Catherine Marris | Director of Partnerships, Policy & Impact
Open Road Access (ORA)

Catherine Marris is a senior executive specialising in strategy, research and partnerships for systems-level change. With over a decade of experience, she has led high-profile initiatives that bridge technology, policy, and social impact to improve transport accessibility, including setting up the National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat).  Currently, Catherine is a Director at Open Road Access (ORA), a newly launched start-up with a mission of supporting 15 million trips a year by 2030 - starting with accessible car rentals. Prior to this, she worked as Head of Innovation and Policy at the Motability Foundation, where she built a large team from scratch and led on the organisation's portfolio of strategic projects. These included setting up new models of car clubs in rural areas, providing disabled students with scholarships to study transport design, and developing the world’s first standard for accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure (BSI PAS 1899). Previous experience in the ageing sector and at the NSPCC has cemented her knowledge of implementation science and scaling strategy.  Catherine is a recognized voice in the accessibility space, frequently speaking at industry events and contributing to policy discussions at the request of Government. She uses her background in commissioning sector-leading research to ensure the evidence base is at the heart of every debate. An alumna of the University of Oxford and Columbia University in the City of New York, Catherine's work continues to shape the future of accessible transport in the UK and beyond.