Meet Lakmini Harkus, our new CEO

We are pleased to welcome Lakmini Harkus as Chief Executive Officer of Palladian Academy Trust on 13 April. We asked Lakmini a few questions about her background, values and priorities for our trust, ahead of her joining the team.

What attracted you to the role of CEO of Palladian Academy Trust?

Palladian is such a vibrant and dedicated family of schools, with strong foundations shaped under the excellent leadership of the outgoing CEO, Donna Tandy and the interim CEO, Nathan Jenkins. Having previously inspected several of the trust’s schools as one of His Majesty’s Inspectors with Ofsted, I already have a comprehensive understanding of Palladian’s schools and the wonderful communities they serve. I have lived in both local authorities that the trust serves and have lived experience of what it is like to be part of a family within these communities which I believe will serve me well in this role. I firmly believe in the trust’s values of respect, trust, courage and curiosity and it is important to me to be part of a values-driven organisation that is invested in providing opportunities so everyone can flourish.

Tell us about your background in education.

I knew as soon as I visited a school for the first time as a four-year-old that I wanted to be a teacher. I distinctly remember that there were balloons painted on the front of the school building and I knew then that this was the place that I belonged! I’d like to say that when I was at school, it came to a point where even as a child I would consider the teaching strategies teachers would use when teaching my lessons. I trained to teach science in secondary schools and progressed in my career as a science teacher, head of science, lead practitioner, headteacher and most recently, one of His Majesty’s Inspectors. In this role, I have inspected more than 100 providers and seen some of the most wonderful schools we have in England. This includes three of our very own Palladian schools. I am keen to use all the skills and knowledge I have gained throughout my time in education and put these to good use in a role that will make a difference to the children and families we serve.

What is important to you as a leader?

I am committed to championing high quality teaching, inclusive practice, and a spirit of collaboration across our trust so that each school continues to thrive in its own unique context while benefiting from our shared expertise. I also believe in nurturing an environment where people, staff and children alike, feel empowered to reach their potential.

Clear communication, developing others and acting with integrity are all very important to me. Alongside this, I believe wellbeing and balance are important in helping everyone do their best. It also models how to create the foundations of a healthy life to the children we serve who watch our every move. Together, I believe we can build on the strong foundations already in place and create even greater opportunities for our children, staff, and communities. 

What is your main priority for your first term at Palladian?

I can summarise this in one word. I will listen. I want to hear from our Palladian community about how things are working for pupils, staff, and families, including what is going well and what we could do to enhance experiences further.

My vision is to work with our schools and wider communities to nurture a culture where every pupil feels known, valued, and inspired to achieve their very best. I’m eager to get to know our wonderful schools, dedicated staff, supportive parents, and carers, and most importantly, our fantastic pupils.

What makes Palladian so special is the collective expertise we hold and nourish and our innovative and collaborative working practices. I’m looking forward to working closely with our colleagues (school leaders, central team, trustees, and local governance committee members) to drive us on towards our vision.

It will be a privilege to lead our shared efforts to ensure every child feels supported, inspired, and empowered to flourish.

What excites you most about the future of Palladian Academy Trust?

Honestly, it is the children. I have visited some of our schools already as part of my induction and the children are ambitious which resonates with me hugely. I cannot wait to see what they accomplish. As the students of Ralph Allen say, ‘I want to achieve my personal best’ and I look forward to hearing about their achievements, whatever they may be.

I am also excited about what our amazing staff team will achieve in true collaboration. I have inspected many schools within trusts and Palladian has some of the most values-led team members. In addition, I am looking forward to putting my expertise to good use to support our schools to do even better, and for our trust to continue to grow.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I share my home with two cheeky cats, Dizzy and Blossom, who keep life entertaining!

I used to do ballet and tap as a child and have returned to the world of ballet after many years. It supports my discipline and perseverance skills!

The photo of me here was taken at one of my favourite walking spots in Wiltshire - a place I treasure.

And finally, and most importantly, I love spending time with my wonderful family. My husband and I have two primary school aged children who keep us incredibly busy and bring us so much joy.

To find out more about all the exciting things happening in our community of schools, look through our website,

visit our local school websites or email enquiries@palladianacademytrust.com