Kate Clarke has more than 20 years’ experience of HE partnerships of all kinds and of managing quality assurance and enhancement arrangements.  She was Director of Validation Services (OUVS) at the OU for 12 years and has contributed at both national and international level, for example through work with QAA, UNESCO, FDF, INQAAHE, EADTU and ENQA.  She was a long-serving member of the Executive Committee of the Council of Validating Universities (CVU) and has served as Chair.  

In her current role as Director of her own consulting business - Higher Education Partnerships and Quality (HEPAQ) – she offers support and advice to institutions, agencies and organisations in developing, managing and reviewing partnerships and/ or quality assurance arrangements.  Kate is a passionate advocate for diversity in HE and for partnerships that have potential to widen participation, innovate, and deliver high quality. She is a trustee and member of Council for the British Accreditation Council.