Catherine joined Salford University’s Centre for Sustainable Urban and Regional Futures (SURF) in summer 2013 as a Research Assistant, investigating alternative urban retrofit projects and governance for sustainable urban development. Her BA in Sociology, and MSc in Science and Technology Policy studied at Manchester University’s old Liberal Studies in Science department, were followed by a long career in social housing in Manchester and a Salford University PhD, completed in 2012, on innovation in response to the Code for Sustainable Homes.