Chief Executive

Department for Child Protection

Cathy commenced as Chief Executive to lead the new Department for Child Protection (DCP) in South Australia in October 2016.

Cathy joined the department from Queensland where she was Deputy DirectorGeneral, Child Family and Community Services, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services from 2013 to 2016.

Cathy brings more than 15 years’ experience as a senior public servant in Queensland working in and across strategic policy, legislative reform, planning and service delivery roles in the areas of child protection, youth justice, disability services and domestic violence.
Cathy has undergraduate qualifications in law and postgraduate qualifications in law and public administration including an Executive Masters of Public Administration (EMPA), ANZSOG.
She has previously been a Director of ANROWS – Australia’s National Research Organisation on Women’s Safety and is currently Chair, National Forum for Protecting Australia’s Children.
In 2018 Cathy was appointed to the ANZSOG Alumni Advisory Council.