Catherine Gallagher

Senior Trade Commissioner and General Manager, South Asia

Photograph of Catherine Gallagher

Catherine Gallagher joined Austrade in August 2019.

Ms Gallagher brings over 20 years’ experience in public, private and non-for profit sectors. Early in her career she was the Deputy Director of the Asialink Centre at the University of Melbourne and later held the diplomat role of Counsellor Public Diplomacy at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo. She has also held senior roles in marketing, brand and communications in the private sector. Between 2012 and 2016 she was CEO of Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority a high profile New South Wales state-based public trading enterprise (PTE).

Before joining Austrade, Ms Gallagher was a consultant and non-executive director on both commercial and not-for-profit entities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Japanese language and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Previous roles include:

  • CGC Consulting Pty Ltd – Principal
  • Place Design Group – Non-Executive Director
  • MonkeyBaa Theatre for Young People – Non-Executive Director
  • Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) – Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
  • Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) – Executive Director: Marketing and Visitor Services
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) – Counsellor, Public Diplomacy, Tokyo
  • Chatswood Chase Retail Complex (Shroders Property Group) – Head, Retail Marketing and Brand
  • Australia Council for the Arts – Head, International Policy and Promotion
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) – Head, Public Relations, Australia Television International
  • Asialink Centre at the University of Melbourne – Deputy Director.