After qualifying as a land surveyor in 1964 Peter worked for the Department of Overseas Surveys (part of the Ordnance Survey) before joining Hunting Surveys and working as party chief and overseas manager, responsible for many UK and overseas major surveys. This work involved tendering, technical and financial supervision of tasks ranging from twenty thousand to one million pounds. He became Director, with training responsibilities, of Terraquest (a land information company) in 1988. Whilst in this role he was seconded to a range of organisations, including Rail Track, Hospital groups and Development Agencies, to advise on purchasing and setting up Land and Property asset management schemes and associated training. Secondments included the tendering and implementation of a multi-million pound mapping and GIS service for RailTrack.

Peter is a long serving fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and has submitted various papers on expedition survey and logistics as well as advising several expeditions.

He is an active member of Pendle Voice (a charity for the blind).

Date of appointment: 21/12/2017

Thomas is a Service Delivery Manager with the Department for Work and Pensions, managing all aspects of performance, productivity, finance and estates for different Jobcentre Plus sites. He manages a large team of coaches and support staff, and is responsible for various targets and measures. Thomas implements change, setting direction, delivering results and engaging his teams. He engages colleagues, takes decisions effectively – using innovative techniques to lead and communicate. Part of his role is to develop collaboration and partnership with DWP stakeholders; employers, providers, colleges, MP. 

Thomas lives in Blacko, and has been Chair of Governors at Blacko Primary for 4 years. He represents the local Neighbourhood Watch at the Parish Council. He also coaches young athletes in fell and cross country running.      

Date of appointment: 21/12/2017

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

Reverend Alex assumed the post of Rector for St Bartholomew’s and Holy Trinity in July 2021.  His father was a vicar in Gillingham in Kent, however Alex initially went to university to study Geography.  Following this he went to Sandhurst and trained to be an army officer and did this for 11 years with the Royal Engineers, this included two tours of Afghanistan.  

He later followed in his father’s footsteps and decided to study to be a vicar, he trained at Durham University – before training as a curate (trainee Vicar) for three years in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.  Since starting his role as Rector at St Bartholomew’s and Holy Trinity, his hope for the church is that it will grow in numbers.  Whilst also growing in faith the church is continuing to increase it’s mission to serve the people of Colne. 

Alex is married to Katy, they have three daughters, all of who attend Lord Street Primary School.

Date of appointment: 22/02/2023

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