Prior to becoming a Member in March 2025, I served for just over 4 years as Trustees, sitting on the Resources and Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

I qualified as a chartered accountant in 1965 and after professional experience in Manchester and East Lancashire, I joined KPMG in Kingston, Jamaica in 1969.  During my tenure with KPMG, I lived in both Jamaica and Belize and thoroughly enjoyed my time there.  1969 was also a big year for me, as I married my dear wife, Kathryn.

I became involved in the Trust, as I wanted to give something back to the local community that I have lived in for most of my life.  My expertise in finance has allowed me to support the Board of Trustees in ensuring that finances are expended to progress the educational development of pupils within Trust schools.

I have a particular interest in music and have played the trumpet since 1953 in orchestras, brass bands and also traditional jazz bands.  I hope to be able to support in establishing a Trust-wide orchestra as I believe the benefits for pupils are wide ranging.

Date of appointment: 10/03/2025

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Date of appointment: 10/03/2025

Marie Burnham is the Independent Lay Chair (Part-time) for the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Joint Committee, which is made up of the 11 clinical commissioning groups and is part of the area’s Sustainability and Transformation Partnership.

Marie brings with her over 20 years of leadership experience ‎from health services, charitable sector, private and public including NHS executive and non-executive roles. She also has a national reputation for performance and governance management both in the public and private sector. Specialising in turning around failing organisations and delivering real measurable change.

More recent roles include National Chair for NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence), where she held responsibility for safe staffing and a part-time role until 2015 as Chief Accountable Officer for the Well Women’s Centre in Wakefield.

Before taking early retirement 2 years ago Marie was a Chief Executive for many years in the Acute Hospital Sector; over that period she also participated in a National Enquiry with the nuclear industry, examining body parts and was head-hunted to lead on Swine Flu out of Manchester, and a number of meetings in London supporting COBRA.

Marie has also been a member on the University of Lancashire research committee as well as a member of Cumbria University Board.

Date of appointment: 21/12/2017

Date of appointment: 10/03/2025

Karen has lived in Pendle since she was married 36 years ago, has two boys who live and work in London and was a Governor at St Thomas Primary School, Barrowford for almost 20 years. Karen was appointed as Principal of Burnley College and CEO of Themis, its Apprenticeship and Business training arm, in 2018, after a seven-year tenure as Deputy Principal.

Her career in Further Education launched in 1993 when she joined Burnley College as a lecturer in Computing. Karen brought skills and experience from industry to the education sector, having worked as a computer programmer, systems analyst and project manager at some of the region’s leading Employers, British Aerospace, the Prestige Group plc and Leyland DAF.
 
A keen advocate of developing collaborative links between industry and academia, Karen sits on the Burnley Economic Growth Board and leads a Manufacturing group comprised of local employers and Burnley College Tutors to ensure a synergy between the needs of industry and learners entering the workplace. 

During her time as Principal, Karen has led Burnley College to the position of Number One College in the country in the Government’s national achievement rate tables for learners aged 16 to 19 and welcomed ministerial visits and leading civil servants on virtual fact-finding, best practice visits.

She has also welcomed Royal visitors on official visits including escorting Prince Charles on a tour of the College’s new Campus and welcoming the Queen and Prince Philip on their Jubilee tour.

Date of appointment: 28/07/2023