Christine Burns

Current

Chair - North West Equality and Diversity Group (NWEDG) at North West Regional Assembly
Appointed Advisor at Department of Health Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group
Director at Plain Sense Ltd

see less...

Past

Vice President at Press for Change
Project Manager at The Regard Partnership Ltd
Council Member at Liberty (Human Rights)

Principal Consultant at Cap Gemini
Director at Cheshire Computer Consultants Limited
Senior Consultant at ECS Limited
Technical Director at BIT Computer Services Ltd
Product Development Manager at Berisford Information Technology Ltd
Marketing Executive at International Computers Limited
Senior Training Developer at International Computers Ltd

see less...

7 more...

Education

The University of Manchester
The University of Manchester

Recommended

15 people have recommended Christine

Connections

143 connections

Industry

Professional Training & Coaching

Websites

My Podcast "Just Plain Sense"

Christine Burns’s Summary

* Awarded MBE in 2004 for successful stakeholder advocacy work

* Regularly booked as a keynote public speaker.

* Published writer on diversity issues

* 30+ years experience of business consulting

* Successful leadership record in blue chip projects

* Extensive practical media experience from regular TV, radio and print media work over more than a decade

* Successfully pioneered the use of Podcasting as a stakeholder accountability medium and as a means of showcasing topics and personalities in equality and diversity field.

* Founded and established editorial model for a ground-breaking web site, running over twelve years

* Demonstrated success dealing with experts from multiple disciplines

* Responsible for coordinating the views of over fifty public, private and voluntary stakeholder groups as current Chair of regional equality and diversity stakeholder group

* Responsible for strategic investment plans promoting equality agenda as chair of Department of Health stakeholder committee

* Accountable to peer group and responsible for cooperation with similar organisations as internationally regarded leader of a minority campaign organisation for over fifteen years

* Accountable to 8700 UK peers as elected board level employee consultation representative for a major PLC.

Christine Burns’s Specialties:

My unique proposition is that I combine the solid experience of 30+ years of successful business and IT consultancy at a senior level with 15+ equally successful years learning my craft in the Equality and Diversity field. The combination is an E&D expert with all the disciplines that business managers want from a consultant providing them with advice.

Christine Burns’s Experience

Chair - North West Equality and Diversity Group (NWEDG)

North West Regional Assembly

(Government Agency; 11-50 employees; Public Policy industry)

April 2007 — Present (1 year 7 months)

The North West Equality and Diversity Group (NWEDG) was created in 2004 to help develop the region's Equality and Diversity Strategy. After extensive consultation that strategy was adopted by the regional assembly, regional development agency and Government Office, and is regarded by them as a key enabler of the region's economic strategy. The group's role has correspondingly shifted to a monitoring function and acting as a critical friend -- ensuring that the regional agencies each fulfil their parts of the plan to actualise the strategy.

As chair my role extends beyond straighforward leadership of the group and its agenda. One responsibility is to meet regularly with the directors of the three regional agencies, as an "Equality Strategy Group" to review the achievement of the plan. Following the arrival of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights the NWEDG is ideally placed to act as an interface with the region's many stakeholders.
Appointed Advisor

Department of Health Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group

(Government Administration industry)

July 2006 — Present (2 years 4 months)

Following the restructure of the Department's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group in the first half of 2008, and a formal selection process conducted by the Appointments Commission, I was appointed to be an official advisor in July -- effectively continuing the less formal role I held previously.

Until November 2007 I was chair of the transgender workstream. As chair of this interdisciplinary committee it was my responsibility to coordinate activity with the chairs of two other committees to recommend investment of £250K (2007/8) on projects to promote the inclusion of LGBT people throughout Britain's health and social care services.

My committee of 15 included roughly equal numbers of patient group representatives, medical professionals / commissioners and diversity leads from other government departments.

Successes include commissioning two research projects and publication of a series of DH/NHS booklets.
Director

Plain Sense Ltd

(Professional Training & Coaching industry)

July 2002 — Present (6 years 4 months)

Plain Sense provides diversity education and general consultancy to public sector and private organisations, trading on my extensive experiece as an all-round specialist in Equality and Diversity issues.

Testimonials from a range of satisfied clients are available, in both the public and private sector.

Key engagements in the last twelve months have included authoring a substantial guide on one aspect of the gender equality duty for the NHS, organising a region-wide series of three conference/workshop events on the Gender Equality Duty for NHS Trust Directors and senior personnel, delivering training on Equality Impact Assessment for a Strategic Health Authority and several well-received keynote speeches and workshops for a range of clients. Keynotes included conferences staged by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), the Department of Health and HM Revenue and Customs.
Vice President

Press for Change

(Political Organization industry)

September 1993 — November 2007 (14 years 3 months)

National and International representation of the concerns of trans people to politicians and civil servants, journalists and broadcasters, healthcare professionals and others in the field of diversity and human rights

Policy formation and presentation

Public speaking and writing

Media appearances

Consultancy for Government Departments

Chair of the transgender workstream,
Department of Health Sexual Orientation and
Gender Identity Advisory Group (SOGIAG)

Member of the Parliamentary Forum on Gender Identity

Created and established editorial model for original web site (www.pfc.org.uk) in 1996

Awarded an MBE in the December 2004 New Year's Honours List for "Services to Gender Issues"
Project Manager

The Regard Partnership Ltd

(Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Mental Health Care industry)

September 2002 — June 2007 (4 years 10 months)

Responsible for admin and project management for the Manchester services of this national care provider. Locally the company employs 100 care workers and staff to provide social care and support to over 100 adults with Mental Health problems and Learning Difficulties.

