The Members
As custodians of the Trust, the Members, ensure that its vision and values are reflected in all its work.
Their role is predominantly to:
- Agree and amend the Articles of Association
- Appoint and remove Members and Directors (Trustees)
- Hold the Directors to account for the discharge of their duties
There is no formal Chair. If the Members decide that a Chair is required for each meeting, one may be elected.
The Members meet twice per year with the Board of Directors and again, separately, if they need to make individual decisions. One of the Members is also a Director (Trustee).
Stella Blackmore
Member - School and Local Authority leadership and governance.
Stella Blackmore has been a Member of the Trust since its designation in 2016 and was one of the Members supporting the CEO in developing the Trust’s vision and direction. When she was both a Trustee and Create’s first Chair of the Board, she was instrumental in guiding the development of Create as a multi-academy trust and in welcoming Hodge Hill and Brookfields into the Create family.
She has enjoyed a long association with Conway and Greet, having been a Federation Governor since 2009. Prior to that she lead the Interim Executive Board (IEB) at Conway from 2008.
Stella has wide experience in many aspects of education both locally and nationally, including three deputy headships and two headships of primary schools in the north of England. She then worked for Warwickshire Local Authority where she became Chief Inspector and then Deputy County Education Officer.
She was closely involved with the development of the National College for School Leadership, developing its programme for aspiring senior staff Leading from the Middle. Following this, her work as Succession Planning Associate for NCSL in West Midlands Local Authorities led to her interest in supporting schools in Birmingham, and she is delighted to continue in this role as a Member of the Trust. She is one of two Members who undertake to interview all potential Trustees and recommend them to the Members for appointment.
Justin Gray
Member - School and Higher Education leadership
Justin Gray has been a member of the Trust since 2016. Prior to that, he worked with Greet Teaching School from its designation in 2011, supporting particularly, its initial teacher training through the partnership with Newman University. He has also been a strategic partner in the Teaching School Alliance, having shared oversight of its extended work beyond teacher training.
Justin is a Retired Headteacher with the academy trust DRB Ignite and a governor at three different schools. He has wide experience in education as a teacher, headteacher and university programme leader. He was a founder member of the Chartered College of Teaching and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Authority.
Justin also chairs Greet’s Local Advisory Board.
Mary Higgins
Member (and Trustee) - Governance in Education
Mary Higgins has been with Create since its formation in 2016 and is currently the only Member who is also a Trustee, so she plays an important role in maintaining a communications bridge between the two levels of governance. Mary is one of two Members who undertake to interview all potential Trustees and recommend them to the Members for appointment.
Mary’s experience of education, governance and HR/workforce reform are wide ranging. Further information about Mary’s background and contribution as a Trustee can be found under the Trustees section of this website.
Jo Leishman
Jo Leishman has been part of Astrea Academy Trust since its inception in 2016, when she served as Principal at Highgate Primary Academy. An experienced educational leader, she has worked across multiple schools, developing effective leadership teams and driving improvement. Her passion for delivering brilliant, inclusive education for all children is at the heart of everything she does. In September 2019, Jo joined Astrea’s Central Team as a Regional Director and is now the Trust’s Director of Primary Education, overseeing 19 primary schools within the 26-school Astrea Academy family. Under her leadership, 100% of Astrea’s schools and settings are rated at least ‘Good’ overall or in every category. Beyond Astrea, Jo serves as a Trustee at Elevate Multi Academy Trust, which oversees 18 primary schools across North Yorkshire and Leeds. I had the opportunity to work alongside Jo while briefly chairing a local governance committee at a secondary school where she was a governor. She is an outstanding governor—knowledgeable, strategic, and skilled at striking the right balance between challenge and support. Jo is tenacious, practical, and able to cut straight to the heart of key issues.
Kate Joiner
With extensive experience in governance, board development, and strategy, Kate is a recognised leader in driving organisational efficiency and sustainable growth. She has a deep understanding of how effective governance structures and strategic innovation contribute to long-term success. Kate has worked with numerous organisations to assess governance strengths, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategic solutions. Her expertise includes delivering actionable plans that enhance board effectiveness, strengthen risk management, and drive organisational progress. She also designs and implements governance frameworks that promote accountability, transparency, and informed decision-making at all levels. By leveraging data-driven insights and sector-specific resources, Kate leads initiatives that align governance structures with organisational strategy and long-term vision. Her work ensures that boards remain agile, responsive to external challenges, and well-positioned to seize new opportunities. Committed to continuous professional development, Kate stays at the forefront of governance trends, strategic best practices, and emerging legislation. In her current role, Kate has established best practices, aligned governance structures with long term objectives, and implemented a robust trustee recruitment, training, retention, and succession planning strategy. She has also fostered organisational cohesion, equipping each tier of governance with the tools and skills needed to hold leadership accountable for progress and strategic growth. Kate joined Mercian Educational Trust (MET)—a six school trust—as Head of Governance in 2023. She was previously a National Leader of Governance, holds a BA in Business Management, a Diploma in Business Law, and the Certificate of Academy Governance from the Chartered Governance Institute. She has worked extensively with school boards, providing expert governance support and strategic guidance