Councillor Karina Carter
Councillor Karina Carter is the Deputy Mayor of Trafford for the municipal year 2025 to 2026.
- Consort: Councillor Ged Carter
- Councillor since: 2004
- Wards represented: Stretford, Bucklow St Martins, now Davyhulme
- Current executive role: Babies, Children and Young People since 2023
- Focus: Education, safeguarding and support for vulnerable children and young people.
Council service
Karina has served in many roles at Trafford Council, including Opposition Spokesperson for Education, Vice Chair of Children’s Scrutiny, Chair of the Corporate Parenting Board and Lead Member for Education. She now serves as Executive Member for Babies, Children and Young People.
Schools and governance
She has been a governor at several schools, including over a decade as Chair at Stretford High. As a National Leader of Governance, she has supported schools in their improvement work. Her governance journey began at St Michael’s Primary in Flixton in 1990, where she also set up the school’s first after school club. She has chaired two academy trusts in Manchester and Bolton.
Early life, study and career
Karina grew up in Whitley Bay. At 18 she came to Manchester to study Ancient History and Archaeology with Latin, met Ged in Freshers Week and they married after graduation. They moved to Urmston at 21 and she later completed postgraduate study in Salford. Her career began at Ashburne Hall at the University of Manchester, then Loreto College, before joining Manchester Council in 2002. She retired from Manchester Council in 2023 after commissioning services for people affected by domestic violence and working with at-risk families. She has also organised major centenary events.
Family and interests
Karina and Ged have three grown-up daughters and four grandchildren. Family gatherings are important to her. She enjoys cooking, baking and gardening and is happiest with a house full of guests. She loves travel, reading with her local book club and crafting, including large crocheted blankets. She values long-standing friendships from school, university and her years as a young mum.
Deputy Mayor’s year
Karina hopes to use the Mayoralty to promote Trafford, connect with communities and highlight the work of women, children and young people.
Full biography
You can read the full biography here:
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