Katherine became Chief Executive of Connexions Berkshire in January 2003. Connexions is a national service providing expert advice, guidance and personal development services to all 13-19 year olds in England. Overseeing a service aimed specifically at young people’s demands, my role is to be forward-thinking, dynamic and understanding. It continually presents her with new and exciting challenges.

In 2008, Connexions won the contracts for Connexions Buckinghamshire and Connexions Oxfordshire and now have exciting opportunities to extend the range of their work across the Thames Valley. She now leads four organisations, in conjunction with the associated Boards, as she has also created an overarching company called Connexions Thames Valley. Her main aim is to ensure that they make a difference to the lives of young people across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire and, where needed, transform their future prospects.

Most of Katherine’s career has been spent on the sharp end, either as a Manager of the Careers Service in Berkshire or as a special needs practitioner. She has worked in a wide range of settings: urban and rural in London, Wiltshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. In addition, she’s done a considerable amount of voluntary work, mostly with people with special needs from whom she has learnt a great deal. Immediately prior to joining Connexions, she worked for CfBT managing large educational contracts such as publications for the DfES skills for life strategy and the national Connexions training programme.

She is also a Chair of Governors of a first school in Windsor.