The NASACRE Executive 2026-27
Find out who is on the Exec Committee.
Bill Moore
Chair
Bill was nominated by Buckinghamshire SACRE. He has extensive experience in the field, having previously served as NASACRE Chair (2009–11) and as Chair of AREIAC. In addition, he has worked as a Teacher Trainer at Hertfordshire University, an adviser for Hertfordshire and Slough and brings leadership experience from his role as Chair of Governors at a primary school.
Denise Chaplin
Assistant to the Chair (Communications Lead)
Denise was nominated by Lewisham SACRE. She is highly experienced, having previously been NASACRE Chair (2007–09), a member of the REC Board, and Chair of the National RE Celebration (2011). Her professional background includes work as an RE and Community Cohesion Adviser in Lewisham, alongside advisory roles supporting eight other SACREs.
Claire Clinton
Vice Chair (Training Lead)
Claire was nominated by Barking & Dagenham SACRE and brings national expertise built over more than 20 years as an RE adviser working across several local authorities and with national bodies. She is Lead Director of RE Hubs for England and Wales and currently holds advisory roles in Newham, Barking & Dagenham and Camden. Claire is widely recognised for her work in advancing high-quality RE and professional development.
Saquat Ali
Treasurer
Saquat was nominated by Newham SACRE in 2026, having previously served on the Exec. He is a highly experienced hybrid Business Analyst and Project Manager with extensive expertise in within the Securities market. He brings experience of governance through his role as a governor at Plashet School, alongside his involvement in supporting the work of SACRE.
Claire Ramalli
Executive Member
Claire was nominated by East Sussex SACRE in 2025. She supports NASACRE’s training work, particularly for conferences, and brings strong expertise as an RE adviser and consultant working across several local authorities, including Hackney and Sutton. She delivers training and professional development for teachers. Claire is also Treasurer of AREIAC, reflecting her wider involvement in supporting and shaping RE at a national level.
Jane Yates
Executive Member
Jane was nominated by Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness SACRE in 2025. She is a very experienced RE Adviser to the Cumbrian SACRE and is North West Lead for RE Hubs. With over 30 years’ experience in education, including leadership in Philosophy for Children, she has worked widely as a teacher, trainer and project lead, and now contributes nationally through her work with Humanists UK and as co‑ordinator for Assemblies for All.
Jo Backus
Executive Member
Jo was nominated by Lambeth SACRE in 2026 having previously served on the Exec. Her work spans RE and interfaith engagement, including 16 years teaching RE and later working as a university Senior Lecturer in teacher education and religious studies. She is Chair of the Network of Buddhist Organisations and represents it nationally through the RE Council, while also contributing locally and regionally across several SACREs and interfaith initiatives.
Justine Ball
Executive Member
Justine was nominated by the Isle of Wight SACRE in 2025. She brings considerable experience as County Inspector/Adviser for RE and History, supporting schools across Hampshire, Oxford and the Isle of Wight. She is also South East Lead for RE Hubs and a former Co‑Chair of AREIAC, with a background in primary and adult education and a strong focus on teacher training and curriculum development.
Lorna John
Executive Member
Lorna was nominated by Croydon SACRE in 2025, where she serves as Vice Chair. Still a classroom teacher, she brings over 20 years’ experience in education, including leadership as Head of RE and mentoring for PGCE trainees. She is a Chartered Teacher and an experienced curriculum leader, with a strong focus on developing high-quality, inclusive religion and worldviews education across her school, local authority and wider networks.
Sheila Gewolb
Executive Member
Sheila was nominated by Rutland SACRE in 2025, and she is also Vice Chair of the Cumbrian SACRE. She brings national experience in RE and interfaith education. She is a board member of the Religious Education Council and Chair of outreach education for the Board of Deputies of British Jews, regularly visiting schools across the UK to teach about Judaism and promote religious literacy.
Hifsa Haroon-Iqbal OBE
Executive Member
Hifsa was nominated by Staffordshire SACRE in 2026, where she serves as Chair. She has worked across government, education and public service, with a strong focus on religious literacy, equality and community cohesion. Her background includes work in counter‑terrorism, giving her insight into the role of religious literacy in safeguarding and social cohesion, alongside significant experience in governance, communications and public engagement.
Co-opted Members
Manjit Kaur
Co-opted Member
Manjit is a co‑opted member to support our interfaith work. She has wide experience of SACREs, co‑chairing both Coventry and Warwickshire SACREs and contributing to regional and national RE development. A teacher by profession with a background in early years and further education, she is involved in interfaith work and is on the steering group for RE Hubs.
Joyce Miller
Co-opted Member
Joyce is a co‑opted member of NASACRE’s Executive, supporting work with SACREs in the North East. She brings extensive national and regional experience in religious education, including a long career as an RE adviser and consultant. She is a former Chair of the Religious Education Council, AREIAC and Bradford SACRE, and has contributed to major national initiatives such as the Commission on Religious Education and the New Settlement project. Her background in promoting community cohesion and supporting SACREs and schools makes her a valuable link in strengthening RE across the region
Anne Andrews
Co-opted Member
Ann is a co‑opted member supporting our communications work. She is a recently retired diocesan adviser for RE, having advised schools, supported teachers and promoted high‑quality religious education. Through this role she has worked closely with a number of local SACREs, giving her strong insight into their development and the needs of schools.
Support Staff
Marie Cooper
Administrator
Marie is NASACRE’s Administrator, providing essential organisational and administrative support to the Executive.
Paul Smalley
Executive Officer
Paul is NASACRE’s Executive Officer, leading and supporting its work . He has a wealth of experience in religious education, teacher development and leadership, and has previously served as NASACRE Chair. His wider roles include work as an education consultant with the Religious Education Council and Culham St Gabriel’s, PGCE Secondary RE tutoring at Liverpool Hope University, and service as a trustee of the RE Council.