Yorkshire and Humberside Region

As a qualified chef, with City & Guilds 706/1/2/3, Kath began her career in the private sector before moving to the public sector in 2009, progressing from frontline roles to her current position as development chef leading initiatives in menu development, allergen management, food cost control, compliance with School Food Standards, special diets, and recipe development. Collaborating closely with suppliers she looks for emerging food trends and is dedicated to enhancing the food culture for pupils and works with various stakeholders to achieve this goal.

Kath joined the board in September 2024, representing the Yorkshire and Humberside region. Her involvement with LACA began in 2017 as an active member of the regional committee, and she has served as the regional treasurer since 2021.

Kath's LACA journey started in 2010 when she first entered the School Chef of the Year (SCOTY) competition, where her dedication and innovation won her the national title in 2016. Kath’s exceptional contributions to education catering have been recognised with prestigious awards, including Educatering Excellence Primary School Caterer of the Year 2016. Her accolades include Y&H LACA Outstanding Contribution to Education Catering 2023, APPG Excellence in School Food – Best Individual 2024, Public Sector Catering – Chef of the Year 2024, and Craft Guild of Chefs – Public Sector Chef 2024.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Kath is actively engaged in promoting the sector through social media, participating in food festivals and organising regional events.