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Pension Board. The Board ensures effective and efficient governance and administration of the LGPS within the region.

Simon Lowe

Simon Lowe has worked within the education sector since 2004, working in both local authority and multi academy trust settings. He is currently the Head of Finance at a large multi academy trust. His responsibilities include leading the team of Finance Managers and Finance Officers, overseeing the Trust’s budget planning process, reporting to the Board of Trustees and driving the focus on long term financial viability and value for money through the Trust’s financial strategy.

Simon has held various roles within education finance over the years, starting as a local authority peripatetic bursar before moving into more senior posts over time.

Prior to moving into the education sector Simon spent a number of years in management in the leisure industry.

Peter Bryan

Peter has over 30 years’ experience of the education sector. During this time, he has been bursar of three schools, Marlborough College, Ampleforth College and St Peter’s School, York. He now runs his own consultancy providing services to the sector. He has extensive business development, project management and governance experience both in the UK and internationally.

Peter is a Chartered Accountant having trained with BDO and holds a degree in Accounting and Business Law from Stirling University. Prior to entering the world of education Peter was a divisional finance director in the Goodhead Group.

Peter was a member of the Independent Schools Teachers’ Pension Working Group and chairman of the employers’ group for the Independent Schools’ Pension Scheme, part of TPT Retirement Solutions. He has served as a trustee of an employer pension scheme. He was also a trustee of a multi-academy trust, the Arete Learning Trust. Peter has served as a governor/ trustee of several schools including Ardingly College, Pinewood School, Lady Lumley’s School and St Martin’s School. He has also acted as a financial advisor to the Douai Abbey Trust.