Cathryn Ingleton joined the British Council in 2021 and became the Chief People Officer in January 2026.
She is responsible for leading the organisation’s global People Function, ensuring the British Council has the capability, leadership and culture needed to deliver its mission worldwide. Working closely with senior leaders and regional teams, she oversees initiatives that strengthen organisational effectiveness and support the development of people at every level.
Before becoming Chief People Officer, Cathryn was the Global Director of People Partnering, Talent and Organisational Development, where she led the teams responsible for organisational development, talent strategy and people partnering across the globe. Prior to that, she served as HR Director for English and Exams, acting as a strategic HR business partner and member of the Senior Leadership Team, leading a team of Regional HR Directors supporting operations across 110 countries. As HR Director for International Operations, she guided regional HR teams through the transformation into the People Function.
Cathryn brings over 25 years of experience in people leadership and organisational development across the Retail, Financial Services and International Education sectors.