Kate grew up in California’s Central Valley – a region known for both its agricultural productivity and access to stunning wilderness areas. Kate received her BSc in Integrative Biology from the University of California, Berkeley and undertook placements with both the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden and the USDA’s Plant Gene Expression Center. She then completed her MSc in Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh, with her dissertation research focusing on agricultural applications and plant productivity. Kate worked as a Biological Science Technician for the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and then a Natural Resource Specialist for the Oregon Department of Agriculture for eight years before relocating to the UK in December 2022.

Kate worked as an ecologist in the UK conducting wildlife surveys, botanical surveys and completing BNG assessments before joining FWAG in January 2024. Kate supports the advisors across the South East region, as well as leading on BNG work, habitat surveys and is very proficient in the use of GIS to support farmers, landowners and projects.