Catherine Staite is an Emeritus Professor of Public Management at the University of Birmingham. She has undertaken executive and non-executive roles in a variety of organisations, including in the statutory and voluntary sectors, as well as the private sector. A lawyer by training, she worked in mental health and with local authorities and criminal justice agencies, before becoming an academic.
In 2011, Catherine joined the Institute of Local Government Studies, as Director. INLOGOV is a unique centre for learning and research, as it brings together both academic insight and practical knowledge to support political and managerial leaders. During her years at INLOGOV, Catherine focused her teaching and writing on leadership and governance, particularly in local government.
In 2016, she was awarded a Professorship in Public Management. In 2017, she stepped down as Director of INLOGOV. She now coaches political leaders and provides support to local and national government on organisational development, governance and leadership.
Previous roles include; Associate Director at the Audit Commission from 2001 to 2005 and Director of Policy at the Office for Public Management, a not-for-profit organisation, focusing on research and leadership development, from 2005 to 2011.
Non-executive roles include director of Rampton Special Hospital Authority, with responsibility for reviewing the continuing detention of patients and a member of the Board of Visitors at HMP Hull, with responsibility for the hospital wing.
During her years working in Birmingham, Catherine supported Birmingham City Council and the Mayor of the West Midlands in a number of advisory roles, including; Independent Member of Birmingham Strategic Leaders Forum for Children’s Services, Independent Member of the Preventing Violence against Vulnerable People Board (BVVP) and Independent Member of the Steering Group of Birmingham Partners.