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Honorary Doctor of Science, 2011
Bio | Citation

Kate Barker is an outstanding British economist who has earned the immense respect of her peers, not just in the City, but throughout the international finance arena. She is also widely acclaimed for her continuing services to education in the East of England.

A member of the Bank of England's prestigious Monetary Policy Committee for nine years, from 2001-2010, she was responsible for setting interest rates each month in order to keep inflation on track to meet the Government's target. Kate is a strong voice in the economy and has been much quoted on the recent global financial crisis.

Kate grew up in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, before studying for a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at St Hilda's College, Oxford in 1979. With a natural understanding of social sciences and a passion for economics, Kate secured a first job with a large pension fund in London. She then went on to become Research Officer at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research and then Chief European Economist at the Ford Motor Company in Brentwood.

From 1994-2001 Kate was Chief Economic Adviser at the CBI and in 1996-97 a member of HM Treasury's Panel of Economic Advisers. It was at this point in her career that she achieved the accolade of selection by the Monetary Policy Committee, which is made up of internal and external members to ensure that it benefits from a wide range of thinking and expertise.

In 2003, Kate was commissioned by the Government to conduct an independent review of the UK Housing Supply, leading to a final report in March 2004. The Government's full response to this review was published in 2005. Following on from this success, she was asked to conduct a similar review of Land Use Planning. Both reviews have had a major impact on public policy. This led to Kate being awarded a CBE for Services to Social Housing in 2006. She also became a board member of the Homes and Communities Agency, and has been especially interested in housing issues in the East of England.

As well as her dedication to the UK economy, Kate has given her time to many public and third sector institutions. She dedicated almost ten years of service here at Anglia Ruskin to our Board of Governors, helping to lead our strategic development with the energy and vision you would expect from such a wide-ranging industry expert. Kate was chosen for the role as Chair of the Board in 2007 for her boundless drive and enthusiasm and during her tenure we celebrated our 150 year anniversary as an educational institution.

Kate has been asked to share her views on the Government's housing ambitions, Monetary Policy reform, and most recently, the global financial crisis. During a recent lecture at our Rivermead campus, she warned that the financial crisis was still far from over and that certain risks still remained present.

Since leaving the MPC, Kate has become a Senior Adviser to Credit Suisse, and been appointed to a number of private sector non-executive positions. She is continuing with public policy as a non-executive director of the Office of Budget Responsibility, and with involvement in higher education as a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Department of Land Economy in the old university in Cambridge. She has also recently been made an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences.

Kate lives in Essex with her husband, peacefully as her two sons have now moved on, which balances her work in the economic fast lane.

Areas Of Interest: Business, Education, Politics
Faculty: Arts, Law & Social Sciences
Citation:

"Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for Kate Barker CBE for the award of Honorary Doctor of Science.

Kate Barker is an outstanding British economist who has earned the immense respect of her peers, not just in the City, but throughout the international finance arena. She is also widely acclaimed for her continuing services to education in the East of England.

A member of the Bank of England's prestigious Monetary Policy Committee for nine years, from 2001-2010, she was responsible for setting interest rates each month in order to keep inflation on track to meet the Government's target. Kate is a strong voice in the economy and has been much quoted on the recent global financial crisis.

Kate grew up in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, before studying for a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at St Hilda's College, Oxford in 1979. With a natural understanding of social sciences and a passion for economics, Kate secured a first job with a large pension fund in London. She then went on to become Research Officer at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research and then Chief European Economist at the Ford Motor Company in Brentwood.

From 1994-2001 Kate was Chief Economic Adviser at the CBI and in 1996-97 a member of HM Treasury's Panel of Economic Advisers. It was at this point in her career that she achieved the accolade of selection by the Monetary Policy Committee, which is made up of internal and external members to ensure that it benefits from a wide range of thinking and expertise.

In 2003, Kate was commissioned by the Government to conduct an independent review of the UK Housing Supply, leading to a final report in March 2004. The Government's full response to this review was published in 2005. Following on from this success, she was asked to conduct a similar review of Land Use Planning. Both reviews have had a major impact on public policy. This led to Kate being awarded a CBE for Services to Social Housing in 2006. She also became a board member of the Homes and Communities Agency, and has been especially interested in housing issues in the East of England.

As well as her dedication to the UK economy, Kate has given her time to many public and third sector institutions. She dedicated almost ten years of service here at Anglia Ruskin to our Board of Governors, helping to lead our strategic development with the energy and vision you would expect from such a wide-ranging industry expert. Kate was chosen for the role as Chair of the Board in 2007 for her boundless drive and enthusiasm and during her tenure we celebrated our 150 year anniversary as an educational institution. She has helped to expand research and development activities and set up extra ties with business and industry.

During recent years, Kate has been asked to share her views on the Government's housing ambitions, Monetary Policy reform, and most recently, the global financial crisis.

During a recent lecture at our Rivermead campus, she warned that the financial crisis was still far from over and that certain risks still remained present. Highlighting sluggish growth and a lack of the much-needed 'feelgood factor', she identified that while squeezed incomes and the weaker housing market make for depressing reading now, exports and business confidence should lead the economy back to better growth in the longer term.

Since leaving the MPC, Kate has become a Senior Adviser to Credit Suisse, and been appointed to a number of private sector non-executive positions. She is continuing with public policy as a non-executive director of the Office of Budget Responsibility, and with involvement in higher education as a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Department of Land Economy in the old university in Cambridge. She has also recently been made an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences.

Kate lives in Essex with her husband, peacefully as her two sons have now moved on, which balances her work in the economic fast lane.

A leading light in the UK economy and someone who understands the real value of all forms of education, Kate Barker has herself become a real asset to business and society and for her many achievements we salute her today

Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present Kate Barker CBE for the award of Doctor of Science, honoris causa."

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2013 ceremony dates