Catherine Thristan

Catherine Thristan, is a highly regarded education professional with a proven track record of delivering results to customers and managing a diverse range of stakeholders. Since joining Leeds University Business School (LUBS) in 2023, she has successfully built mutually beneficial relationships with a multitude of external partners. After spending the first eleven years of her career teaching English in Japan – a richly collaborative cultural experience that shaped her values and work ethic – Catherine held a range of positions at London Business School and Imperial College London across education and research, including managing Imperial’s MBA programme suite. A move to King’s College London followed, where Catherine was part of a central team responsible for professional education across the university. Progressing to the role of Director of Professional Education at King’s, Catherine successfully expanded the team and its client base, working with companies and organisations globally to design, develop and deliver professional and executive education programmes across all faculties. In her current role as Director of External Engagement here at LUBS, Catherine continues to collaborate with local businesses, government, third sector, civic and international partners, enabling them to work with the university in multiple ways. She has developed a versatile team that nurtures meaningful and collaborative relationships with alumni and external partners, supporting students, research and wider communities to make a positive global impact.