At Challenge Works, Catherine is a Senior Programme Manager, currently focusing on delivering the inaugural Manchester Prize, looking for AI for environment, energy and infrastructure to benefit the UK and the Aqualunar Challenge, seeking new innovations to enable purification of water on the moon. 

Catherine has deep open innovation and delivery expertise, delivering a range of challenges during her time at Challenge Works including the Sustainable Cities Challenge, the Water Breakthrough Challenge, the Rapid Recovery Challenge and Open Up 2020. 

Catherine has a background in tech-focused innovation, starting her career in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and more recently focusing on the social impact of tech; exploring regulation, harm reduction and tech for good. Prior to Challenge Works, Catherine was Head of Innovation at Fairtrade Foundation, leading a team working on new approaches to supporting farmers and workers in global supply chains with a focus on supply chain transparency, human rights, data visualisation and blockchain. 

An On Purpose Fellow, Catherine is passionate about the power of creativity and innovation in driving positive social impact, especially in light of the climate emergency. Catherine recently completed a Masters in Sustainability Leadership at Cambridge University, where she explored the use of futures and foresight approaches to support food supply chains to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate. 

When not studying or working, Catherine can be found sampling delicious food, tinkering with the latest smart devices, kayaking the Grand Union Canal, or hiking through beautiful British woodland.