Cath studied Physics at Durham University before taking a graduate role at STC, a large telecoms business, working on the design and development of early commercial fibre optic based telecoms systems. She returned to Durham to complete an MSc in Microelectronics before heading back south to work for Analog Devices in Newbury working on custom ASIC design. In 1991 she joined Cadence Design Systems first as an application engineer, progressing to the business consulting group, working with an international portfolio of clients in the use of complex modelling in the design of electronic circuits.
Taking a career change while the children were young, Cath set up a training consultancy working in the field of electronic design. There followed a period in local government in a business development role prior to a return to the electronics industry in a specialist software start-up based in Thame where Cath had responsibility for management of their IP portfolio during their initial development phase. When the role came to an end, she again set up her own business, this time working in the field of business strategy for small businesses. This led naturally to the role of technology transfer manager at the University of Reading which she joined in 2009, promoted to head of the group in 2011. During her time there she was responsible for commercialisation and spin out activities across the complete range of subjects.
Cath joined Oxford University Innovation in January 2017 as a Senior Technology Transfer Manager.
