Our Trust Team
At ONE multi academies trust, our team is the heart of what we do. Each member brings a unique blend of expertise, passion, and dedication to ensure our students, staff and community receive exceptional education. From experienced educators to compassionate support staff, we are united by our shared commitment to empowering every individual to achieve their full potential.
Get to know the people who drive our mission forward.
Executive Team
Anita Notta
CEO
Anita is CEO of The Khalsa Academies Trust, previously Principal of The Khalsa Academy Wolverhampton. Anita has worked in many schools across the Midlands and in London where she has carved a long and successful career in Education which spans just shy of 20 years with 17 years in a Leadership position. Anita has high expectations of herself first and drives educational excellence built upon morals and values. Her strength is her vision for the schools and the newly formed Trust that is based on strong foundations, Personal Development and the Quality of Education. Anita is a Computer Scientist and was the first female Principal with a Computer Science background and is well respected and known in the Computing Education sector for her work with Computing and girls. She built her school (as Principal) on her passion of digital technologies and computer science that provides students with the transferable skills that employers are looking for in school leavers. Anita, also actively participates in social and non-profit ventures which affect people’s life in a positive way. She also creates milestones within educational experience, by holding workshops and collaborating with the top NGO’s in the UK such as Binti International and Hemraj Goyal Foundation to uplift the education system through personal development and to break the stigma that surround Menstrual dignity. Anita is also a councillor member of Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (WICCI), as well as the Women’s Economic Forum (WEF) Group. She is also involved with numerous international education charities contributing to projects that will have a real impact on lives.
Bas Basra
CFOO
Bas is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of experience in Senior Finance Roles in a number of global locations. Bas spent over 15 years in the Oil & Gas Services industry including 6 years in various FD roles in Asia Pacific. He was most recently, the Regional FD for Subsea 7, responsible for Europe & Africa overseeing a region with revenues in excess of $2bn and 4000 employees. After taking a 1 year career break, Bas joined Khalsa Secondary Academy in 2014 and built up his knowledge and understanding of the education sector in various roles & capacities before being appointed the Director of Finance in 2015.
Manan Mirza
Director of School Improvement
Manan Mirza serves as the Director of School Improvement and Operations for ONE Multi Academies Trust, a role he has undertaken with unwavering dedication and enthusiasm since 2024. Before this, Manan held senior leadership roles across several secondary and all-through schools in the West Midlands, where his leadership and strategic vision played a pivotal role in driving their progress and success.
As a leader, Manan is deeply passionate about fostering collaborative and innovative approaches to drive excellence in education. His leadership philosophy is grounded in building strong, trust-filled relationships with staff, students, and the wider school community. He has cultivated a culture of high expectations and teamwork, ensuring that both teaching and learning thrive in a positive and supportive environment.
Throughout his career, Manan has actively contributed to the professional growth of educators. He is a trained facilitator for the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) National Professional Qualification for Middle Leaders and the SSAT National Award for Middle Leaders. He has co-facilitated a variety of leadership development sessions, empowering middle leaders to excel in their roles. Additionally, he collaborated with a senior leader from an Outstanding all-through school to deliver the NCSL Middle Leadership Programme for two years. His experience also includes serving as a facilitator for OLEVI’s renowned teacher development and leadership programmes, where he supported educators in refining their practice and achieving their professional goals.
Manan is committed to building and sustaining a culture where excellence thrives, enabling every student, teacher, and leader to achieve their full potential. He places a strong emphasis on high standards, innovative practices, and collaborative approaches to ensure continuous improvement and outstanding outcomes for all. Manan is passionate about working closely with stakeholders across school communities to drive success and create lasting impact.
