Farewell to our Master Catherine Arnold OBE

2024-09-30

Today we bid farewell to Catherine Arnold OBE who ends her role as Master of St Edmund’s College after five years.
 
Catherine joined the College in 2019, steering the College through a global pandemic and the development of a new vision and THRIVE Framework. Of her time as Master, Catherine said:

“It’s hard to know what to say after such an extraordinary and full five years at St Edmund’s College. The most obvious and important is to say thank you: for the honour of having been elected as an Honorary Fellow of this College, for the truly beautiful gifts and memory book, and to all who have helped and supported me over the last five years. Arriving just in time for a global pandemic, my tenure has been one in which the College has faced its share of challenges. That St Edmund’s has come through them not only surviving but positively thriving is a testimony to the strength of this community, its ethos, and the commitment of all parts of our College – fellows, staff, students, and alumni – to St Edmund’s success.

 
“As I return to the Foreign Office, initially to take up a 9-month role establishing the new Economic Growth Department, there will be much to miss and much to remember. This College is extraordinary. As I said in one of my speeches: seldom can so much be learnt about so many from so few. There remains much to be done – a vision as compelling and capacious as that of our Founders and each new generation of Fellows will never be still. I hope I have used my time as Master to remain true to our founding and to our future. To set our College on an ever-firmer foundation in the present. And to help us remain Cambridge’s most welcoming, open-minded, and global College.

As our Vision states: ‘We form global thinkers and leaders who bridge disciplines and cultures to solve humanity’s challenges. St Edmund’s builds a better future by developing, supporting and connecting a community of global talent, within the University of Cambridge, inspired to learn from difference and united in a commitment to improve the future for individuals, societies and the world.’ I hope that continues to inspire all of you as much as it has me.”

The College celebrated Catherine with a series of events which included the annual alumni weekend and a Farewell Event with Fellows and Senior Members. It was at this event that the official portrait of Catherine by Australian artist Megan Roodenrys was unveiled. Megan said of the painting:

“This portrait reflects Catherine’s travels and identity as a citizen of the world, where shared life is more significant than geography or architecture. Both the painting and Catherine herself are adorned with flowers and the small creatures that filled her memories of different places and times—from the green lizards of the Philippines to the bumblebees of the UK. It was an honour to work with Catherine and St. Edmund’s College in the production of this piece.”
Thank you Catherine for your service to St Edmund’s College.
Images of the portrait will be available on our College Flikr account in the coming days.