This week鈥檚 movers and shakers include a professional actress, a keen walker and a leader who previously worked as a baker, greengrocer, cook and roadie before joining the education sector. This column is our fortnightly guide to who is moving where in the schools community. We are keen to hear about appointments at a senior level. Please send submissions for this section to news@schoolsweek.co.uk with 鈥楳overs and shakers鈥� in the subject line. William Asare Education account director, Start date: April 1 Previous role: Account manager, Wavenet Education Interesting fact: Despite studying biomedical science, Will is still squeamish about blood. Also proving you鈥檙e never too old to try something new, he learnt how to swim when he was 34 鈥� but admits he still can鈥檛 tread water. Faisal Sameja Senior associate (education employment), Start date: April 15 Previous role: Senior solicitor, Association of School and College Leaders Interesting fact: Faisal once completed a 30 day-step-challenge raising money to build homes for displaced families following natural disasters. He completed a staggering 704,000 steps 鈥� the equivalent of 325 miles. Suzannah Wharf Director of secondary education, Start date: September Current job: Director of school improvement and executive headteacher, Teign School, south Devon Interesting fact: Growing up in Devon, Suzannah took part in the Ten Tors Challenge In which a two-day, team of six walk 35, 45 or 55 miles across Dartmoor. Since taking on her headship in 2017 she always attends the start of Ten Tors to watch 2,400 young people set off on the challenge. Kate Baddeley Director of education, Start Date: June 3 Previous role: National lead for secondary improvement, Oasis Community Learning Interesting fact: Kate actually has a screw loose 鈥� thanks to a broken wrist that needed a metal plate and screws, one of which is loose! Dr Paul Van Walwyk Director of education, Start date: June Previous role: Director of education, Eden Academy Trust Interesting fact: Paul had many jobs before discovering teaching, including time as a baker, greengrocer, cook and roadie. He is also a qualified social worker 鈥� and is still working out what he wants to be. Dr Maureen Glackin Religious education adviser, Start date: May 28 Previous role: General secretary, Catholic Independent Schools鈥� Conference Interesting fact: Maureen was a professional actress, with television credits that include The Bill, Chancer, and Sherwood Forest, before training to be a teacher and working as a lay chaplain, RE coordinator and SENCO. John Jerrim Research director, Start date: April Other role: Professor, UCL Institute of Education (remains in post) Interesting fact: When he was an undergrad student, John spent a summer being a nightclub rep in Tenerife. Oi oi! United Learning gets new chair Christian Brodie has become chair of England鈥檚 largest academy trust. He succeeds Richard Greenhalgh as chair of United Learning鈥檚 group board. Greenhalgh held the post for nine years. Christian Brodie Brodie worked in international financial services and now holds a portfolio of roles, including chair of the Wates Foundation. He says that in education there are 鈥渁lways significant challenges and opportunities to navigate鈥�. 鈥淯nited Learning has built its reputation on successfully addressing the former and seizing the latter.鈥� Trust chief executive Sir Jon Coles says Greenhalgh had 鈥渢ransformed governance within the charity, brilliantly guided our strategic ambition and has led us with a confident, collegiate and conscientious manner which has been incredibly helpful and positive鈥�. Brodie 鈥渂rings with him decades of experience both in the corporate world and in the voluntary, higher education and not-for-profit sectors鈥�.