Catherine Livingstone facts for kids

Catherine Brighid Livingstone (born September 17, 1955) is a very successful Australian businesswoman. She has held important leadership roles in major companies and organisations. These include the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, CSIRO (a big science organisation), Macquarie Bank, and Telstra. She is known for her leadership in business and her support for science and education.

Her Early Life and Studies

Catherine Brighid Livingstone was born in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 17, 1955. When she was five years old, in 1960, her family moved to Australia.

She went to Loreto Normanhurst School. Later, she studied at Macquarie University in Sydney. In 1977, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting with top honours.

In 1992, she also attended a special program in Switzerland for top business leaders.

A Career in Business

After finishing university, Catherine joined a big accounting firm called Price Waterhouse. She worked for them in both Sydney and London.

She then moved to Nucleus Ltd, where she held several important accounting and management jobs. Eventually, she became the chief executive of finance. In 1994, she became the CEO of one of Nucleus's companies, Cochlear Limited. Cochlear makes special hearing devices. She also became a director for Cochlear's UK and European branches before leaving in 2000.

Catherine also helped lead other important groups. She was a director of the Sydney Institute and the Australian Business Foundation.

In 2000, she was chosen to be the chair of Telstra Corporation. Telstra is one of Australia's largest telecommunications companies. She held this important position until 2016.

In 2001, she joined the board of the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation). This is Australia's national science agency. Later that year, she became its chair, leading the organisation until 2006.

From 2003 to 2013, Catherine was an independent director for Macquarie Bank and the Macquarie Group. She also served as president of Chief Executive Women from 2007 to 2008. This group supports women in leadership roles.

In 2008, she was part of a group that reviewed Australia's national innovation system. This means they looked at how Australia could become better at creating new ideas and technologies.

From 2013 to 2013, she advised the Prime Minister on business matters. In 2014, she was elected president of the Business Council of Australia. This council represents many of Australia's largest companies. She held this role for two years.

In January 2017, Catherine became the chair of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). This is one of Australia's biggest banks. She worked hard to improve the bank's culture and how it operated. She retired from this role in August 2022, after almost six years.

Supporting the Arts and Education

Catherine Livingstone has also dedicated her time to supporting arts and education.

From 2009 to 2011, she was a director of the Royal Institution of Australia. This organisation promotes science communication. She was also president of the Australian Museum Trust from 2012 to 2017.

Since 2013, she has been a patron of the Australian Design Innovation Network. This group helps connect design, business, and research. She has also supported various research projects at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

From 2013 to 2015, she was part of the John Grill Centre for Project Leadership at the University of Sydney. She also served on an advisory board for the University of Queensland from 2020 to 2022.

On December 1, 2016, Catherine became the Chancellor of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). This is a very important leadership role at the university, and she still holds it today.

Since 2017, she has also been a non-executive director of The Australian Ballet, helping to guide one of Australia's leading arts organisations.

Recognition and Awards

Catherine Livingstone has received many awards and honours for her contributions.

• Fellowships:
  • Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
  • 2001: Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE)
  • 2014: Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science

• Awards and Medals:
  • 1999: Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship for Australia
  • 2000: Chartered Accountant in Business Award
  • 2001: Centenary Medal, for her service to Australian business leadership
  • 2008: Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This award recognised her work in developing Australian science, technology, and innovation policies, and her leadership in business.
  • 2024: Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). This is a very high honour, given for her outstanding service to business, education, science, technology, and the arts.

• Honorary Doctorates:
  • 2009: Honorary Doctorate in Science from Murdoch University
  • 2010: Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business from Macquarie University
  • 2014: Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business from UTS. This was for her leadership in design, science, technology, and her support for women in business.
  • 2014: Honorary Doctor of Letters from The University of Sydney
  • 2015: Honorary Doctor of Science from University of Wollongong