Throughout her professional career, Kathryn has been interested in strategy and people. Her executive career was focused on bringing about change and delivering performance. She draws on her skills, experience, and interest in people to help others build on their strengths and achieve great outcomes.

After completing a chemical engineering degree at the University of Queensland, Kathryn commenced her professional career as a petroleum engineer with Esso Australia (now Exxon Mobil). She then moved into management consulting with McKinsey & Co, working on engagements in strategy and change management. Thereafter began her executive career, first with ANZ, including as GM of their Retail Bank in NZ and as MD of Banking Products. Following this, Kathryn joined BlueScope Steel as President Australian Building and Logistics Solutions and later became President Asia, based in Singapore. Finally, at Linfox she was President Fast Moving Consumer Goods.

Now pursuing a non-executive career, Kathryn is currently Chair of CSIRO and is on the boards of listed companies National Australia Bank, Medibank Private Limited and Djerriwarrh Investments Limited. Kathryn was a member of the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia from 2013 to 2018, Board Member of Boral Limited 2014 to 2021, including as Chair from 2018 and Non-Executive Director of Incitec Pivot Limited 2014 to 2019. In the non-profit sector, Kathryn is Chair of the Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), Watertrust Australia Ltd, and is a board member of the Grattan Institute, The Myer Foundation, and the Champions of Change Coalition. She also has served as President of Chief Executive Women, Chair of the Melbourne Recital Centre and Chair of Parks Victoria.

Kathryn is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering. In addition to her engineering degree, Kathryn holds a master’s degree of commerce in organisational behaviour with honours from the University of NSW, that has also awarded her an honorary Doctor of Business and the Ada Lovelace Medal in 2017 that recognises an Outstanding Woman Engineer. She was a recipient of the University of Queensland’s Inaugural Vice Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award in 2013, and the University also awarded her an honorary Doctor of Chemical Engineering.

Kathryn was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in June 2019 for distinguished service to business and finance, to the central banking, logistics and manufacturing sectors, and to women.

Kathryn loves public affairs, reading, music, walking and spending time with family and friends. She and her husband have a young adult son.