Kath MacLeod is director of external relations at the University of Sunderland, and has responsibility for communications, marketing, digital, advancement and stakeholder relations, as well as the university-owned National Glass Centre and the Arts Council-funded project Cultural Spring.

She is a member of the board of Sunderland Business Improvement District. Before joining the university in 2021, she worked in government, latterly as deputy director at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and held senior positions at the BBC including chief press officer, and head of communications for the BBC Trust.