Catherine Manning, Head of Impact Practise

I have always had a strong sense of fairness and empathy, as well as a desire to ‘do something good’ with my time in the world. 

What drew me to the world of social value is that at its heart, it is about raising the voices, experiences, and values of those in the majority of our national and world population who are not heard and not included in decision-making that impacts their own lives.

If we want a more just and equal world, listening to people, believing them, and taking the risk of including their value in how we understand our own is fundamental.

Currently, I lead our impact practice consultancy support for clients, working with them to move from impact strategy into the weeds of impact measurement and management, defining outcomes, metrics, and valuation approaches.

I also lead our MeasureUp project with our partners PRD and State of Life, developing a new, innovative, and transparent measurement and valuation approach.

It feels like a true career highlight, as throwing ourselves into developing better, more transparent, well-being-focused valuation practices feels brave, exciting, and serious all at once.

From my experience as the technical and engagement lead at SVUK and lead of the Reporting and Assurance Technical Committee at SVI, I have a strong commitment to the importance of third-party assurance in leading to better standards of practice, more confidence in data, and ultimately, more and better impact-driven decisions taking place.

I am still strongly dedicated to a Social Value Principles-based approach and maintain my work in this area as a board member of SVI and an accredited Social Value Associate.

Not a city, but I would love to go back to Nkhata Bay, watch the people fish in Lake Malawi, see the sun rise and set over the water, hear the birds, insects, and water lapping at my feet.

Trying to keep plants alive, trying to keep on moving with yoga, pilates, walking our dog in the hills, or doing jigsaws, drinking red wine, watching (the worse the better) crime thriller series, and eating cheese.

Jigsaws, unicorns and assurance.

Coffee! And the occasional new impact, social value, or assurance standard…