Senior Leadership Team
The senior leadership team is responsible for the day to day running of Shaw Trust.
Chris Luck CB MBE MA MPhil
Group CEO, Shaw Trust
Chris joined the Trust after a distinguished career in the armed forces. He brings lived experience, expertise and clear sense of purpose, along with a deep understanding of the human condition. Prior to joining Shaw Trust Chris was CEO of the Defence Academy of the UK and the Commandant of the Joint Services Command and Staff College, with responsibility for the education of the future commanders and staff officers of all the armed services from the UK and many countries around the world.
Jacqui Oughton
Chief Operating Officer &
Operational Managing Director of Learning and Skills
Jacqui joined Ixion Holdings in 2014 where she is currently Managing Director Learning and Skills for Shaw Trust. She is a highly experienced and strategic leader within the Learning and Skills sector with significant experience in the contribution to and development of policy and growth across apprenticeships, traineeships and wider skills and learning sectors including higher level qualifications. Jacqui is a highly experienced Ofsted nominee having led and managed 21 inspections and led Ixion, as their nominee, to achieve their Overall Outstanding Grade I inspection result in 2017.
Stephen King
Chief Financial Officer
Stephen’s career began with Price Waterhouse, and subsequently he joined Total UK before moving into private equity. Following this Stephen worked in senior finance roles within Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, one of the UK's largest Housing Associations. Stephen brings experience of leading people through significant change and improving business performance and efficiencies, working nationally with teams across the country to instil stronger working practices at scale.
Mark Earl
Chief People Officer
Mark joined Careers Development Group in 2008 leading their Human Resources function. Mark now leads the Group HR, Organisational Development and Resources functions at Shaw Trust.
Richard Clifton
Chief Commercial Officer
Richard is responsible for growth of new business across Shaw Trust and leads the business development, partnerships and research and development teams. He has over 20 years experience of business development within both charitable and commercial sectors. Richard is the current chair of the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA), the memebership body for the employment support sector. Established in 2005, ERSA campaign's for and supports the delivery of even better services for the nation's jobseekers and learners.
Austin Hardie
Operational Managing Director of Employability
Austin joined Shaw Trust in in 2012 from Remploy and now leads Shaw Trust’s Charitable and Enterprise activities. Austin’s primary background has been spent in Social Enterprise, National Employment Programmes and Local Economic Development. Austin also has responsibility across Shaw Trust for our Health and Wellbeing activity which includes our Community Health and Wellbeing services, the development of our national IPS programme and our Wellbeing Practitioner activity.
Paul Cook
Managing Director Of Children’s Services
Paul Cook is a qualified Social Worker who has worked in children’s services for over 30 years. Prior to moving to the private sector he was responsible for the management of residential childcare including secure accommodation in a Local Authority Children’s Services Department.
Victoria Blakeman
Operational Managing Director of Justice, Community Health and Wellbeing, Charitable Services and Enterprise
Former prison governor Victoria Blakeman, joined Prospects as Director of Offender Management in June 2013. She previously advised the UK Government and UN on counter-terrorism measures in the rehabilitation of offenders. Victoria served as the Head of UK Corrections and Detentions in Afghanistan and was involved in the construction of and restructure of management at Lashkar Gar prison.
Andrew Thraves
Managing Director of Optimus Education
Andrew joined Prospects in April 2015. He has supplied services and solutions to the education industry for over 30 years, at commercial organisations demanding significant company growth and high profit expectations. Previously chair of several of the main trade associations representing companies supplying commercial services to education, Andrew is also a Trustee of the largest multi-academy chain in the country.
Jo Morgan
Chief Executive Officer, Shaw Education Trust
Jo joined the Trust in 2015 from Ofsted where she worked as the Regional Director for the North West, and National Director for Initial Teacher Education. Prior to that, Jo held several secondary headships; was a National Leader of Education; led a National Support School, and Teaching School. Jo has also worked extensively in education strategy locally and nationally.
Alona De Havilland
Employee Voice Chair and Head of Marketing and Communications
Alona joined Prospects in 2007 working in the events team before working in the events team before transferring to the corporate marketing and communications team, a team she now leads for Shaw Trust. In addition to this role, Alona is seconded to the Employee Voice representative body, which she chairs. Employee Voice represents the interests of colleagues working across Shaw Trust, building employee engagement and two way communications.