Fookes was born in 1970[1] and was educated at the private Godolphin School, which costs £13,000 a term to attend.[2] She worked in the private sector and later served as chief executive of Women's Equality Network Wales and chair of the Welsh think tank, Fabians Cymru.[3]
In 2017 Fookes was appointed director of the Women's Equality Network Wales.[4]
While on the council she job-shared the equalities and engagement portfolio on the council. As a councillor on Monmouthshire County Council, Fookes voted in favour of increasing council tax.[8][9] She quit her portfolio and job for Women's Equality Network Wales in 2023, after being selected as Labour parliamentary candidate for the 2024 UK general election and to work on the campaign full-time.[10][11]
In the 2024 general election, Fookes was elected as MP for Monmouthshire with a majority of 3,338 (6.5%), defeating former Secretary of State for WalesDavid TC Davies.[3] On 17 July, Fookes announced her intention to resign her role as a councillor with a statement on social media, saying she would stand down "after the summer," saying she wished to avoid a by-election for her constituents in the summer holidays.[12]
^Fookes, Catherine (29 September 2017). "WEN Wales Announces New Director". Womens Equality Network Wales. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
