Ian McNeilly is a very experienced and highly effective educationalist and executive leader with a long track record of successfully supporting trusts and schools, particularly those with high levels of deprivation. Ian has been a teacher, senior leader, head of a national association, DfE adviser, senior Her Majesty's inspector for Ofsted, CEO, head of quality and trust improvement, consultant, and published author.

In 2024 and 2025, he was named in Education Business magazine's '50 Most Influential' people in the sector.