Dr Kate Wicklow is the Director of Policy and Strategy and is responsible for leading, developing and managing our policy work and overall strategy in collaboration with the Chief Executive and GuildHE Board. Kate maintains an overview of key priorities and latest developments across HE policy areas, with more detailed expertise on the issues covered within regulation, funding, quality, and the student experience. Kate oversees GuildHE’s networks, manages our relationships with key sector stakeholders, and supports GuildHE projects, research to ensure an evidence led approach to policy development. Kate also leads on our creative education policies and provides the secretariat to the United Kingdom Art and Design Institutions Association (ukadia).

Kate is also a Director of the Northern College of Accupuncture, and her recent PhD thesis looked at marketisation, value for money and how first in family students experience higher education.

Outside of work she enjoys fitness and wellness activities, rock music and walking her dog in the Hertfordshire countryside.