Kathryn Perera

"Kathryn Perera (nee White) manages the Movement for Change team and works with the membership to provide strategic direction to the organisation. She spends as much of her time as possible working in communities alongside the rest of the community organising team.

"Kathryn grew up in the market town of Aylesbury, Bucks, the child of Irish Catholic parents who spent their working lives in teaching and the youth service. Having studied History at Oxford University, she worked in India for a children’s education charity before returning to the UK and studying for the Bar. Kathryn practised as a barrister at 11KBW Chambers in Temple, specialising in education and employment law. During that time she represented the Labour Party, government departments, trade unions and low-paid individuals in tribunals and courts, including the Court of Appeal. Between 2008 and 2010 Kathryn returned to Aylesbury to stand as Labour’s parliamentary candidate in the General Election. Having left the Bar in order to concentrate on writing, she joined Movement for Change as the Head of Innovation in February 2011 before her appointment as Chief Executive in June 2012."