Emma Wickes - Trust Central Officer

Emma brings 20 years of local authority experience to her role, including her previous position as School Business Manager at Polesden Lacey Infant Academy. She returned to her HR roots when she joined LEO in 2025.

Her primary focus is staff absence management, where she advises leadership teams on short and long-term absences in line with trust policies. Emma supports line managers in conducting supportive absence conversations and navigating sensitive issues with empathy, discretion and professional confidentiality. She also manages the trust’s Occupational Health referrals, collaborating with managers to implement reasonable adjustments that enable staff to return to work smoothly and safely after illness.