ISBA

16 www.theisba.org.uk KEYNOTE SPEAKERS He has 20 years' experience at VWV advising independent schools and charities on their governance, constitutional review, strategic projects and charity law. He has developed a special interest and expertise in advising schools on strategy and structural change including charity mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and collaborations. Having been a governor of two schools, Barney understands the governor's perspective in challenging situations and can guide clients through the traps and pitfalls, giving them the confidence needed to deal with challenging situations and to take difficult decisions in the best interests of their school. Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 both recommend Barney as a key individual within the 'very commercial' team who is 'highly esteemed for his charity expertise'. The directories quote clients who say that he is "a genuine strategic thinker" who "offers calm, practical advice at times when everyone is under immense pressure" and is "technically very capable and an excellent presence in meetings". Barney is a regular speaker at national education conferences and has written for numerous publications on good governance and managing strategic change. He is a member of the Charity Law Association and sits on working parties, including on public benefit for education charities. Cairneagle is a strategy consulting firm specialising in the education sector. It supports critical commercial decisions that institutions and investors have to make by bringing structure, insight and judgement to situations of uncertainty and material impact. It has a strong passion for and involvement with the independent schools’ sector, and supports in both the charitable and for-profit space. Cairneagle has built a reputation based on a research and data- driven approach, analytical audacity and a determination to add value for its clients. It has won the EducationInvestor award for consultants five times, most recently in November 2022. Arun joined Cairneagle in 2015 and has more than 20 years of experience both in strategy consulting and in industry. He draws upon both UK and international experience, and across multiple education sub-verticals (including early years, UK schools, SEND, skills, and education services). He has an MChem in chemistry from the University of Oxford. Barney Northover Arun Kanwar Barney is a partner at VWV. Arun is a partner at Cairneagle.