Our People
Derek Hills - Director
Experienced Education Data, IT and Operations Leader
Passionate about Education and the children we serve, Derek is a dedicated, self-motivated, and inspiring leader with over 15 years of experience in educational operations working for some of 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.
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, is a compelling public speaker and currently serves in government advisory roles.
Able to articulate and realise vision, he is a commercially astute and a customer-focused problem-solver with strong coaching skills.
Dedicated to driving innovation, enabling data-informed decision-making, and delivering meaningful 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 widely recognised as a national authority on school performance and assessment. As former Deputy Director of Policy at ASCL for nearly a decade, he led on accountability and was a trusted voice for school leaders, particularly during Covid, when his guidance on centre assessed grades was highly valued.
A skilled public speaker and consultant, Duncan delivers training for middle and senior leaders, governors, and school improvement professionals nationwide. He has a strong background in education, having worked as a mathematics teacher, senior leader, and headteacher in schools serving challenging communities.
He has also worked in the EdTech sector, helping schools harness technology to drive improvement, and advises several companies on product development and strategy. Currently, Duncan supports secondary schools across the country as a school improvement partner and is a policy advisor for the Confederation of School Trusts, focusing on qualifications and accountability.
He regularly writes on education policy and practice, including recent work on attendance, and is the UK lead for Untis, the world’s leading school timetabling solution.
Humphrey Gullett - Associate
Humphrey Gullett has worked in the education sector for the last 8 years and up until last December was the Director of Risk and Compliance at Harris Federation, a large Multi-Academy Trust of 55 plus schools in Central and Greater London.
This role covered a wide portfolio of business support activity including general compliance, data protection, governance, safer recruitment, risk management and internal audit. Prior to moving into the education sector, he fulfilled leadership and operational type roles in the professional services sector and the UK Armed Forces.
A strong advocate of the transformative power of education, he possesses a desire to create and support the conditions in which pupils can develop and thrive.
Derek Hills - Media
