paul dunning - senior adviser, Education and Faith-Based Organisations

 Paul brings a unique blend of executive and non-executive strategic leadership experience spanning the education, agriculture, and voluntary sectors and supports the Directors on searches in education, faith based organisations and charities.

As the Diocesan Director of Education in Norwich, he led strategic planning for 106 schools, collaborating with school and academy trust leaders. He was previously, CEO of the Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust, where he grew the organisation from four to 30 schools in three years, overseeing improvement in outcomes for children.

At Norfolk County Council (NCC) he was Head of Partnership Service, responsible for driving change through structural solutions (academisation, federation). In an earlier spell at NCC he was pivotal in enabling the implementation of government reforms for 14-19 vocational education.

Paul’s earlier career in agriculture included executive roles at Bishop Burton College in East Yorkshire and Easton College in Norfolk. He holds an MBA from the University of East Anglia.

He serves as a trustee for three East Anglian charities and is Chair of the St Benet’s multi academy trust.

The Wild Search Team