Central Team
Binder Gill
HR Manager
Mr Binder Gill is the Trust’s senior HR Manager who joined in September 2020. He has over 25 years experience in Human Resources in the education sector and has worked in Local Authorities and private Education providers supporting Community, voluntary aided, multi academy trusts and independent schools nationally. One of his portfolio’s was to oversee and successfully manage over 200+ schools in the South East of England. This role which he had over 7 years involved managing a team of professional consultants providing comprehensive HR support to school leaders and governors. He has successfully carried out TUPE transfers, Academy conversions, implemented change programmes and delivered bespoke training to management teams and staff. Prior to joining the Khalsa Academies Trust, Binder had been very closely supporting the Trust for the past 4 years as a HR consultant and says he no hesitation in wanting to apply and be appointed to this exciting role!
Jacqueline Cope
Executive PA
Jacqueline joined the Trust in June 2022. She has over 22 years experience in Finance and Accounting. After taking a 1 year career break she joined a Private Sector Accountancy Training Provider working with FE Colleges teaching AAT Accountancy. She then moved into Regional Leadership & Management securing Accountancy Partnership Agreements with FE Colleges. Jacqueline was the DSL for the Training Provider, Qualified L3 for 19+ .
Jaskeerth Singh
Faith Lead
With over 15 years of experience in education, Mr. Jas Singh brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to his role. As a qualified teacher, he has worked in various prestigious institutions, including as the Head of Religious Studies at a leading independent school in the North of England. Additionally, he has served as both a Teacher of Religious Education and as the Head of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), making him well-equipped to support the diverse needs of our students. Mr. Singh is an Amritdhari Gursikh, deeply rooted in his faith. His involvement in the Sikh community extends beyond the classroom, with significant contributions to Gurmat camps both locally and internationally. He is passionate about teaching Sikhi and has been actively involved in delivering classes on Sikh history, Santhiya, and English Katha. Moreover, Mr. Singh teaches Gatka, the Sikh martial art, to young learners in the local community, fostering a strong connection to Sikh traditions and values. With a chardikala spirit, Mr. Singh embodies a positive and uplifting outlook that will inspire our students. His passion for both education and Sikhi aligns with our mission at The Khalsa Academies Trust, and we are confident that he will have a positive and lasting impact on our school community.
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Jon Andrew Geary
IT Manager
My name is Jon Geary, I am the IT Manager for The Khalsa Academies Trust (TKAT). I have been working in IT, specialising in Education for the past 16 years. I have held positions such as IT Operations Manager for a Birmingham-based Trust and several positions within the Building Schools for the Future (BSFF) managed service provider. I am looking forward to implementing my vision for technical services across The Khalsa Academies Trust schools. My main focus is to implement infrastructure upgrades to ensure that the Academies have the right resources and tools to successfully to provide exceptional education experiences.
Reena Farmah
Governance Professional
Reena has extensive experience in large multi-academy trusts (MATs), and Church of England (CoE) schools, and working for Governor Services at the local authority. As a dedicated governance professional, Reena excels in supporting MATs and schools to achieve excellence in education. With a deep understanding of governance frameworks and compliance requirements, Reena provides strategic advice to ensure the MAT operates efficiently while aligning with its Sikh universal values. Renowned for fostering collaboration and building strong relationships with trustees, academy leaders, and stakeholders, Reena is deeply committed to promoting inclusivity, transparency, and accountability across the trust. Their people-centric approach, underpinned by a strong HR background and CIPD qualifications, ensures that all decisions support the well-being and development of both students and staff. This holistic approach contributes to cultivating a cohesive and thriving learning environment.
Sukhvinder Saini
Accountant
Finance@onemat.org.uk
Sukhy has over 32 years of experience as a Finance Manager in the FMCG Industry, she worked for Adelie Foods Ltd, where she had a team of 25 people reporting to her in the accounts payable and accounts receivable teams. Unfortunately, due to the impact of the Coronavirus, the company went into administration. Sukhy then worked with Deloittes for 5 months to recover as much debt as possible. Sukhy spent a period of 9 months at TRS where she put process improvements in place before joining The Khalsa Academies Trust as the Academies Accountant in November 2021. Sukhy is now learning and enjoying working for the educational sector and will use her knowledge and experience to improve wherever possible.
