
Kate O’Brien, Executive Director, Costa Foundation
Kate has worked for over 20 years across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, in both international and national organisations.
About Kate O’Brien, Executive Director, Costa Foundation
About Kate O’Brien, Executive Director, Costa Foundation
Kate has worked for over 20 years across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, in both international and national organisations, predominantly with a focus on enabling children and young people to thrive. Previous roles before joining the Costa Foundation as Executive Director in June 2023, include running her own consulting company, director roles at UK youth and family-focused charities Kinship and Mentor UK, and 11 years at Save the Children UK, mostly within the humanitarian team focused on capacity building and child protection. She also worked for Cancer Research UK securing corporate sponsorship for events such as Race for Life.
Kate studied International Studies with French at the University of Birmingham, where she spent a year living in Belgium and worked at the European Parliament in Brussels. Kate also speaks Spanish, is a keen runner has raised over £45,000 for charity personally, through events such as the London Marathon. She has travelled the globe extensively, which has helped to cultivate her love of coffee! Kate is passionate about female empowerment and is a member of the Women Leaders of Corporate Foundations Forum and on the board of City Women Network.