The Team

Androulla Nicou - Chief Executive Officer 

Androulla Nicou is the Chief Executive Officer of Connect Education Trust. An experienced school leader with over 30 years in the profession. She is a strong believer in the power of excellent education to create remarkable futures. Androulla considers it a great privilege to lead the Connect Education Trust and will work determinedly to make sure Connect delivers the very best for each one of our pupils.

Estelle Tierney - Chief Financial and Operations Officer 

Estelle Tierney is the Chief Financial and Operations Officer at Connect Education Trust, bringing over 20 years’ experience in education, finance and organisational leadership. She is an accomplished executive leader with a strong track record of delivering financial sustainability, operational effectiveness and robust governance.

Estelle has strategic oversight of the Trust’s core operational functions, including Finance, Compliance, Human Resources, Asset Management, and Governance. She plays a key role in delivering the Trust’s long-term vision, ensuring strong financial stewardship and high-quality central services that support schools to focus on educational outcomes.

Estelle is known for her clear communication, collaborative leadership style, and ability to lead high-performing teams. She is committed to building resilient systems and ensuring the Trust operates with integrity, efficiency and accountability.

Allan McLean - Chief Education Officer 

Allan McLean is the Chief Education Officer for Connect Education Trust With over 25 years experience in education, Allan has worked as an Executive Headteacher of two schools, ensuring excellence in education and strong outcomes for pupils (Evening Standard top 5 schools in London and The Times top 20 schools in England). Additionally, he has worked over many years as a school improvement adviser for the London Diocese, supporting leadership training and development across 18 local authorities. Allan is passionate about developing and enabling school leaders to make a remarkable difference in the education and outcomes of every child.