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Kathryn grew up in Norfolk and qualified as a solicitor in 1988. After several years as a partner of a London law firm Titmuss Sainer, she became General Counsel of an insurance group, taking early retirement in 2007 to take up a place on Escalator, a writer development programme run by the National Centre for Writing in Norwich. Kathryn has served as Deputy Chair of UEA Council for 10 years.
She has played a role in a large number of community-facing activities including the RAF Volunteer Reserve, the Review Board for Government Contracts, the Leonard Sainer Foundation, the Foyle Foundation, the Crime Writers Association, Crime In Store, the Royal Literary Fund, The King's School Ely, East Ruston Vicarage Gardens, Norfolk Scrubs Volunteers and the Caistor Roman Project.
"I was speechless with pride when I learned about the award because UEA has been the highlight of my life for more than a decade."