Cath Purdy

Cath Purdy joined South Lakes Housing in July 2015, having previously been Chief Executive of Housing Hartlepool and Group Chief Executive of Vela Housing Group, before becoming Deputy Group Chief Executive of Thirteen Group in the Tees Valley. She is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and in 2011 was awarded an OBE, for her work in Housing in the Queen’s Birthday honours.

Having spent over 30 years as a housing professional, 20 of which have been at senior executive level, Cath is passionate about affordable housing and how the sector contributes to economic and social wellbeing. Housing is a key economic driver, both in terms of the construction and maintenance supply chain and also that the quality and affordability of available housing is often a predeterminant of economic growth in an area.

Her non-executive portfolio incorporates housing-related bodies including a commercial b2b company and past experiences include a Health Trust Board, a heritage charity and a national trade body. Her combined business skills and social purpose values are contributing to the work of Cumbria LEP Place Strategy Group and local private/public partnerships in South Lakeland.

She has a BA (Hons) degree in Social Policy, a Post Grad in Diploma in Housing Policy and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). A keen advocate of learning and development she is also planning to deepen her coaching skills and experience. As a Leader in Residence, she is delighted to be contributing to the excellent work of LUMS in nurturing the leaders of tomorrow.