Born and raised in Manchester’s Wythenshawe, Katherine benefited from our wonderful state schools, leaving Altrincham Girls Grammar as Senior Student ( Head Girl ) and was the first in her family to go to university, graduating from University of Nottingham with a Biology BSc Hons. degree.

Katherine’s worked since she was 14 in a variety of jobs, including infrastructure construction, when paying her way through university, she’s proud of having worked as a nursing assistant in an elderly care home, and has a frontline view of importance of the NHS & Social Care services to us all.

Before becoming an MP Katherine was running her own small manufacturing business in the Northwest, exporting around the world. Previously she worked in Management and IT Consultancy as well as undertaking several operational, change & strategy leadership roles with LTSB, LBG, the Credit Union Movement and for a short period she helped with the setup of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

Away from the political & business world, Katherine is a qualified Field Guide (Safari Ranger), who has lived and worked in Mpumalanga and Limpopo in South Africa & Mozambique. Her favourite animal is the Giraffe and she is most scared of Honey Badgers.

With a background in science and a deep interest in the environment, Katherine is passionate about nature and improving existing habitats to benefit wildlife, and us all. When time allows, she can be found in either the Lakes, Peak District or North Wales bird watching or mountain biking. Katherine’s love of palaeontology spills into the odd fossil collecting trip, and she’s a student of the beautiful game with a season ticket at Manchester United.

First elected to represent the wonderful South Ribble in December 2019, in 2020 Katherine was honoured to have been appointed the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Mozambique. In this role she will be working to strengthen trade and investment relationships with friends on the continent and building mutual opportunities for shared trade.