Katherine Fletcher
Meet Katherine Fletcher, Head of Operations at the MRC CoRE in Therapeutic Genomics and a member of the Sanders Group. Katherine plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the Centre, supporting researchers and teams to deliver cutting-edge work in therapeutic genomics. With a focus on operational excellence, she helps create the conditions that enable collaboration, innovation and impact across the CoRE.
If someone shadowed you for a day, what would surprise them most about your role?
The facetious answer is “how little I do” but it’s slightly true. A shocking amount of my job is spent chasing or waiting for things, or trying to figure out who to chase next for what.
What’s the story behind how you landed in this role - was it planned, a happy accident, or something else?
Very happy accident! I originally wanted to work in international development but analysis, event organising and budgeting turned out to be transferrable skills for research admin. I pinballed around projects at the University - cardiac electrophysiology for 8 years, cyber security for 6, and a few others along the way - always with some industry focus and a lot of computer science / computational aspects. The MRC CoRE took a punt on me, and here I am - I could not be luckier.
Describe your team in three words, and tell us why you chose them.
Hard-working, friendly, flexible. This applies to the Sanders lab from the top down, but also to my immediate colleagues on the MRC CoRE operational support team. Everyone is so lovely and always doing their best. The “flexible” part is because we have strategies and plans - but we are also extremely light on our feet to respond to new information. I am particularly grateful for how calmly the OST copes with evolving circumstances.
What’s a professional habit or mindset you had to rethink, and how did that change your approach?
Going to all those talks in Cybber Security really changed my understanding of data governance and what good practice might look like. I’ve become a very cynical purchaser of tech solutions! I have also become highly sensitive to the way technology relates to operational management practice - both as an enabler of good work and the ways in which management increasingly needs to deeply understand the implications of operational tech choices. It’s not enough to find a tool that does X - you have to understand how it relates to security posture, privacy, interoperability with existing systems, archival, IP ownership, user experience… it’s a lot!
What part of your job makes you feel most excited or proud?
The potential for real impact. My colleagues are on the cusp of directly helping real patients,… if I can just get the flaming contracts in place!
If you could swap roles with someone at IDRM for a day, who would it be, and why?
Andy (either of them really). I know I couldn’t possibly do the work but I would love a front-row seat to all of the things they do to keep the building going. I expect it’s an exhilarating mixture of tedium and sheer risk-management terror.
What’s your go-to way to unwind away from work?
Making music, and physical activity. Amongst various weird hobbies I help run Oxford’s community samba band - www.solsamba.co.uk. Join us! We need musicians and dancers of all sorts, beginners welcome.
If you had to pick an existing song to describe your life right now, what would it be?
Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen