As well as being CEO of Ormiston Academies Trust, Tom chairs the Department for Education’s advisory group on inclusion, which has had its work extended until April 2026. He is also on the DfE's new academy trust CEO advisory group. Tom has over 25 years’ experience in education, working across a range of roles including 10 years as a headteacher and seven years in executive roles. 

Before joining OAT, he held the position of executive director of programmes at Ambition Institute, where he led its professional development work. He has also been a leading light in the national reform agenda around teacher professional development, contributing to several official policy forums.