Cate Kalson
Cate Kalson has been in her current role of Chief People Officer at Opencast since 2021 and has supported the rapid growth of the organisation that has been recognised, as the fastest growing large technology business at the GP Bullhound Northern tech awards in 2024. Throughout this period of high growth, she has worked hard to establish an innovative, ambitious people team to maintain and enhance Opencast’s inclusive culture that harnesses people’s potential, earning a place on Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces in 2022 and 2023. Cate believes that one of the biggest social impact levers any organisation has is to build their employees skills and works in close partnership with Skills Builder Partnership to champion the building of Essential Skills. She started out as a life sciences researcher with a PhD in microbiology, then learned about business as a management consultant, leaning into tech as a digital product manager at Booking.com and Sage and then moving into leadership roles. An advocate for building deliberately developmental organisations that put skill development at the heart of their purpose, Cate Kalson champions creating supportive, empowering cultures that enable people to grow and develop as people as well as professionals.