Kate Mavor CBE

Kate Mavor CBE

Master

Kate Mavor became Master of St Cross in September 2023.

Kate was previously the Chief Executive of English Heritage where she led a successful transformation project to create an independent charity from a former government body. She also served as Chief Executive of the National Trust for Scotland, an independent charity and third biggest landowner in Scotland, where she was instrumental in turning the charity around at a time of crisis. 

Before working in the heritage sector, Kate ran a pioneering youth volunteering charity; led a venture-capital backed management buyout of the UK telephone interpreting service, Language Line; set up a market research business specialising in Poland in the 1990s; and held various roles in marketing and management in educational tourism and book publishing.

In a voluntary capacity, Kate has served as a Trustee of the National Youth Theatre, taught English to refugees, served on the Creative Industries Federation Council and as an expert member on the Advisory Panel for Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours in 2022.

She is an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford, where she took her first degree in Modern Languages. Her postgraduate studies were in Marketing. Kate holds an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University for services to conservation and volunteering.

As of Monday 14 January 2024 Kate was invited to join the Board of Visitors at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford for a four year term.