Education Improvement Team
Amy Evans
Inclusion Lead
As the Trust Lead for Inclusion, my role is to ensure that all schools within the trust are places where every pupil feels valued and supported. I work closely with school leaders and staff to develop inclusive practices that address the needs of all learners, including those with special educational needs, and disabilities, pupils eligible for the Pupil Premium, and those with English as an Additional Language (EAL). My aim is to remove barriers to learning, promote equality, and celebrate diversity across the trust. By providing guidance, resources, and strategies, I help schools create an environment where every learner has the opportunity to succeed and thrive
Irfan Aslam
Personal Development and Sixthform Lead
I graduated with a BSc (Hons) from Keele University and subsequently completed my PGCE, embarking on a journey that has combined academic excellence with a passion for education and international experiences. During my university years, I had the privilege of working on international projects in South Africa and Cuba. These enriching experiences allowed me to gain invaluable insights into diverse cultures and educational systems, shaping my approach to teaching and leadership. Throughout my career, I have taken on a variety of roles, both pastorally and academically, which have equipped me with a broad skill set and a deep understanding of student development. As a pastoral leader, I have been responsible for the welfare and progress of students, ensuring they are supported both academically and personally. This involved working closely with students, parents, and staff to create an environment where every individual could thrive. My approach emphasised the importance of building strong relationships, fostering resilience, and promoting a sense of community. In my role as Head of Faculty, I oversaw curriculum planning, teaching standards, and the professional development of staff within my department. This position required strategic thinking, effective communication, and a commitment to driving academic success. I worked tirelessly to implement innovative teaching practices and foster a culture of continuous improvement, resulting in measurable gains in student outcomes and staff morale. Over the past five years, I have been privileged to lead the sixth form provision at our school. I was part of the team that launched the sixth form, which has since become a cornerstone of our institution, known for its consistently strong results and impressive student destinations. My leadership has focused on creating a robust academic programme alongside a comprehensive support system that prepares students for life beyond school. Under my guidance, the sixth form has grown not only in numbers but also in reputation, offering students a rich blend of academic, extracurricular, and personal development opportunities. In addition to my role as Head of Sixth Form, I have recently taken on the position of Trust Lead for Personal Development and Sixth Form. This role has expanded my responsibilities to include supporting other schools within our trust. Notably, I have successfully assisted a partner school in launching their sixth form provision, sharing best practices and ensuring a smooth implementation. I have also been instrumental in developing and rolling out a new personal development programme across the trust. This initiative is designed to equip students with the skills, values, and resilience needed to navigate the complexities of modern life, aligning with our ethos of fostering well-rounded individuals. Throughout my career, I have remained deeply committed to empowering students and staff to achieve their full potential. My leadership philosophy is rooted in collaboration, innovation, and a relentless focus on excellence. Whether guiding students towards academic success, mentoring staff, or implementing trust-wide initiatives, I am driven by a belief in the transformative power of education. As I continue to develop in my role, I am excited to build on the strong foundations we have established, ensuring that our sixth form and personal development programmes remain at the forefront of educational excellence. Together, we will continue to inspire, challenge, and support our students, preparing them for a bright and successful future.
Javier De-Las-Heras
Teaching & Learning / Digital Lead
After completing my BA (Hons) at the University of Valencia (Spain), I obtained a Master’s degree in Computer Science in the UK. I have taught and lead computing up to A Level for over 18 years in 4 successful schools, and I am currently TKAT leader for learning & teaching / Digital. Furthermore, I am the Computing At Schools leader in Wolverhampton and Subject Matter Expert for the National Centre for Computing in Education in the West Midlands; these roles involve training computing and edtech leaders in the region. In 2022, I was awarded the Highly Commended Certificate for Digital Innovator of the year at the National Teacher’s Awards. I strongly believe that providing the best education to pupils can transform their lives and aid them to fulfil their potential