My name is Katie Wright. I grew up on the Wirral with a love for art and a hunger for adventure. In my last year of high school, I raised money to volunteer with a gap year company and spent 6 months teaching in a primary school on a remote island in Vanuatu. This was not just an adventure but an eye-opening experience that showed me the extent to which education can open up opportunities for individuals and communities.

I returned to the UK to study Fine Art at Newcastle University. I involved myself in community projects and was a key member of the fundraising team for the Degree Show. I also taught art and English classes with a charity that helped refugees and asylum seekers to integrate into Britain. 

After graduation, I applied for the CASE Graduate Trainee Scheme because it seemed like a perfect opportunity for me to build on the skills that I have gained through university in a new and challenging environment. 

I am delighted to have been placed at University of the Arts London and excited to start my career in a higher education establishment which contributes and transforms the creative industry.

1. Name of your host institution: University of the Arts London

2. Institution you studied at: Newcastle University

3. One achievement: In my final year of university, I was awarded a residency from Newcastle University in partnership with Makerere University and 32 Degrees East Ugandan Arts Trust. 

I worked in Kampala, Uganda with a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the UK and Uganda, and artists from several countries in East Africa.

My role was to assist the team in their research of how to generate business opportunities that support Ugandan arts and culture. This consisted of Q and A sessions, interviews, artist workshops and the delivery of a public contemporary art festival in various locations across Kampala.

4. What you have done over the summer: I graduated in 2018 and have been working at BDO LLP since January. For the bulk of my summer, I have been working as the Admin Assistant for the Data Analytics team. Alongside general administrative duties, my role involved liaising with international Data Analytics teams and auditors from offices all over the country. However, the highlight of my summer was seeing my best friend get married in Rome!