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Burnley College Governing Board

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: [email protected]

Meet Our Governors

David Brown
Governing Board Chair

  • Search & Governance Committee Vice-Chair
  • Remuneration Committee Member
  • Finance Committee Member

David 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.

Gillian Bardin
Governing Board Vice-Chair

  • Remuneration Committee Chair
  • Search & Governance Committee Chair
  • Audit Committee Member

Gillian Bardin has been a Governor at the College since 2018. She was formerly Managing Director of Taylor Patterson, a financial services group based in Lancashire, where her key responsibility was the strategic direction of the business until its sale to an AIM Listed plc. Gillian is a Chartered Accountant and former President of ICAEW Lancashire & South Lakeland. She is currently a NED at Puddleducks Franchising Ltd and an Entrepreneur in Residence at Lancaster University.

Karen Buchanan
College Principal

  • Chief Executive Officer of Themis at Burnley College

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.

Sharon Roscoe

  • Curriculum and Standards Committee Member

Sharon has a wealth of experience in education with extensive governance knowledge and expertise having served as a trustee, governor and chair of governors for primary, secondary, alternative provision and special school governing bodies. Sharon has worked as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Education Partnership Trust (EPT), a multi-academy trust for 12 years. She oversaw the building of two new Free Schools and the re-brokerage of two schools into the trust from another Multi Academy Trust (MAT). She is a member of the DfE Alternative Provision Stakeholder group which advises government and shapes policy. She was formerly CEO of the Education Improvement Partnership (EIP), a formal collaboration between all secondary phase schools in Blackburn with Darwen which raised educational standards before establishing the EPT in 2012. Sharon worked as Strategic Manager (Operations) for CXL and Area Manager for Connexions Lancashire Ltd. She graduated as MBA in 2011 from Lancaster University.

Paul Ragnall

  • Finance Committee Member

Paul is now retired after a 40-year career with The Department of Work & Pensions and its predecessors.

During his successful career, he undertook a number of roles including Operations, HR, Management Training and Resource Management.

For the last 10 years, Paul was Health & Safety Operations Manager for DWP, responsible for Health and Safety in the 600 Jobcentre Plus offices, where the safety of staff and customers was paramount.

Vikki Goddard

  • Curriculum and Standards Committee Member

Vikki Goddard has been a Governor at the College since 2024. She has worked in the Higher Education sector for thirty years, including as a Registrar and Chief Operating Officer, Director of Strategic Planning and Director of Faculty Operations. Building on her experience at the Universities of Manchester, Salford and Liverpool, she now works as an Independent Consultant with organisations across the Higher Education sector helping them to navigate change, support and develop their professional services staff and advising on strategy implementation and planning. She is also the Managing Consultant for the Association of Higher Education Professionals.

Jim Sutcliffe

  • Audit Committee Chair
  • Human Resources Committee Vice Chair
  • Remuneration Committee Member
  • Search & Governance Committee Member

Jim Sutcliffe has been a Governor at the College since 1998, after being impressed by the high quality of education received by his sons who are former students. 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.

Richard Thorley

  • Finance Committee Vice Chair
  • Search & Governance Committee Member

Richard Thorley has been a Governor of the College since 1993, when he was Managing Director at Smiths Aerospace. Richard is a retired Director of Kaman Aerospace Group, with headquarters In Connecticut, USA, having had responsibility for Worldwide Business Strategy and Development. A Chartered Management Accountant, Richard also holds a degree in Production Engineering and Management from Loughborough University.

Philip Turner

  • Human Resources Committee Chair
  • Remuneration Committee Member

Philip Turner has been a Governor at the College since incorporation in 1993. Philip who has been a solicitor since 1980 and retired as Senior Partner of Waddington and Son Solicitors after 24 years in the partnership. He specialises in Criminal Law and continues to work for the firm on a consultancy basis.

Paul Henderson

  • Finance Committee Member
  • Search and Governance Committee Member

Paul Henderson has been a Governor at the College since 2014. Paul is owner and director of his chartered surveying practice. His areas of expertise are in architecture, project management and facilities management. Roles have included that of client Project Manager, responsible for the new build at Burnley College and consultant to large public organisations including Manchester City Council and Lancashire County Council. 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

  • Curriculum and Standards Committee Chair
  • Human Resources Committee Member
  • Remuneration Committee Member

Fiona Lugiano has been a Governor at the College since 2018. Fiona is Group 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 Operations, Marketing and Sales, Risk, Compliance and Governance and currently holds specific responsibilities as Company Secretary, Responsible Officer and Director of subsidiary companies. Fiona obtained a degree in Psychology and has continued her interest in both this subject and education by previously teaching at the Open University and more recently having completed an MBA.

