Professor Miranda Barker OBE DL

Miranda is Chief Executive of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Chair of the RedCAT Group.

Miranda is a member of the Lancashire Business Board, Co-Chair of the Lancashire Energy & Low Carbon Sector, a director of Growth Lancashire delivering the local growth hub, and works in partnership with businesses and Local Authorities across Lancashire to promote strong local economies and inward investment. In 2024 Miranda became an honorary Professor attached to the University of Central Lancashire’s business school.

An environmental scientist by background, having studied at Liverpool and Salford Universities, in 2000 Miranda established an environmental consultancy SME Allan Environmental Solutions, for 16 years working with global business clients across sectors as wide ranging as food, chemicals, nuclear, pharma, energy, waste, farming, manufacturing, FMCG, engineering, automotive and aerospace, with clients across the UK, northern, and western Europe, Brazil, USA and China. Incl. Veolia, Biffa, Heinz, BNFL, Asda, National Nuclear Labs, Ineos, Monsanto, Co-op, Coco Cola, PPG. Having sold AES into Benchmark Holdings PLC Miranda was then Business Development Director of their Sustainability Division, sitting on the PLC Ops Board – 2013-16, before joining the Chamber as CEO in 2017.

In 2022 Miranda was awarded the OBE for services to business and the community of Lancashire, and in 2024 was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Lancashire.

Miranda leads on climate matters for the global British Chambers of Commerce – co-chairing their Climate Challenge Group, sitting on the Government’s Net Zero Council delivery and public participation groups, and leading the annual British Chambers of Commerce international delegation to COP, featuring yearly a strong delegation from East Lancashire.

Miranda ensures RedCAT’s prominent role within the LCC/Combined Authority, maintains regional and national political awareness of the sector and its potential, and leads on RedCAT’s Scale and Advocacy workstreams ensuring our clean tech firms secure maximum possible backing to commercialise and thrive.