The role involved identifying and responding to any organisational need that came along, finding solutions and seeing them through to completion with the cooperation of whichever colleagues that needs.

Challenges successfully met included the elimination of almost £1M of problematic debt in the sales ledgers when I began work for the previous owner; and the setting up of a system to effectively manage the benefit income and expenditure budgetting for more than 50 tenants, with ongoing responsibilty for over £350K of client funds.

Overall this was a role requiring constant flexibility, attention to detail and the ability to relate to and communicate with staff and service users from all backgrounds.
Council Member

Liberty (Human Rights)

(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Think Tanks industry)

October 1999 — April 2005 (5 years 7 months)

Served as an elected member of the policy governing council of Liberty (formerly the National Council for Civil Liberties)
Principal Consultant

Cap Gemini

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

September 1997 — January 2002 (4 years 5 months)

Technology based business architecture consulting for blue chip clients in UK and Europe, with a specialist emphasis upon Enterprise Document Management, Workflow and web tools.

Key successes included turning around and delivering a failing project that I was invited to take over with a well known investment bank. Under my management the results were delivered on time, within budget and earned an internal company award. Another project for a fast-growing life sciences research company was nominated for and won the title of "Document Management Project of the Year" in the IM99 awards.

Also elected as a founder member of the UK subsidiary's employee consultation body, representing over 8700 peers; subsequently became a founding member of the Paris-based group's International Works Council
Director

Cheshire Computer Consultants Limited

(Privately Held; Myself Only; Computer Software industry)

September 1987 — September 1997 (10 years 1 month)

Provided consultancy to small and medium sized businesses implementing basic business productivity solutions based on personal computer technology. Also provided systems analysis, design, project management, programming and implementation services for bespoke information systems utilising a range of visual development tools and databases.
Senior Consultant

ECS Limited

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

September 1996 — August 1997 (1 year)

Provided project consultancy to UK businesses implementing document management solutions
Technical Director

BIT Computer Services Ltd

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Computer Hardware industry)

January 1984 — September 1987 (3 years 9 months)

Conceived business solutions for medium sized businesses using micro and mini computer hardware. Led implementation projects, liaising with client management and supervising programming teams. Had responsibility as company secretary for general aspects of the business, including purchase and sales accounting.

Key successes included equipping the field merchandising force of a well known food manufacturer with portable computers to gather same day merchandising feedback and relay that using Telecom Gold email. The use of email in this way was ten years before email became commonly available through the internet. Also designed a successful low cost counter terminal system for Coop handybanks.
Product Development Manager

Berisford Information Technology Ltd

(Public Company; 11-50 employees; Computer Hardware industry)

October 1982 — December 1983 (1 year 3 months)

I was headhunted in 1982 to join this startup computer systems and services company set up by S&W Berisford PLC. My role there was to advise the Managing Director on emerging technologies to incorporate into the offering.

At the end of 1983 the board of S&W Berisford decided that an IT services company was not something they wished to retain in their business portfolio. Having made that decision they then decided to offer the senior staff the opportunity to buy out the goodwill and set up in trade for ourselves.

Successes included developing the first ever computerised scoring system for the Miss World competition in conjunction with Eric Morley and the show's sponsors, Epson UK Ltd. Also began developing an innovative range of applications to exploit the unique capabilities of the portable A4 size computers which Epson developed. These portables were years before the emergence of today's laptops.
Marketing Executive

International Computers Limited

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

October 1978 — September 1982 (4 years)

Joined the regional marketing team in Manchester to specialise in data capture and distributed computer systems, including the Key Edit 8900 series and the ICL 1500 and DRS ranges.

During my time with the team I was responsible for planning, promoting and organising a series of road shows where local business people were invited to come and view tailored application solutions. I was also allowed to develop my skills as a copywriter, by producing all the copy for locally produced brochures for a sales promotion. As the Key Edit specialist I researched and wrote the Marketing Guide to accompany the launch of the new Key Edit 2000 range. I was also closely involved with the original launch of the new DRS 50 distributed computing range.
Senior Training Developer

International Computers Ltd

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Computer Hardware industry)

October 1977 — October 1978 (1 year 1 month)

Joined the development team at ICL's Education and Training Division at Beaumont, Old Windsor as a writer. Key projects included sole authorship of the ICL Glossary of Computer Terms and the creation of an entire family of self study guides on all aspects of using, programming and managing the Key Edit 8900 series of key to disc data capture systems.

Christine Burns’s Education

The University of Manchester

M.Sc., Computer Operating Systems Portability, 1975 — 1977

Activities and Societies:

Producer and presenter, BBC Radio Manchester's "Student Scene" - a weekly 30 minute magazine programme covering news, studio discussions and events talk of relevance to the city's 30,000 students
The University of Manchester

BSc (Hons) First Class, Computer Science, 1972 — 1975

Additional Information

Christine Burns’s Websites:

My Podcast "Just Plain Sense"

Christine Burns’s Interests:

Podcast Production, Photography, Writing, Travel

Christine Burns’s Groups:

Department of Health Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group, Department of Health Gender Equality Advisory Group, Parliamentary Forum on Gender Identity, North West Equality and Diversity Group, British Computer Society