Catherine Hadfield is Strategic Lead for Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, where she is driving innovation-led growth and place-based development. A recognised leader in economic development and public policy, Catherine has extensive experience delivering multi-million-pound programmes, building innovation clusters, and forging partnerships between government, academia, and industry. Before joining WMCA, Catherine held senior roles at Connected Places Catapult, where she led the West Midlands presence and spearheaded the DIATOMIC programme under the UK Innovation Accelerator initiative. Her work focused on curating innovation ecosystems, advancing net zero strategies, and supporting inclusive growth. Named to the Northern Power Women Future List (2023), Catherine is passionate about creating collaborative environments that enable businesses and communities to thrive.