About Us
About
Us
At 1st Pillar, we provide expert operational and business leadership support for schools, academies, and trusts. Our mission is simple: to help school leaders focus on what matters most, pupils, by ensuring every aspect of school business management runs smoothly, compliantly, and strategically.
What sets us apart is our blend of professional expertise, lived experience in education, and a genuine commitment to partnership. We don’t just deliver services, we work alongside you as trusted colleagues, helping you embed long-term improvements that make a real difference to your school community.
Our Team
Meet Our Team
Emma Gray
Emma Gray has over 22 years’ experience in School Business Leadership across maintained schools, single academies, and multi-academy trusts.
As a DfE-accredited School Resource Management Advisor (SRMA), Emma has supported countless schools to strengthen budgets, recover from deficits, and plan strategically for the future. She has secured over £6 million in additional capital funding, recruited and developed operations staff, and is a passionate advocate for the role of the School Business Manager.
Emma is widely recognised for her thought leadership, writing, and sector support. She is a Fellow of the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) and holds an MBA from Warwick University.
Helen Burge
Helen brings over 25 years of experience in operations and strategic management in education. She is a Fellow and Trustee of ISBL and co-founded the UK Schools Sustainability Network (UKSSN) Operations Group. Helen has led initiatives that drive long-term, meaningful change, particularly in sustainability and resource management.
Her work spans maintained schools, private schools, and multi-academy trusts, supporting all age phases from 2–18. Known for her practical, strategic approach, Helen empowers school leaders to embed sustainability into core operations. She also founded Buoyant Impact, helping schools create resilient, eco-conscious strategies that positively impact both pupils and the planet.
Johanna Phillips
Jo is a Chartered Management Accountant with 28 years’ public sector experience across education, local government, and the NHS. She has managed complex budgets, secured significant capital funding, and led high-impact operational projects.
With deep expertise in risk management and staffing restructures, Jo brings a people-centred approach to operational and financial improvement.
She is passionate about empowering teams to achieve their potential while strengthening the effectiveness of schools and trusts.
Chris Woodward
Chris has over 20 years experience in property and facilities management, with the majority of those spent working in SEND.
Chris has spent several years as a MAT Estate and Operations Manager, and latterly Estates Director before moving on to form his own company, The Chapel Hill Group Ltd, who provide support to a wider network of school communities with H&S guidance, advice on new-build/capital refurbishment works, and reactive FM support - where we can provide on-site cover.
With a passion for excellence and evidence-based compliance, Chris prides himself on coaching colleagues on best practice and making it fun along the way. Chris has often been referred to as a ‘comfort blanket’ because whatever the situation, from identifying gaps in compliance to disaster recovery, Chris is armed with solutions and a smile - usually wearing something pink!
Who
We
Work With
