Catherine Whittaker

Catherine’s varied career began in hospitality when, aged 15, she worked in a pub collecting glasses and washing up.

She went on to study art and fashion but found herself drawn back to the catering industry, completing an NVQ in professional cookery.

Now Lead Project Manager at HIT, she is pursuing her dream career working with and supporting brilliantly talented people who want to improve education for all.

Catherine has worked in the apprenticeship training sector for more than 15 years enabling her to combine her passion for project management and online learning with art and graphic design (she designed the first logo for the Association of Employment and Learning Providers).

When HIT launched the new Star learning module at the annual staff conference in 2017, Catherine’s unique creative flair literally made her a star when she dressed up as, yes, a star.

She’s also famous for her fortnightly in-house birthday announcements on Zoom, often accompanied by xylophone and kazoo.

Catherine’s lifelong ambition is to win Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year and have at least one painting in the National Portrait Gallery.

She is a sculptor and musician, too (but let’s not mention the trombone!)