Catherine is a senior planner in the Northern Ireland Civil Service with 30 years of experience working in the public sector.The last 15 years she has spent working on securing the transformation of planning and local government in Northern Ireland, including a key role in the making of the Planning Act 2011. She also led the introduction of community planning to Northern Ireland, developing cross-sector relationships and overseeing a significant capacity building programme.

To embed the new planning system, Catherine worked with the Welsh Government to assist with establishing regional oversight of the new local development plan system. She also project managed the Planning Engagement Partnership, collaboratively working with public, private and third sector organisations across Northern Ireland, whose report ‘Planning Your Place: Getting Involved’ was announced by the Minister in March 2022 containing recommendations on how to improve community engagement in planning and place shaping.

Catherine is a Corporate Member of the RTPI Northern Ireland Executive Committee, and has an active role in the Residents Association where she lives in a Conservation Area. She is committed to harnessing the value of planning, to produce positive societal outcomes at local, regional and national levels. She is also enthusiastic in her pursuit of self development along with professional development. She works with colleagues to provide a Women’s Mentoring Programme for women across the Northern Ireland Civil Service, and is also an active member of the ‘More to Life’ Foundation which is a global community of people committed to transforming their lives and communities through their own personal development.