Catherine began her career in Youth work 21 years ago working in the community and voluntary sector, developing the skills and confidence of young people in the local community to have a voice and actively participate in changing and shaping their communities. In 2008, Catherine joined Southern Regional College where she worked as the Student Activities Coordinator for 10 years. Here, she developed new approaches to working with the learner voice in Northern Ireland, helping to shape best practice in the sector as well a pioneering resilience and wellbeing strategies, training and materials for students helping them to achieve their full potential.

Catherine has also undertaken training and volunteered as a verifier with NUS as part of Quality Students’ Unions with NUS as well as delivering training and workshops on best practice delivering, HE in an FE environment as part of QAA conference.

 Catherine is currently employed as the Student Engagement Manager with South Eastern Regional College and has recently been awarded an MBE for service to students and young people.

You can email her at cshipman@serc.ac.uk