As Co-Director of the Technical Team, Kate provides strategic and operational leadership across SDDirect’s gender equality and social inclusion portfolios, with particular oversight for Gender Based Violence, Safeguarding, Equal Education and Child Protection.
Kate has been working in the field of women’s rights for over 20 years with a focus on gender-based violence and a passion for influencing change at all levels. Over that time Kate has worked within international NGOs, government and the private sector to catalyse change in policy, funding and programming to advance women’s rights. Kate is committed to improving partnerships and collaboration within development practice to redistribute power and applies feminist principles to policy development and programme design as well as to her leadership approach.
Whilst working for the UK government Kate developed a ground-breaking and ambitious portfolio on ending Violence against Women and Girls, including the £25m flagship ‘What Works to Prevent Violence Research Programme’ and shaped UK policy on gender equality in the SDGs. She is a member of the senior leadership team on the global ‘What Works to Prevent Violence: Impact at Scale’ programme, funded by the UK government.
Kate has an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. When she is not working, Kate is either in her polytunnel or practising Shiatsu.