Speakers

Chris Berry is the Director of Operations at Windsor Academy Trust (WAT), a multi-academy trust with 15 schools across the West Midlands region, collectively serving 10,000 students aged 2 to 18, driven by 1,300 committed, inspiring and talented staff.

Chris has more than 15 years’ experience in the education sector, working in local authority schools and multi-academy trusts leading professional service operations including business management, procurement, facilities and estates. He has also led on multiple multi-million pound capital investment construction and decarbonisation projects.

He joined the Windsor Academy Trust central team in the role of Head of Estates, Sustainability and Commercial Operations in 2020 after Cheslyn Hay Academy, where Chris held the role of Business Manager, transferred to the WAT family of schools in 2018. He was promoted to Director of Operations and a member of the trust’s Executive Team in 2022.

As part of his current role, Chris leads Windsor Academy Trust’s sustainability 'big move' to ensure sustainable practice across everything the trust does. Chris has led the development of the trust’s sustainability strategy and 10 year decarbonisation plan as well as a capital investment of £4m to decarbonise the trust’s school estate, through investment of School Condition Allocation funding and support from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. In 2023, Windsor Academy Trust was recognised for its sustainable commitments, receiving the Environmental Trust of the Year award at the MAT Excellence Awards.

Chris has a degree in Sports Development and Leisure Management from the University of Gloucestershire, both the Certificate and Diploma for School Business Management (DSBM) and is currently studying for an MBA in Executive Leadership.