Eddie Wright

Eddie Wright has been a trustee since 2016. Eddie was raised in Handsworth and attended Westminster Infants and Junior Schools. Eddie is now a Trustee and has been a member of Westminster Academy Trust since 2017. Eddie has over 25 years I.T. experience, starting his working life as a bench engineer, through to becoming entrepreneur setting up and running three multi-million pound turnover IT companies in the nineties and early two thousands.

Currently a self-employed I.T. Consultant, working within the End User Computing Programme/Project management and recycling environment, covering EMEA. Eddie is also the owner of a purified water and party ice (ice cubes) manufacturing company in Jamaica W.I. and the owner of a sports bar in Jamaica W.I. too.

Eddie is looking to ensure HAOS has the continued and flexible capability to deliver on Projects/Programmes that the adults of the future find rewarding and build on the proud multi-cultural heritage of Handsworth and the surrounding areas. Not only for the children but for parents too, ensuring they have the support they need tackling issues surrounding language, poverty, crime, racial discrimination, access to health and just day to day living.

Councillor Paulette Hamilton

Councillor Paulette Hamilton is the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Health and Social Care. Paulette has been a Labour councillor since June 2004 and currently represents the Holyhead ward.

"I have worked as Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care since May 2015. I am actively involved in working with our citizens, and our health partners to create a more joined up health and social care service that improves outcomes for all our citizens. I am Chair of Birmingham Health and Wellbeing Board, Vice Chair of West Midlands Combined Authority Health and Wellbeing Board, and Vice Chair of the Community Wellbeing Board at the LGA (Local Government Association), and I sit on a number of local Boards. I held various nursing roles before going on to the Royal College of Nursing as a Professional Development Advisor, and I remain passionate about Mental Health."

Ivora Ferreira-Bean

Ivora Ferreira-Bean is the mother of 2 boys and has been married for the 35 years. Ivora currently works as a Locality Team Manager for Birmingham Children’s Trust covering the Handsworth Perry Barr District, managing the Family support service. Ivora has held this post for the past 10 years. Ivoria is the City-wide lead for child neglect, and has delivered workshops for schools, police, social workers, family support workers and key local partners, as well as the Birmingham Safeguarding Board.

Ivora spent several years working in Adult Mental Health Services covering NWC in Birmingham, and was involved in various programme supporting women with postal natal depression, and women who had suffered childhood sexual abuse.

Prior to working for the Birmingham Children Trust, Ivora was a manager in the Connexion Services, managing the Voluntary sector and then the Aston Area, working intensively with young people who were linked to gangs and who were exploited.

Ivora says, "The Handsworth Association of schools has worked intensively to support children in Handsworth, especially those who are vulnerable. It is a pleasure and delight to sit on the board of trustees, with a fantastic group of people who share the same vision to support children to enjoy their education achieved and make a positive contribution to their community."

Eddie Edmead

Eddie, as he is known to his friends and family, is Major Grants Manager for Your Trust Charity, which is the official charity for Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust. Prior to working with the NHS, he worked as an independent consultant and more than 20 years as a regeneration manager for Birmingham City Council. Now his role is one that is primarily involved with managing the grants commissioned by the charity, as well as helping to generate new business opportunities for it. He also works to secure new sources of funding, monitors those sources and justifies how the money is spent.

Alison Taylor

Alison Taylor has taught in Birmingham schools for the last 25 years, and has been part of Handsworth Association of Schools as an education practitioner for the last 18 years. She is currently Head Teacher at Cherry Orchard Primary School in Handsworth Wood, which is a two-form entry mainstream school with a nursery and a resource base for children with autism. The school has an excellent reputation in the community for supporting pupils’ development academically and beyond. Cherry Orchard’s most recent accolade is the Unicef Rights Respecting Gold Award, achieved in May 2021 after the pupils demonstrated their understanding of the Convention for the Rights of the Child and provided examples of where they had made a difference to other children locally, nationally and internationally through various social action projects over the last 4 years.

Alison has worked in senior leadership roles for the last 16 years and appreciates the value of working with other schools and services for the educational benefit and wellbeing of all pupils and their families, and the development of school staff at all levels. The work of Handsworth Association of Schools in this respect led to Alison’s support as a trustee, and she has been a member of the board since September 2018.

Bogusia Matusiak Varley

Dr Bogusia has put over 27 years into developing her skills of improving organisational performance. She is recognised internationally as a highly engaging key note speaker. She has highly insightful knowledge of leadership as demonstrated in her doctoral thesis in which she introduces her Alchemical model of leadership. Her mantra of 'you were born to be awesome and not ordinary' has inspired many leaders to review their current methods of leadership and propel the performance of themselves, their teams and their organisations. Dr Bogusia is the owner of BogusiaTQM Ltd and is Director of Gulf Education Services. is the founder and co-director of Top Quality Marque (UK) Ltd. Based on her experience of working in education and with commercial businesses, Dr Bogusia has built a reputation as an international trainer and coach, in which her "common sense" approach to organisation and self improvement puts her at the forefront of international consultancy.

Her clients come from public and private sectors and include several international schools, and professional and commercial organisations, internationally situated in, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Mombasa. Some of Dr Bogusia's biggest clients include, Costa Cruises and Birmingham City University. Dr Bogusia is registered international inspector and has used her analytical, evaluative and communicative skills with international schools all around the world.