SNE Event

Helen Lumb

Strategic Stakeholder Manager, DfE

Helen is a strategic stakeholder manager within the DfE Maximising Value for Pupils (MVP) programme Maximising value for pupils - GOV.UK Our remit is to support schools and trusts to get better value from their budgets ensuring more funding reaches the front line. Working in partnership with the education sector, the programme tackles key cost pressures across four areas: commercial deals, financial and physical assets, workforce planning, and building capability. Schools and trusts can access government-negotiated deals including capped agency staff rates, free tools to benchmark spending and compare banking arrangements, procurement training, and expert advice from school resource management advisers.

Before joining the DfE Commercial Division Helen was Head of Commercial at MOD, Service Children’s Education. Helen has over 30 years’ experience in a number of procurement and administrative roles working in both the public and private sector. She is also a student member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply as well as being the Chair of Governors of a Pre-school.

Ben Hardy

Policy Manager, Schools North East

Ben returned to Schools North East in January 2026 as Policy Manager, leading on the organisation’s strategic policy and public affairs agenda. His work provides alignment between policy, research, stakeholder engagement, and member insight; ensuring the voice of North East schools is heard to influence decision-makers at the highest levels. 

Ben brings a wealth of cross-sector experience to the role. He re-joins Schools North East following five years at the Department for Education, where he primarily led on stakeholder engagement working closely with the sector to ensure that strategy was developed with schools, trusts, and local authorities. He also served as Policy and Strategy Lead for the ‘Maximising Value for Pupils’ programme, which was launched to tackle systemic challenges at a national level. 

Between 2019 and 2021, Ben was Relationship Manager at Schools North East, where he developed strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders  across the region, including CEOs, CFOs, Head Teachers, School Business Professionals, local authorities, and other charitable organisations. Prior to this, Ben spent five years at The Key, supporting school and trust leaders nationwide. A committed advocate for the sector, Ben has been involved in school governance for over a decade and is currently Chair of Governors at a primary school in Newcastle.

Pauline Aitchison

Deputy Director, Schools North East & NNoSS Network Lead

Pauline joined Schools North East in July 2017 as Business Manager and was appointed Deputy Director in 2020. She also leads the National Network of Special Schools for School Business Professionals (NNoSS), a network representing 400 schools in the specialist sector across England.

Prior to joining Schools North East in 2017, Pauline was a School Business Manager and has more than 25 years experience of working in education.  She has a wealth of knowledge with an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by schools and is committed to making a difference to the learning chances of all pupils.

Pauline is also experienced in school governance having served on various governing bodies and is currently a trustee of a special school trust and a committee chair.  She has an MBA in strategic leadership and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management.