Governance
Welcome to our Trustees and Members page
Here, you can learn about the dedicated individuals who lead and support our mission. Our Trustees provide valuable expertise and direction, ensuring we continue to move forward with purpose. Meanwhile, our Members are the heart of our organisation, contributing their passion, time, and energy to help us achieve meaningful change. Together, they form a strong community committed to making a lasting impact.
Carla Whelan
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Trustee since 25th November
Carla Whelan is an experienced educational leader with over 30 years of expertise in school improvement, governance, and strategic leadership. As CEO of Empower Multi Academy Trust, she leads a family of schools with a strong commitment to collaboration, inclusion, and high achievement.
Carla has supported several schools to move from Requires Improvement to Good or Outstanding, including Greenacres Primary, Wilfred Owen School, and Woodfields. She has driven curriculum innovation across the trust, embedding knowledge-rich teaching, retrieval practice, and adaptive learning.
A strong advocate for equity, Carla introduced the Enpower initiative to remove financial barriers for pupils and champions trauma-informed and provision-led approaches for SEND learners. She also leads trust-wide assessment systems that help schools monitor progress and intervene early.
Carla is known for her positive, community-focused leadership, celebrating pupil success, supporting staff development, and promoting engagement across all Empower MAT schools.