ISBA appoints Catherine Spencer as Chief Executive

The Independent Schools' Bursars Association, the Basingstoke-based body representing bursars and business managers at independent schools across the United Kingdom, has a new chief executive. Catherine Spencer OBE took up the post on 1st May 2026.

Spencer joins from The Cochrane Collaboration, the global evidence-based healthcare membership organisation, where she was chief executive. She has a track record across charitable and membership organisations, including work with government and regulators.

ISBA supports more than 1,300 member schools with guidance, professional development and its annual conference. The association pointed to Spencer's experience leading membership organisations through change as central to the appointment.

For other membership leaders, the profile is a familiar one. A chief executive moving between member bodies in unrelated sectors underlines how membership leadership itself has become the transferable specialism.