• Cathie is a highly experienced communicator, with a background in journalism and the public sector. She works across the public sector, private sector, and not-for-profit sector at all levels.

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• Cathie was press secretary and ministerial advisor for multiple ministers, notably Trade and  Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton, and Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton. She singlehandedly dealt with crises such as foot and mouth disease scares, potential mad cow disease outbreaks (thankfully, not mad cow disease), and international trade disputes. She has attended three World Trade Organisation meetings and several Cairns Group meetings.

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• Cathie maintains her political connections, with strong links to political figures and public sector officials, in both central government and local government.

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• A long-time journalist, Cathie has run newsrooms at major metropolitan newspapers, worked in the Parliamentary Press Gallery, and finished her journalism career as chief reporter. She is well-respected in the media world.