Lukman Patel

  • Human Resources Committee Member

Lukman Patel is the Chief Executive of Burnley Borough Council and its former Chief Operating Officer. A solicitor by profession, he was formerly Head of Governance, Property, Law, and Regulation at the Council and Head of Legal (Environment) at Trafford Borough Council. Lukman is also a member of the advisory Board for the Canals & Rivers Trust and was formerly a trustee for Burnley FC in the Community. Born and raised in East Lancashire, Lukman has a strong affinity with the region and is passionate about supporting education and skills opportunities for young people. He lives in East Lancashire with his young family and enjoys cycling and swimming.

Guy Thomas

  • Finance Committee Chair
  • Search & Governance Committee Member
  • Remuneration Committee Member

Guy Thomas has been a Governor at the College since 2014. Guy left aerospace manufacturing group Kaman UK in 2014 after six years, initially as Group Finance Director and then as Group Managing Director. He is now a self-employed consultant providing specialist support services to small and mid-sized businesses. Guy is a qualified accountant with many years’ experience both in practice, at Ernst & Young, and Industry with Metrotect Industries plc and Brookhouse Holdings, where he was Group Finance Director.

Steve Wilkinson

  • Curriculum and Standards Committee Vice Chair
  • Search and Governance Committee Member

Steve has been a Governor at the College since 2022 and brings with him over 25 years’ experience across varied business environments, specialising in manufacturing sectors. Steve is a Project Manager at RTC North Ltd, focusing on supporting the growth and competitiveness of the regions Manufacturing Industry. His ethos is embracing innovation and creating sustainable relationships which inspire, influence and initiate positive change.

David Tomlinson

  • Audit Committee Vice Chair

A Director at Uniac, a shared internal audit service for the Higher Education sector, David is Head of Internal Auditing at a range of niche education providers from large metropolitan universities to a Russell Group university. His career spans 18 years, mainly within internal audit working at Liverpool City Council, PricewaterhouseCoopers and TalkTalk with 12 years’ experience in the Higher Education sector. David’s public sector experience was enriched with experience within in the Telecommunications sector, where he was part of the Cyber Security Leadership team overseeing the Technology and Security Risk function; a Security Compliance function and a Vulnerability Management function.

Staff Governors

David Easton

David Easton is an international award winning tutor with 21 years teaching experience across multiple schools, and in Further and Higher Education. His main subject is Photography and Media and he has worked extensively as a professional photographer and videographer all over the world. David works in Staff Development and coordinates the Brights Spots and Learning Breakfast sessions within the college.

Richard Sanderson

Richard Sanderson has multiple years of experience in governance, including serving as the Vice Chair of Governors at Ribblesdale High School in Clitheroe and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to the education sector.

Spanning the retail and aviation sectors, Richard’s professional experience has equipped him with invaluable skills in people management, compliance and customer service, with a strong foundation in leadership, strategic thinking and the ability to develop environments where individuals can thrive.

Student Governors

Izzie Balfour​

Izzie brings a passion for understanding people and amplifying student voices to her new role as Student Governor. Currently excelling in her A Level studies in Psychology, Sociology and Biology.

Her motivation for becoming a Student Governor is her desire to maintain an environment where every Student feels heard and valued.

“I want to create an environment where students feel comfortable sharing their ideas, concerns and aspirations.”

Hassan Khalil

Hassan brings a sharp analytical mind and a drive to empower his peers. Studying A Level Mathematics, Chemistry and Economics, Hassan’s keen interest in finance has allowed him to explore the vital connections between strategic leadership and economic impact.

His vision as a Student Governor focuses on representing the collective student voice and driving innovative ideas for improvement.

“Every student’s perspective matters and I’m committed to creating positive changes that benefit all Students.”

Governing Board 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)

2020/2021

Governing Board

Search & Governance Committee

2021/2022

Governing Board

Search & Governance Committee

2022/2023

Governing Board

Search & Governance Committee

2023/2024

Governing Board

Search & Governance Committee

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