Chief Operating Officer, Civil Service

Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office

Policy Leaders Fellowship alumna, Centre for Science and Policy

In April 2024, Cat was appointed civil service Chief Operating Officer and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary. In this role she is responsible for leading the efficiency programme and working with permanent secretaries across government to put in place reforms.

Cat joined HM Treasury in 2020 as Director General Public Spending. She took on the role of Acting Permanent Secretary in September 2022, and in October 2022 was appointed to Second Permanent Secretary, with oversight on public spending, international and national security policy.

Cat started her career at the accountancy firm PwC, dedicated to Government and Public Sector finances, mainly working in assurance roles. Over more than a decade, Cat worked with clients across Health, Local Government, Higher Education and Central Government sectors.

Cat joined the Civil Service in 2013 first at the Legal Aid Agency where she worked on the digitisation of civil legal aid, and removing the long standing financial accounts qualification as the Director of Finance and Digital.

Cat went on to become the Group Finance Director at the Ministry of Justice overseeing all aspects of financial management and supporting prison reform, courts reform and transformation programmes. In 2017, Cat joined the Board of the Ministry of Defence as Director General Finance.