Kath is a director and a founder member of Substance whose main research interests include innovative participatory qualitative research methods, young people and social exclusion and the crime prevention agenda. Kath was the lead researcher on the North-West Positive Futures case-study research project between 2004 and 2008. This longitudinal in-depth study of Positive Futures projects has enabled the development of innovative qualitative action-research methods especially focusing upon research with disaffected young people.

Kath currently works on various research projects undertaking field research, on-line consultation GIS mapping and report writing. The delivery of training and development to the Substance community in the use of Substance tools such as the SPRS is another aspect of her core work.

Kath has experience of working within other public sector agencies: as a research officer with a local authority and through PhD research with a North West Constabulary. Kath is currently the North West Evaluation Network steering group convenor and the North West representative on the UK Evaluation Society Council.