Academia's Strategic Advisors
Embedding technology into school improvement is a complex cultural shift. It is rare for Multi-Academy Trusts to find in-house capacity with the pedagogical experience required to lead large-scale 1:1 deployments that move the needle on pupil outcomes.
Our Strategic Advisors are current or former senior leaders in schools and trusts. Some are also trustees of MATs and have an excellent understanding of accountability and impact at a trust level.
They bring vast experience working in Multi-Academy-Trusts, helping them develop a school improvement strategy that uses technology to enhance teaching across all schools, delivering a project where technology serves your vision for learning, rather than dictating it.
How your Strategic Advisor will support your Trust:
Our Strategic Advisors typically work with you on a part-time basis, acting as in-house, impartial and trusted advisors; driving technology forward through deep collaboration with all levels of your organisation.
Meet Our Advisors
Abdul Chohan is an experienced education leader and strategic advisor specialising in large-scale technology transformation across Multi-Academy Trusts. A former CEO, free school founder, and current MAT trustee, he combines executive leadership, governance expertise, and classroom insight.
As a Trust Transformation Director, Abdul helps trusts embed 1:1 device programmes to improve teaching, systems, and pupil outcomes. He is known for aligning technology with evidence-informed practice and bringing clarity to complex change programmes.
Greg Hughes is Trust Leader for Digital Strategy across Affinity Learning Partnership’s seven schools, leading ICT, AI integration, and the 1:1 iPad programme across its secondary schools. He is an Apple Professional Learning Specialist, Apple Distinguished Educator, and director of the Burton-on-Trent Apple Regional Training Centre.
A former physics teacher and 2005 SHAP A Level Physics Teacher of the Year, Greg has led educational technology initiatives since 1990. He spent 17 years on the senior leadership team at The de Ferrers Academy and now works internationally on digital strategy, edtech leadership, STEM integration, and professional development.
George is an Apple Professional Learning Specialist, Executive Principal, and Digital Lead for SBMAT, with a career rooted in a passion for teaching and learning. Known for driving meaningful digital change, George supports schools and educators to use technology thoughtfully, creatively, and purposefully.
With extensive leadership experience, George combines strategic vision with a deep understanding of classroom practice, ensuring that innovation remains focused on improving outcomes for both students and staff.
Darren is an experienced executive leader and strategic advisor with over 30 years in education, including roles as a teacher, Headteacher, and senior leader in a 40-school Multi-Academy Trust. He led 26 schools and 7,000 pupils, helping drive strong outcomes, including 70% RWM in 2025.
He is the architect of the &iLearn initiative, scaling it into a trust-wide 1:1 iPad programme with 3,500 pupil devices. Darren specialises in using technology to improve teaching, equity, and outcomes across primary, secondary, and special school settings.
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