About Cathy

For 20 years Cathy Burke was the CEO for The Hunger Project Australia, and then Global Vice President, working to end hunger across South Asia and Africa. She was an integral member of a visionary team who developed leadership at scale in villages all over the world.  Through her work, millions of the world’s poorest people stepped into their leadership and were able to feed themselves and their families.

Now a speaker, coach, and leadership developer, Cathy coaches and trains executives, leaders and committed humans to develop the mindsets and skills needed to address 21st Century challenges.

Her clients include Amazon, eBay, Barings, Northcott, and Achieve.

Cathy is a winner of the Australian Davos leadership award, and AFR Women of Influence award. She is the author of Lead In: Mindsets to Lead, Live and Work Differently (2022), and Unlikely Leaders: Lessons in Leadership from the Village Classroom (2015). 

What Other Say About Cathy

“Cathy’s expertise on mindsets and leadership leads to exceptional results. Her success comes from making those she works with accountable, empowered, and ready for their success. She has made me a better leader, father, and friend.” 

Joris Heeze, Director, Google

“Cathy helps organisations transcend the day-to-day and achieve extraordinary outcomes.”

 Ian Carson AM, Former Chairman of Markets, PwC; Executive Chair, Tanarra Capital

‘Cathy has a unique ability to make a difference in any setting. Her understanding of people, leadership and change – and how she distils this and makes it relevant – is a rare gift.’

Alison Watkins, Director, Reserve Bank of Australia Board; Former Group MD, Coca-Cola Amatil

“I have worked with Cathy in three different companies across multiple cultures around the world, and this has made me a better senior leader and a more aligned, complete person.”

Steve Boehm. COO, Barings

Cathy has been instrumental in implementing a mindset change across my Leadership Team, which turned a legacy business into a future focused, dynamic enterprise.”

Nick Nairn, CEO, Stuart Alexanders

“Cathy listened to our team’s challenges and partnered with us to tackle opportunities together.  She has helped my team think differently and guided us to find our own solutions.” Hiromi Kuehm, Director, Amazon Japan