Sir Nick Weller was the founding CEO of Dixons Academies Trust, growing it to serve the communities of Bradford, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool from 2006 until 2022. He was then CEO of the Academy Transformation Trust until 2025. He is now semi-retired and works as a MAT consultant, non-executive director and trustee.

Sir Nick was designated a National Leader of Education in 2009. His report to HM Treasury and DfE on schools in the Northern Powerhouse region was published in November 2016. He was awarded a knighthood for services to education in 2015 and an honorary Doctorate from Bradford University in 2019.