Our People
Derek Hills - Director
Experienced Education Data, IT and Operations Leader
A dedicated, self-motivated, and inspiring leader with over 15 years of experience in educational operations working for the UK’s leading Multi-Academy Trusts.
Recognised as a thought leader in educational IT and data, Derek brings strategic expertise across all operational domains including, but not limited too, IT, Data, Estates, and Communications.
Derek has led successful reorganisations of teams, systems, and processes to deliver measurable operational improvements and significant fiscal efficiencies, managing complex, multi-million-pound budgets and teams of over 80 staff.
His career spans every level of non-teaching education leadership, from Chair of Governors to COO.
Derek has experience of working with Global and National EdTech suppliers as an advisor, he is a compelling speaker too and currently serves in government advisory roles.
Able to articulate and realise vision, he is a commercially astute, customer-focused problem-solver with strong coaching skills,
Passionate about innovation, data-driven decision-making, and system transformation, Derek thrives in high-pressure environments, consistently delivering high standards while ensuring compliance, confidentiality, and best practice.
Our Partners
Duncan Baldwin - Associate
Duncan is well known as a national authority on school performance and assessment. He was the Deputy Director of Policy at ASCL for nearly ten years where he led on all aspects of policy relating to accountability. He is a highly-regarded and well-received public speaker, a strong advocate for school leaders when speaking truth to power and is much sought after to deliver training and consultancy for middle and senior leaders and governors.
School leaders were particularly grateful to him for the advice and support he gave during Covid and their efforts to deliver centre assessed grades.
Duncan has a strong background in education. Trained as a mathematics teacher, he has been a head of department, senior leader and head teacher in a range of schools in challenging areas.
He has also worked in the EdTech industry, supporting schools to understand how to make best use of their systems to empower improvement.
Currently, Duncan supports several secondary schools around the country as a school improvement partner, including in Liverpool where he also delivers training for SIL, formerly School Improvement Liverpool. He is a policy advisor for the Confederation of School Trusts, covering issues
relating to qualifications and accountability.
His unique blend of experience is recognised by a range of EdTech
companies where he offers advice on product development and strategy.
He is often asked to write blogs and think pieces, including recently on school attendance. He is an expert on school timetabling and is the UK point of contact for Untis, the world’s leading and most widely used timetabling application.
Ben Chamberlain - Associate
Ben brings over 20 years of recruitment expertise across multiple industry sectors. His extensive experience includes sourcing and placing top-tier professionals, ensuring that clients are equipped with the talent necessary to drive innovation and efficiency.
Ben's approach is both strategic and collaborative. He works closely with clients to understand their unique needs, providing tailored recruitment solutions that align with their operational goals.
Ben's commitment to excellence makes him an invaluable partner for institutions seeking to enhance their operational capabilities through effective talent acquisition and development.
Beyond placement, ElevatEd offers ongoing mentorship to new hires, facilitating their integration and professional growth within the organisation.
Derek Hills - Media
