Enabling Opportunity at every step
About Ecctis
At Ecctis, we enable opportunity at every step helping people, institutions and governments navigate the complexities of international education and skills recognition.
With decades of expertise, we’re trusted globally for our evidence-based approach to qualification and skills analysis. We work across over 190 education systems, offering insight that empowers better decisions and enables meaningful mobility academic, occupational and personal. But how we work matters just as much as what we do.
Founded in 1997
Over 25 years in qualifications recognition
300+ consultancy and research projects worldwide
Employee Ownership Trust
As an Employee Ownership Trust, we’re structured differently from many other organisations. Our people don’t just contribute to our success, they share in it. This model fosters a culture of collaboration, accountability, and long-term thinking. It means we’re not driven by shareholders or short-term profit. Instead, we’re driven by our mission: to improve global understanding, raise education standards, and unlock opportunity through trusted research and advice.
Whether we’re supporting policymakers, advising employers, or guiding learners, our commitment to quality, inclusion and integrity runs through everything we do.
Executive Leadership Team
Catherine Winter – Chief Executive Office
Catherine brings over 30 years of experience across the education, commercial, and not-for-profit sectors. She spent more than two decades in senior strategic and operational roles at several blue-chip organisations before moving into education leadership. A strong advocate for lifelong learning, Catherine holds a degree in Economic History from the University of Liverpool and a Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education.
Before joining Ecctis, Catherine was Managing Director at the London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF) for eight years. There, she led the creation of a suite of qualifications delivered to over 1,000 schools and colleges in the UK and overseas, working closely with the Department for Education and Ofqual. She also served on the LIBF board, overseeing higher education provision and professional qualifications, and successfully led bids for large-scale education projects across the MENA and Indo-China regions.
Catherine’s leadership is shaped by a deep commitment to quality, innovation, and global education standards.
Matt brings over 20 years of leadership experience across operations, governance, and organisational transformation, with a strong focus on public sector data and education services.
He joined Ecctis in early 2024 as Director of Corporate Services, becoming Chief Operating Officer in January 2025. In this role, he leads the Government Recognition Services (GRS) and Operations divisions, overseeing the delivery of strategic government contracts, IT, facilities, governance, information security, data protection, and business continuity. Before Ecctis, Matt held senior leadership roles at Jisc and HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency), where he drove corporate performance, strategic projects, and sector-wide collaboration. Notably, he led the operational and legal integration of HESA into Jisc, transforming governance and creating efficiencies.
Matt holds a degree in Business Management and IT from the University of Gloucestershire and is a certified APMP Practitioner with additional qualifications in PRINCE2, Scrum, and Agile. Known for his structured leadership style and ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes, Matt also contributes to his community as Chair of his running club, a member of Cleeve School Academy, and a strategic advisor to Noah’s Ark Children’s Venture.
Matt Ashman – Chief Operating Officer
Kate Admasu – Chief Finance Officer
Kate is an accomplished CFO with over 15 years of senior finance experience across a diverse range of sectors. She joined Ecctis in April 2024, bringing a strategic mindset and a proven ability to drive performance through financial clarity, robust planning, and operational leadership.
A Chartered Accountant and ICAEW member, Kate began her career with PwC, advising clients across retail, consumer goods, and industrial sectors. She went on to hold senior finance roles in organisations ranging from high-growth startups to complex global businesses.
Before Ecctis, Kate was CFO at Liv-ex, the global B2B marketplace for the wine trade, and Finance Director at DEEP, a venture-backed engineering firm pioneering subsea technologies. Her expertise spans strategic planning, financial transformation, systems implementation, M&A integration, and board-level reporting.
Kate is known for her clear communication style and her ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insight for senior stakeholders. Passionate about leadership, she takes pride in developing high-performing teams and building finance functions that add real strategic value.
Let’s connect
Have questions about our verification solutions, training, or research services? Get in touch with our experts to find the right solution for you.
