Chamber chief to step down

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Professor Miranda Barker is stepping down from her role after nine years in the post.

Her deputy Louise Sydenham is also leaving the Accrington headquartered business support organisation. She has been a member of its team for 24 years, playing a pivotal role in the chamber’s development over that time.

No announcement has been made on who will take over the key roles when they leave later this year.

In a statement announcing their departures, the chamber said that Miranda will now concentrate on her “passion for low carbon innovation”.

She will focus her attention on her work with the RedCAT Group – the county’s low-carbon technology innovation agency - an organisation the chamber is heavily involved in.

And she will continue her work in the national and international climate policy field, with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the UN, along with developing climate tech philanthropy.

During her time as chief executive Miranda has played a high-profile role in the county’s business community. She was a board member of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and is on the business board of the new Lancashire Combined County Authority.

An honorary professor of the University of Lancashire’s business school, she has been an active campaigner for investment in the county’s emerging energy and low carbon sector.

In 2022 Miranda was awarded the OBE for services to business and the community and in 2024 she was appointed a deputy lieutenant of the county.

She leads on climate matters for the BCC as its Climate Envoy – sitting on the government’s Net Zero Council delivery and public participation groups and leading the annual BCC international delegation to COP, featuring yearly a strong delegation from Lancashire.

In its statement, the chamber said: “While we appreciate this is a period of change for the chamber, this comes at a time when the chamber faces new opportunities and challenges as a result of the local government reorganisation.

“We believe the timing of these changes will provide a great opportunity for the chambers’ new chief executive to review the chamber’s strategy to ensure it supports the changing commercial landscape for Lancashire, while at the same time continuing to build and develop local relationships.

“The chamber would like to take this opportunity to thank both Miranda and Louise for their dedication and long service and wish them well for the future.”

Miranda said: “I will continue to support the chamber and the county as a whole in its positive political positioning and driving forward the economic strengths of Lancashire.”

She also paid tribute to her deputy, saying: “Louise has made an exceptional contribution in her time, playing a pivotal role in the chamber’s development, resilience and success over more than two decades.

“Both of us have immensely enjoyed working with the chamber staff and the chamber’s supporters and stakeholders from across the public and private sector.

 “Over the next few months, the chamber’s board will be working closely with both of us to ensure there is a smooth handover so that arrangements are in place to support the chamber, its members and stakeholders.”