Kate Sweeny was born in York in 1960. She grew up in East Yorkshire, and as an adult she has worked in Belgium, Ireland and as a VSO volunteer in Fiji. She returned to Yorkshire in 1999 and has now put down roots in Calderdale. Sweeny works as an NHS speech and language therapist, so protection of a publicly funded NHS is one of her top priorities. She is also a committed environmentalist -she doesn't fly or drive and she cycles and recycles assiduously. She also writes stage plays, one of which has been professionally produced by Red Kettle Theatre Company.