Katherine Bennett

Katherine joined the HVM Catapult as CEO in June 2021 following a 16 year career at Airbus, including as Senior Vice President leading the company’s external engagement and strategy in the UK.

Katherine’s previous employment was with Vauxhall Motors where she headed up their government affairs function and prior to that worked for Hill and Knowlton Public Relations in London, working with a range of industrial clients.

Katherine was awarded the Order of Commander of the British Empire in January 2019 for services to the aerospace and aviation sector. She has served on various boards of public/private enterprises. She is on the Board of the Aerospace Growth Partnership (part of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy), the Investment Council of the Department for International Trade, the Made Smarter Commission and of the Wales Government Science and Innovation Council. Katherine will also be joining the Automotive Council.

In November 2019 Katherine was appointed as Chair of the Western Gateway, a cross government and local authority initiative which will aim to promote and maximise economic growth across south Wales and the West of England. Katherine managed the public affairs for VentilatorChallengeUK which was led by the HVM Catapult.

In July 2018, Katherine founded the UK’s Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter which is committed to building a fair and balanced industry for women in this sector and served on the Board of the International Aviation Women’s Association. Katherine has an Honorary Doctorate from Cranfield University.