“I am fortunate to work with some incredible people who are passionate, innovative, compassionate and creative about what they do. This makes my role more rewarding,” she explained.
Cate’s leadership, energy and drive has earned her a position as a finalist in the 2015 Telstra Business Women’s awards, one of the most prestigious and highly recognised programs for Australian women in business.
Nominated in the “For Purpose and Social Enterprise” category, Cate says as CEO for the past 10 years she is devoted to providing young people who are at risk with a safe place to live and a pathway to build their life.
At the end of October the Telstra Awards were announced at a Gala event. Captain Mona Shindy, from the Royal Australian Navy, was the overall winner of the 2015 NSW Telstra Business Women’s Awards. Libby Davies, CEO of White Ribbon Australia, won the “For Purpose and Social Enterprise” Category.
Cate said she was very excited about the nomination because it highlighted the work Marist Youth Care does every day.
“Over the last nine to 10 years my team and I have continually been finding innovative ways to respond to education and skills development to help these young people,” she said.
“I am proud that I have helped build an organisation that is vibrant, diverse and innovative with an ever-expanding range of programs to support the most disadvantaged youth in the Western Suburbs,” Cate said.
Social inclusion is a priority for Marist Youth Care. The organisation ensures that there is access for young people who need safety, support, education, training or employment.
Explaining the diversity of the scope of work, Cate said: “We work with those at risk of exclusion from education, young offenders, homeless youth, Aboriginal people, migrants, refugees and young people in transition from care.”
Through the introduction of a wide variety of innovative youth programs and services, Cate has transformed Marist Youth Care into a leading not-for-profit agency helping more than 1,800 disadvantaged young people and their families each year to “see life differently”.
One of the most recent programs is the Affordable Housing for Life Program which works with young people to build a home and then the same group gets to live in the house. “This program doesn’t help youth with a place to live, but teaches them skills which can’t be taken away from them. It’s really a game changer for them,” she enthused.
Speaking of her recent nomination in the business awards, Cate said: “It is the first time I have been nominated, and I am very thrilled to work with this amazing group of women. For me to be recognised for turning our business, responding to the needs of the youth, and contributing to the success of our organisation is very rewarding.”
She said she was very honoured and at the same time moved to know that there were 5000 nominations into the Telstra Business Women’s awards, and that she was she was short listed as one of four finalists in her category. “This is really such an honour, and to be helping young people.”
Cate said as a business women she continues to improve her skills, networks, and mentors other women in business. “I completed my MBA last year, and am also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
“I am passionate about supporting other women in business. As women we respond to business needs in a different way and I want to support other females through their journey, especially women in the Not-For-Profit sector.”
