UCL director receives award for kind leadership

The awards, announced in the Financial Times yesterday (World Kindness Day), celebrate leaders in businesses, charities and the public sector who have worked to create a kinder culture. Organised by the Women of the Future Programme, they seek to recognise the contribution of kind leaders to business, the economy and society.

Lori Houlihan, Vice-Provost (Advancement), said: “Cathy is a brilliant leader and a great asset to UCL. During her career she has amassed a high level of insight and experience, and is very generous in sharing that with colleagues across UCL – it would be hard to put a figure on the number of people who have benefited from her calm, common sense advice and practical, empowering support over the years.

“I’m absolutely delighted that she is being celebrated in this way and, more broadly, that this initiative is showcasing compassion and kindness as core elements of excellent leadership,” she said.

As Director of Strategy and Operations, Cathy leads work to identify and develop strategic fundraising partnerships with partners including Moorfields Eye Charity and Cancer Research UK. She guides and advises all parts of UCL in its fundraising work, particularly on gift acceptance and due diligence, and on how UCL departments can best engage with the Office of the Vice-Provost (Advancement).

Cathy joined OVPA from UCL’s Faculties of Arts & Humanities and Social & Historical Sciences where she was Joint Faculty Manager, responsible for a variety of strategic projects, training and development. She has also worked as Faculty Manager of Laws at UCL, as well as holding senior roles at King’s College London and VSO.

Pinky Lilani, who founded the Kindness and Leadership awards, said: "By empowering others to succeed, kind leaders create an environment for organisations as a whole to thrive. This is why we wanted to change the leadership conversation and celebrate 50 kind leaders with our 50 Leading Lights campaign."

Links

• The 50 Leading Lights
• Cathy Brown’s UCL profile page
• Office of the Vice-Provost (Advancement)