Catherine is an urban planner by training and in heart, passionate about making places that not only work but that also bring people joy. She has worked in the heritage and development sector in the UK for over 30 years, starting in local government before moving back home to Newcastle-upon-Tyne to work for English Heritage. In 2015, she moved to Manchester to take up the post of Regional Director for Historic England’s North West team. For over ten years, Catherine led the team working across the North. In 2022, she stepped away from the regional role for a year, leading a programme to help the organisation and sector partners adapt to a changing climate.
In March 2026 she left Historic England to start her own consultancy. She now provides strategic and progressive heritage and place-led advice, advice on climate adaptation of historic places, and mentoring and heritage management training.
Catherine is also a Trustee for the Grade II* listed Victoria Baths in Manchester and for Oyez Arts, a Community Benefit Society that runs the old Town Hall in Altrincham. Outside of work, she helps to organise a local film club showing independent films to local people. More than anything she loves to travel, exploring new cities, finding hidden neighbourhoods and pointing at buildings. A busman’s holiday really.