Name

Appointment type

Appointment date

Date of resignation

Christopher Smith

Adrian Packer CBE

Date appointed: 1 May 2021

Trustee type: Member appointed

Adrian was appointed Executive Principal of Park View Educational Trust, now CORE Education Trust, in 2014. He was also Principal of Park View School, now Rockwood Academy, at that time.

Prior to this, from 2012, Adrian was the founding Principal of Everton Alternative Provision Free School and 6th Form College.

From 2010, Adrian was part of the founding team of Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA), an arts academy partnered with The BRIT School where Adrian was a director from 1999.

In 2018, Adrian created Echo Eternal, a commemorative arts project, which brings together groups of schools with different characteristics and uses Holocaust survivor testimony to inspire community integration and empathy. In 2019, he was awarded a Points of Light Award from the Prime Minister for this work. The project won a Pearson’s Gold national teaching award in 2020.

Adrian is an independent non-executive Director of ukactive; a Member of LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts) and an independent Councillor for the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association). He is also Chair of the LIPA MAT (Multi Academy Trust) Board of Trustees.

Adrian set up the CORE & Co Foundation in 2020, a charitable organisation working to support vulnerable and at-risk children, young people and families through collaborative partnership initiatives.

Adrian is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Birmingham.

Neal Barnes

Date appointed

1 May 2021

Trustee type

Member appointed

Neal’s first career was as a professional Mechanical Engineer, and worked for 9 years in the field of industrial research and development, mainly in the petrochemical industry. Since 1995 Neal has been ordained in the Church of England and have served as a Vicar for 20 years in suburban and city centre parishes in Hull. In 2019  Neal  moved to Liverpool to become the Canon for Mission and Faith Development at Liverpool Cathedral, which includes oversight of our Education Department. In 2021 Neal was appointed as Vice-Dean.  Neal is an executive member of the Chapter, the trustee body which oversees all aspects of the operation of the Cathedral.

Neal have also served as a trustee on a number of governing bodies for schools and charities, including LIPA Primary School (2019-2022).

Neal is married to Stella, who have two grown-up daughters, one a scientist and the other an actor-musician. Neal is  passionate to see young people study STEM subjects, and also to have the best opportunity to access the creative arts, irrespective of background. 

Neal enjoy music (plays the flute to a good amateur standard) and natural history (engaging in many wildlife walks and supporting charities working in that sector.)

Flo Clucas OBE

Date appointed: 1 May 2021

Trustee type: Member appointed

Flo has been involved with LIPA since its inception and was Chair for nine years. Later she helped establish LIPA schools chairing the Primary School and later Through school.

Flo left school at sixteen and worked in a number of jobs, finally training as a teacher. She taught in primary, secondary and at university level. 

A Liverpool City Councillor for 26 years, Flo was responsible for a range of areas, including European funding and regeneration.

Flo moved to Cheltenham where she is a councillor.