Karen Buchanan
Principal and Chief Executive
Karen Buchanan 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 and systems analyst 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 is involved in multiple groups which unite local employers with Burnley College Tutors to ensure a synergy between the needs of industry and learners entering the workplace. She plays a key role in the Association of Colleges in the North West and chairs the board tasked with developing Burnley’s Long-Term Plan.
During her time as Principal, Karen has led Burnley College to the position of Number One College in the country in the Government’s achievement rate tables for learners aged 16 to 18, overseen the expansion of the College as well as development of the curriculum and growth in learner numbers.
She has also welcomed Royal visitors on official visits including escorting the then Prince Charles on a tour of the College’s new Campus and welcoming the late Queen and Prince Philip on their Jubilee tour.