Kate McGavin

An experienced Whitehall leader and strategist, Kate McGavin is Policy Director (jobshare) in the UK Infrastructure Bank, having previously been Devolution Director (jobshare) in the Cabinet Office, leading for the UK Government on the development of policy in relation to devolution, EU Exit, and intergovernmental relations. Prior to this she undertook a number of roles in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), most recently as Deputy Director, Art, Libraries & Digital Culture, and before that, Deputy Director, Media & Creative Industries Policy. In the former role Kate advocated for the Creative Industries to be prioritized in the Government’s Industrial Strategy, securing a sector deal and delivering the Bazalgette Report which saw £150m new funding for the sector; she was also an active champion and critical friend for the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), helping to develop its business case for £80m of new investment to develop eight creative clusters across the UK, and sitting on its Advisory Committee. More recently, Kate worked with Arts Council England (ACE) to develop a shared program of work with the Department for Education in support of cultural education. She has been a senior government sponsor for major arm’s length bodies such as ACE, the British Film Institute, Ofcom, and the BBC.

Kate graduated from Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge, with a first-class BA (Hons) in English Literature.

She is a member of the Governance & Nominations Committee.