Catherine Spencer

Catherine Spencer

Catherine Spencer is Cochrane’s Chief Executive Officer. 

Before joining Cochrane in July 2022, Catherine spent three years as Chief Executive of The Seafarers’ Charity, where she restructured, repositioned and rebranded the charity to ensure that it could fulfil its global role. She worked closely with the board and the senior leadership team to move the organisation from a reactive grant maker, to one which specifies its outcomes, commissions research to improve knowledge of seafarers needs, and advocates at the most senior level. 

Prior to The Seafarers Charity Catherine spent three years as Director Communications and Change Management, including a lengthy stint as Acting Chief Operating Officer, at icddrb, a complex international health research organisation in Dhaka, Bangladesh.  As a senior leadership team member, Catherine played a pivotal role developing the organisational strategy and implementation plan.  Catherine has worked with stake holders, core donors, technical experts, government departments and international organizations under a range of demanding circumstances. 

Prior to her experiences in Bangladesh, Catherine spent seven years at the Army Families Federation in senior management positions, including three as Chief Executive. Catherine was also a trustee and council member of a wide range of grant-giving and advocacy organizations. 

A senior executive with sixteen years’ experience, Catherine focuses on developing the people and environment that make organisations work.