Sarah Siyani
chk Associate People & Culture
Sarah is a seasoned HR and Organisational Development leader with 20 years of experience across various sectors. She is known for her values-based leadership and expertise in blending her strategic approach with operational excellence, enabling business success through people. As the former Executive Director of People & Culture at Aldar Education in the UAE, she led the company to become the first private education group globally to achieve Great Place to Work accreditation.
Key Achievements
- Contributed to business turnaround, growing value to over $1bn in 4 years.
- Led Aldar Education to become the first education group globally certified as a Great Place to Work.
- Expanded school group from 12 to 31 schools in 4 years.
- Established wellbeing strategies and DE&I initiatives.
- Led organisational design projects, securing OPEX savings of >$4m over 2.5 years.
- Reduced employment legal spend and mitigated risks.
- Led CSR and DE&I initiatives globally.
Sarah’s passion lies in building high-performing teams, improving organisational culture, and managing change effectively. Her approach combines strategic thinking with a deep understanding of people, making her an invaluable asset for organisations looking to unlock their potential through culture and people management.
Services Offered
- Strategy development
- Mentoring
- Vision and values creation
- Operational and tactical HR support
- Workshops and masterclasses
- Change management
Areas of Expertise
- Employee attraction and retention
- Talent development and management
- Organisation development and performance
- Reward strategies
- Employee Relations
- HR operational excellence
* Workshops and masterclasses available for any of these services or areas of expertise (including tailor-made).
Consultancy Basis
Services can be offered through:
- Time-fixed/interim consultancy
- Project-based work
- Fractional leadership
- Retainer consultancy
Delivery can be remote, in-person, or a blend of both.
Sarah Alexander
Career Advice: Belonging and Inclusion
Sarah Alexander is an accomplished educational leader with over 20 years of experience in British and international settings. She has held key roles, including Whole-School Director for Enterprise, Curriculum Lead for IGCSE and IBDP, and Pastoral Lead. Known for her extensive leadership expertise, Sarah has a proven track record of driving educational success across diverse environments. A dedicated coach and mentor, she empowers staff and students to achieve their full potential. Her commitment to inclusion and equitable education has earned her award nominations, reflecting her impact in the field.
Sarah Alexander brings a wealth of experience, a strong commitment to equity and a passion for empowering others in the educational landscape. Her work as a chk Associate is dedicated to fostering inclusive and innovative schools that allow both students and educators to thrive.
Services Offered:
- Mentorship: Providing career advice and guidance on navigating applications and appointments from an inclusion perspective for professionals and organisations.
- Alternative Educational Pathways: Designing innovative educational opportunities tailored to diverse learner needs.
- Community Engagement Initiatives: Establishing programs which promote inclusivity and community involvement.
Core Values:
Empathy and Humour: Utilising a compassionate approach to connect with individuals and simplify complex situations.
Belonging and Advocacy: Cultivating a sense of belonging for all students and staff.
Equity Commitment: Strong dedication to promoting fairness and inclusion in educational environments.
Leadership Style:
Sarah has a unique talent for managing the pace of initiatives. Her leadership is defined by strategic insight, enabling her to determine the right moments to push forward or pause for reflection. Her adaptability facilitates strategy adjustments to meet the evolving needs of students and educators.
Consultancy Basis
Flexible to suit the needs of the individual or the organisation.
Joanne Humphreys
Admissions and Marketing
A Senior Education Development Director with expert International knowledge and a proven track record of driving School, College, University, Business Unit and Education projects to greater success. Strategic with a broad and diverse skill set backed by hands-on education expertise. A motivational people leader, brand champion and admissions expert. Respected in the industry as a strong negotiator and partnership developer who leads the expansion of International education business, markets and networks.
Key Skills:
- Leading, directing and managing diverse international education operations
- Acting as an Ambassador to raise profile awareness around the globe
- Building and developing relationships with influencers, stakeholders, agencies and governments
- Developing new products, services and ways of working to maximise returns
- Implementing processes to monitor and evaluate effectiveness.
- Creating plans to achieve efficiencies and reach financial targets.
Qualifications:
- MSc Management & Business Studies (Dean’s Award Winner)
- PRINCE2 Project Management Qualification (Foundation & Practitioner)
- NVQ 4/5 & NQF 6/7 Strategic Operational Management
- CELTA English Teaching
- Bilingual: English and Spanish.
Services Offered:
- Mentorship of key personnel to enable them to be successful in their own right.
- Advice and guidance with Business Development to achieve financial goals
- Support with Admissions and Marketing to meet and exceed targets
Core Values:
Joanne is committed to embodying values that drive positive change and support excellence such as: Integrity and Transparency, Equity and Inclusivity, Empathy and Compassion, Collaboration and Partnership, Adaptability and Resilience.
Leadership Style:
Driven by a genuine commitment to understanding and supporting the needs of students, families, and colleagues, Joanne prioritizes an empathetic, inclusive, compassionate atmosphere that fosters trust and open communication. Her approach is collaborative and empowers team members. She ensures that the team’s strategies authentically reflect the school’s values and resonate with family needs. This strengthens relationships and builds long-term trust with the communities served. Joanne combines strategic insight with adaptability, inspiring the team to stay responsive to an evolving educational landscape while maintaining a commitment to transparency and integrity.
Consultancy Basis
Services can be offered through:
- Time-fixed/interim consultancy
- Project-based work
- Retainer consultancy
Jon Wood
Leadership and School Improvement Services
Jon is a seasoned leadership adviser with a wealth of experience in educational leadership, mental health training, and school improvement. Based in Somerset, UK, he provides tailored services aimed at enhancing leadership capacity and facilitating sustainable school improvement.
Service Offerings:
Leadership Support:
Target Audience: School leaders, headteachers, emerging leaders, and professionals from various sectors (e.g., Cyber Security).
- 1:1 sessions focused on personal leadership development.
- Group training for leadership teams to foster collaboration and strategic planning.
- 360-degree evaluations to assess leadership styles and areas for development.
- Personal Profile Analysis to align performance goals with individual strengths and weaknesses.
School Improvement Advising:
Target Audience: Local Authority schools, multi-academy trusts, and international educational institutions.
- Consultancy on strategic approaches to school improvement.
- Workshops and training sessions on effective leadership practices.
- Support in implementing new curricula and educational initiatives.
- Intensive collaboration with leadership teams to set and achieve clearly defined goals.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Training:
Target Audience: Educational institutions, corporate and community organisations.
- Mental Health First Aid training for staff and leadership teams.
- Workshops focused on promoting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.
- Development of strategies to create supportive environments for staff and students.
Associate Lectures and NPQ Contributions:
Target Audience: Aspiring school leaders and education professionals.
- Teaching and mentoring as an Associate Lecturer at the University of Worcester.
- Contribution to National Professional Qualifications (NPQ) awards.
- Development of course materials & presentations on leadership and school improvement.
Why Choose Jon?
With over 25 years of experience in education, from teaching to serving as a Regional Director for a large Multi-Academy Trust, Jon brings a global perspective gained from working in diverse contexts, including in the UAE. As an ILM Level 7 Executive Coach and certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor, he combines professional expertise with a personalised approach, dedicated to understanding and addressing each client’s unique challenges.