Catherine Piper

Catherine Piper is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in policy leadership within government agencies. Currently serving as the Head of Environmental Governance at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since December 2018, Catherine oversees multiple policy teams focusing on post-Brexit environmental governance in England. Key responsibilities include implementing the environmental principles duty from the Environment Act 2021, operationalizing the Office for Environmental Protection, and supporting the development of a human right to a clean and healthy environment. Prior roles include Head of Covid-19 Policy, Head of Sustainable Trade Policy, and Response Manager for EU Exit Operations at Defra, alongside a tenure as Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Justice in New Zealand, and various positions within the UK Ministry of Justice and HM Courts & Tribunals Service. Catherine holds a First Class Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Bath.