New Bishop Burton College Deputy Principal: ‘I’m excited to be here’

Kirsti Lord joined the College on Monday 1 August 2022 and says she’s been overwhelmed by the positive welcome she’s already had from staff and students.

Kirsti, who has been Deputy Chief Executive at the Association of Colleges (AoC) for the last five years, is looking forward to be back working in a college setting.

“I feel really privileged to have been offered this opportunity,” she said.

“It feels like there’s a real community here at the College and I’m proud to be given the chance to come here and become a part of it.

“The staff have been so welcoming, so helpful, and so clearly proud of where they work and who they work for. I’ve found that really inspiring.

“The students I’ve met have been equally as proud to be here, and have told me some incredible stories of the experiences they’ve had.

“The campus is just something else. It’s absolutely beautiful and has a slightly other-worldly feeling. It’s truly glorious and is so well equipped, with incredible resources and cutting-edge technology.

“This really is a great place to be teaching and learning.”

Despite a wealth of experience in the further education sector, this will be Kirsti’s first role in a land-based college. It is, she says, another reason she’s looking forward to it so much.

“It really appeals to me that this is a land-based college, because it’s something different for me,” she said.

“I bought my first horse three years ago and I’ve started to learn more about farming, because it’s really interesting, but I certainly wouldn’t claim to be an expert!

“I really want to learn all the nuances and the ins and outs of a land-based college.”

Kirsti says she’s looking forward to getting to know the College and then helping build on its success.

“The first thing for me is to understand the College, learn about the staff and learn about the students,” she said.

“I’m a big exponent of evolution, not revolution. There’s a reason why the staff and students are so proud to be here, so, first and foremost, I need to understand why that is.

“Then, going forward, it’s about grasping the opportunities ahead of us, in the best interests of our students.

“There are undoubtedly exciting times ahead of us and I’m so pleased to be here.”