Our Team
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Jeanette Batten MBA, CMgr FCMI
Chair of Brook Learning Trust Board
Jeanette Batten took the role of Chair of Brook Learning Trust in June 2020, having joined The High Weald Academy Council in October 2015 and having been their Vice-Chair since 2019. Jeanette is also the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for the Trust. Jeanette has built her career within property and building infrastructure and services management, working in large Acute NHS Hospitals in Kent, before joining Higher Education Sector in 2019 as Director of Estates and Facilities Management in a South East London University. Jeanette is also an alumni of the then Angley School.
Nicola Taylor BA (Hons), PGCE, MA, NPQH
Interim CEO
Nicola Taylor joined the Trust in September 2015 as Education Project Director, working both on internal Trust projects and academy improvement as well as external projects with our partners in the wider world of education. She takes on the role on Interim CEO from September 2020. Nicola began her career as a teacher of geography in Essex and moved to work across a range of secondary school settings in middle and senior leadership positions in both Kent and East Sussex. Nicola’s experience is further strengthened by her continued work with number of national training providers and in her role as governor to a local primary school.
Louise Burgess BA (Hons), CPFA
Finance Director/Company Secretary
Louise Burgess joined the Trust in September 2012 as Finance Director and is also the Trust's Company Secretary. Louise began her career as a trainee accountant with Kent County Council (KCC). She remained with KCC for 17 years during which time she worked across a number of departments, but mainly within the Education Service. Louise became Finance Director of a Kent Academy Trust in 2010 before moving to the Brook Learning Trust. Louise sits on the Kent Schools' Funding Forum.
Amanda Lee BA (Hons), FCIPD
HR Manager
Amanda Lee joined the Trust as Human Resources Manager in December 2017. Her HR career began within Buckinghamshire Social Services before moving into the NHS and the Buckinghamshire Mental Health Trust. Amanda joined Kent County Council in 2005 to undertake Organisation Development and Change Management projects across a range of local government directorates. More recently she has worked within the voluntary and private sectors as HR Manager of the Kent Wildlife Trust and for Priory Healthcare Ltd. Amanda also volunteers as a CIPD mentor to support young job seekers.
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Ruth Murphy BSc (Hons)
Executive Support Officer
Ruth Murphy joined the Brook Learning Trust in February 2014 as HR Coordinator, before becoming the Trust's Executive Support Officer in March 2017. Her career began at Capita Education Resourcing where, as Divisional Manager, she led a team specialising in recruiting into Special Educational Needs settings. Ruth then moved to the HR Team of the Department of Communities and Local Government where her role focussed on the design, delivery and management of a variety of bespoke learning and development solutions.