Mike Blackburn OBE

Mike lives in the North West and spent his 36-year career in the private sector, always working for technology companies, including spending 25 years working for BT. When he left in January 2018, he was both Chair of BT’s NW Regional Board, and Head of Digital Government in the UK.

Mike has a portfolio of Non-Executive roles including Chair of Marketing Manchester and Manchester’s International Marketing Advisory Board.

Mike holds a number of other Non-Exec or Trustee roles:

• Chair of GM International and Marketing Advisory Board
• Ex-Officio Board Member Greater Manchester LEP
• Chair of Dixons Academy Trust
• Trustee of the Lowry Theatre, Salford
• Dean’s Advisory Council Member for Lancaster University Management School
• Advisor at Snowball Alternative Finance Limited

Mike was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2015 for services to the economy in the North West.

Mike sits on the North West advisory board for the Prince of Wales charity, Business in the Community, and was selected as the Prince’s NW Regional Ambassador for 2010/11 and 2011/12.

Mike is married with three children and lives in Cheshire.