Katherine Rake

Katherine Rake OBE (born 5 May 1968)[1] is director of HealthWatch England,[2] and formerly director of the Family and Parenting Institute, an independent charity that exists to make the UK a better place for families and children. Katherine was previously Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society and Lecturer in Social Policy at the London School of Economics, during which time she was seconded to the Cabinet Office. Katherine has advised the Prime Minister's Policy Unit, HM Treasury and other Government departments. In 2008, Katherine was appointed an OBE for services to equal opportunities,[3] an Institute of Directors 'Good Director' Honour and the Social Policy Association's Annual Award for Outstanding Contribution from a Non-academic.

As Family and Parenting Institute Chief Executive, Rake appeared regularly in the UK print and broadcast media commenting on issues relating to parenting and UK family life. These issues included family finances in the UK’s current age of austerity, the commercialisation of childhood, and the rising levels of scrutiny that parents face.[4] In 2011, Rake launched the Family and Parenting Institute’s national Family Friendly scheme. The scheme, which allows businesses and public services to better understand families as customers, service users and employees, has won the support of Prime Minister David Cameron.[5]