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Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane has announced the appointment of Kate Wilson (Artsci’86), as the university's new Vice-Principal (Advancement). She will begin her continuing appointment on Sept. 1, 2025.

Wilson joins Queen’s from the University of Cambridge, where she is currently serving as CEO of its Centre for Better Futures at Downing College. In this role, she works to connect senior leaders with the expertise and resources of the university, its colleges, and partner organizations, to advance solutions to global challenges.

“I am pleased to welcome Kate back to Queen’s to take on this critical role,” says Principal Deane. “With more than three decades of experience across the private, public, and non-profit sectors, she brings an unwavering passion for the transformative power of philanthropy, and I look forward to working with her to advance our academic mission and to shape a new vision for Queen’s as it moves toward its bicentennial year in 2041.”

Wilson began her career in Canada as a fundraising consultant, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s in 1986. She joined the Queen’s Advancement team to lead the annual giving and advancement services department, working with the university from 1991-1994.

In 1996, Wilson earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, and then relocated to the U.K., where she worked in telecommunications and media until joining the University of Cambridge as Chief Operating Officer for Development and Alumni Relations in 2012. While in that role, Wilson managed the £2 billion "Dear World… Yours, Cambridge" philanthropic campaign, grew the advancement team and its operations, and collaborated with the university’s 31 colleges to enhance fundraising and alumni engagement.

She went on to serve as CEO of RegGenome, a research spin-out from the Cambridge Judge Business School, and later as Director at IMAGINE, leading programming to build community and promote positive impact amongst global system leaders. During her time at Cambridge, she’s collaborated with leaders across a range of university institutes, centres, departments, and colleges to refine strategy and manage partnerships to maximize funding and impact.

Throughout her career, Wilson has stayed close to Queen’s, having served on University Council and the External Relations and Development Committee of the Board of Trustees from 2017 to 2022. 

"I am delighted to return to Kingston and my alma mater for this exciting opportunity," says Wilson. "Being able to work with colleagues across the university and engage with the incredible Queen’s alumni community is an honour. Together, we will build on the university’s legacy of excellence, driving forward its development and alumni initiatives with ambition and innovation."

Wilson succeeds Karen Bertrand, who stepped down from the role of Vice-Principal (Advancement) in spring 2024. Wilson’s appointment follows a comprehensive search conducted by an advisory selection committee chaired by Principal Deane that included representation from the administration, faculty, and students. 

“I want to thank the committee for their contributions to this process and the successful selection of a new Vice-Principal (Advancement),” says Principal Deane. “I also want to extend my gratitude to Chief Advancement Officer Michelle Fuko for her leadership of the advancement team while we sought to fill this important role.”