The Create Executive Team

The Create Executive Team brings together the CEO and a Deputy CEO.

The team oversees the support for all Trust schools in every aspect of school life.
The experience within the team brings together former headteachers with track records of improving schools from Satisfactory to Good, Good to outstanding, RI to Good and Good to Rising Good and also the experience of working within the Department for Education and The Regional School’s Commissioners office.

The Create Group Executive

The CEO, Deputy CEO and the school Headteachers form the Create Group Executive.

The Group Executive agrees on common goals for the academic year and meets regularly to implement our Trust values of collaboration, innovation and integrity.
The Group Executive undertake Trust-to-Trust visits nationally at least once each term to see best practice in action and to collaborate nationally. The group provides leaders and teachers within the Trust opportunities to work together to develop shared principles and practices for all our schools.

Mark Unwin

Chief Executive Officer

“It is my privilege to serve as the CEO of Create Partership Trust. At Create, our goal is to provide the best possible education for disadvantaged children in Birmingham, We aim to create the best teachers; the best leaders; the best education and the best opportunities for our children. Our name says so much about our values: create, partnership & trust. We value inspiration, aspiration and collaboration. We support our excellent Headteachers; their leadership teams; teachers; and staff in providing the highest quality education to over 2,500 children in the city and support for over 250 valued staff.”

Chris Dyson

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

“I am very excited to be part of the Create Partnership where collaboration is the key to all our children's success. I have been a Head Teacher for 9 years where I took one of the most deprived schools in the country to an Outstanding Ofsted grade. The school is in the Top 1% of the country with regard to Maths and the Top 5% in Reading and Writing. Arts and creativity are essential to the children and was part of the non negotiables that I like to see in every school. Being a TES National School Winner for Business Collaboration and being a Pearson Teacher of the Year, I am proud to join a Trust where the children and the community comes first.”

Collette O'Connell

Human Resources Manager

Collette is the Human Resources (People) Manager for the Trust, having joined us in 2018 with over 15 years’ experience across the education sector including schools, further and higher Education. Collette IS CIPD qualified and an Associate member of the CIPD. As a member of the Create Executive Team, Collette oversees all aspects of Human Resources, supports senior leaders, trustees, and works directly with the schools and trade unions.

Janine Gardner

Strategic Operations Manager and European Project Manager

Janine joined the Trust in 2017, bringing wide experience of project management and Operational Management. She is part of the Create Central Team with a particular current emphasis on working with the contractors for estates management. Her wider roles include compliance, governance and European Projects for Erasmus. She is also Company Secretary for the Trust.

Lu Fan

Finance Business Partner

Lu joined the Trust in 2019 with experience in a large MAT and skills gained from other different sectors. As a fully qualified ACCA Management Accountant, she provides up to date financial information to support our Headteachers for decision making. 

Emily Hartland

PA to Headteachers

Emily provides personal, tailored support to the Headteachers across the Trust. She has wide administration experience including 10 years with Birmingham LA prior to joining Create in 2017.

Farzana Mughal

Finance Administrator

Farzana joined Create in 2019 as the finance administrator, providing financial support to the schools. Farzana has over 14 years of experience within larger Academies (Secondary Schools).