Governors make an important contribution to the life of Burnley College and its students, helping to ensure it is run well and serves the needs of local people.
Clerk to Governors – Simone Lomas: s.lomas@burnley.ac.uk
MEET OUR GOVERNORS
David Meakin is Chair of the Governing Board, a position he has held since 2014. A qualified Accountant, David holds a BSc(Hons) degree in Mathematics and enjoyed a 35-year career within the NHS, working in Nottingham, Birmingham and Aylesbury before arriving in Burnley. On his retirement in 2005, David held the position of Director of Finance and Deputy Chief Executive.
David J. Brown has been a Governor at the College since 2005. Prior to his retirement, he held the position of Burnley Borough Council Director of Environment, with responsibility for Planning and Environment, StreetScene and Markets Services.
Karen Buchanan was appointed as Principal of Burnley College and CEO of Themis in 2017. She was previously Deputy Principal of the College appointed in September 2011. Karen has worked in Further Education since starting as a part time Computing Lecturer at Burnley College in 1986. Prior to this Karen worked as a Computer Programmer and then a Systems Analyst at The Prestige Group PLC, British Aerospace and at Leyland DAF.
After leaving Burnley Grammar School, Jim Sutcliffe joined Burnley Building Society as a computer specialist and Audit Manager, transferring to the National and Provincial Building Society, Bradford, as Mergers and Acquisitions Planner and Integration Manager. Before his retirement, he developed his own management consultancy business. Jim has been a College Governor since 1998, after being impressed by the high quality of education received by his sons who are former students.
Paul Ragnall joined the College’s Governing Board in 2011. Paul has enjoyed a 30-year career within the National Pensions Service where he has held a number of roles, including Benefit Delivery, Human Resources, Health and Safety and within Job Centre Plus. Paul was, until recently, Deputy Manager of the Department for Work and Pensions and has now taken up a national role in relation to Health and Safety and elements of the Human Resources Function.
Retired Director of Kaman Aerospace Group, with headquarters in Connecticut, USA, Richard Thorley became a Burnley College Governor in 1993 while he was Managing Director at Smiths Aerospace. A Chartered Management Accountant, Richard also holds a degree in Production Engineering and Management from Loughborough University.
Philip Turner retired from his position as Senior Partner at Waddington and Son Solicitors after a 24-year career in the legal service. A specialist in Criminal Law, Philip started his career as a trainee and continues to work for the firm on a consultancy basis. Philip has been a Burnley College Governor since 1993.
Gillian Bardin was formerly Managing Director of Taylor Patterson, a financial services group based in Lancashire, after successfully completing a management buy-out in 2006. Her key responsibilities were the strategic direction of the business and the development of business relationships. Gillian is a Chartered Accountant and was President of ICAEW Lancashire & South Lakeland in 2016/17 and is currently Entrepreneur in Residence at Lancaster University.
Dr Gerald Griggs is Head of Academics at UCFB (Etihad Campus). He has worked in education for over two decades, with a majority of this time spent in the Higher Education sector. He is a globally renowned scholar in the field of Primary Physical Education and has published extensively in this area, as well as in wider spheres of education and sociology. Gerald is also a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
Paul Henderson currently holds the position of Director of Education Frameworks at international building contractor ISG. His previous roles have included that of Client Project Manager, responsible for the new build at Burnley College. A former GNVQ Building Studies student at Burnley College Sixth Form Centre, Paul graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a BSc(Hons) in Building Surveying and has completed a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
Fiona Lugiano is Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Ascentis, an educational awarding organisation which she joined in 2002. Fiona has managed a number of areas throughout Ascentis, including General Operations, Marketing and Sales and Governance and currently holds specific responsibilities as Company Secretary and Director of subsidiary companies. Fiona obtained a degree in Psychology and has continued her interest in both this subject and education by being a member of the British Psychological Society, teaching at the Open University and has just completed an MBA.
Kate Quinn is a senior manager with 33 years’ experience working in a range of organisations across the NHS around the Strategic Human Resources and Organisational Development agenda. She has extensive experience working operationally, regionally and nationally to deliver on key priorities for the NHS workforce to ensure delivery of services to patients. Kate also has experience as an elected member on Preston City Council where she served as Executive Member for Communities.
Richard Robinson joined the College’s Governing Board in 2017. Richard is a Director at a local firm of accountants, McMahon Leggate, and management consultancy service FEEsource Ltd. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Guy Thomas left aerospace manufacturing group Kaman UK in 2014 after six years of managing three subsidiary businesses within the organisation, first as Group Finance Director and then as Group Managing Director. He is now a self-employed consultant providing specialist services support to small and mid-sized businesses. Guy is a qualified accountant with many years’ experience in this role gained at Earnest & Young and Brockhouse Holdings, where he was Group Finance Director.
STAFF GOVERNORS
Gareth Jones
Gareth Jones has worked at the College for six years and is a Curriculum Manager in the Division of Construction. He is responsible for full-time students and apprentices in Carpentry and Joinery, Furniture Studies and Electrical Installation. He currently sits on the College’s Quality, Staff Development and Appearance committees. As an ex-student of the College, he is proud and passionate about the college and its success.
Luke Gott
Luke has enjoyed a career in advice, guidance and support at Burnley College since graduating in 2019. He is currently responsible for the development of university-level and Adult Learning provision at the College and is a Team Leader in the busy Student Services Department. He works closely with other college bodies including safeguarding, marketing, divisional areas, network services, Additional Learning Support and the Senior Management Team.
STUDENT GOVERNORS
Oscar Whittaker
Oscar Whittaker advanced onto Burnley College from Unity College where he was a Senior Prefect with the title of House Captain. He is studying a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering plus an A Level in Mathematics, which will support his high career ambitions to progress on to a Degree Apprenticeship studying mathematics, or to attend one of the top universities in the country to study mathematics. Oscar is also a Student Representative and part of the Student Council. Oscar has a keen interest in football which he plays in his spare time as well as other hobbies, including maintaining a healthy lifestyle. With this mindset he loved completing both the bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards and he hopes to complete his Gold at some point in the future.
MINUTES AND DOCUMENTS
The Governing Body of Burnley College keep a full record of all meetings held, to view the minutes, click on the links below (paper copies available on request)
Meeting of the Governing Board – 6 April 2016
Meeting of the Governing Board – 22 June 2016
Meeting of the Governing Board – 5 October 2016
Meeting of the Governing Board – 14 December 2016
Meeting of the Governing Board – 22 March 2017
Meeting of the Governing Board – 21 June 2017
Meeting of the Governing Board – 4 October 2017
Meeting of the Governing Board – 13 December 2017
Meeting of the Governing Board 27 June 2018
Meeting of the Governing Board 3 October 2018
Meeting of the Search & Governance Committee 17 Oct 2018
Meeting of the Governing Board 12 December 2018
Meeting of the Governing Board 20 March 2019
Meeting of the Search & Governance Committee 8 May 2019
Meeting of the Governing Board 26 June 2019
Meeting of the Governing Board 2 October 2019
Meeting of the Search & Governance Committee 16 October 2019
Meeting of the Governing Board 11 December 2019
Meeting of the Governing Board – 13th May 2020
Meeting of the Governing Board – 24th June 2020
Burnley College Instrument and Articles of Governance
