Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Other skills and relevant activities
Timeline
Generic

Catherine Coorey

Byron Bay,NSW

Summary

Professional with strong background in community and stakeholder engagement and outreach. Proven ability to adapt to new environments, foster relationships, build partnerships and drive initiatives. Skilled in communication, event planning, and project management. Focused on teamwork, adaptability, and achieving measurable results.

Overview

25
25
years of professional experience

Work History

Director and Project Manager

Byron Coastal and ICOLL Centre
01.2023 - Current
  • Byron Coastal and ICOLL Centre is an environmental organisation whose mission is to share knowledge about coastal environments and ICOLLs (Intermittently Closed and Open Lake Lagoons) with community with the long term aim to rehabilitate them.
  • ICOLLs in NSW are under threat as Director of BCIC, I have been successful in promoting ICOLLs' importance as 'blue' carbon sinks, nurseries for fish breeding and their high biodiversity values.
  • BCIC has held a number of successful community events and I have always involved key stakeholders, such as the Arakwal traditional owners, Byron Council, Marine Parks and National Parks in supporting and respecting sea country.
  • I am currently managing a project, funded by NSW Environmental Trust, to engage community members to become citizen scientists in the Tallow Creek catchment in Byron Bay. The project is meeting its targets well and I have had 20 people sign up to get involved.
  • Having worked with UTS’ Department of Landscape Architecture students in community engagement projects over the past two years, I have just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UTS to facilitate and promote co-operation between UTS and BCIC.

Communications, Research and Stakeholder Engagement

Quay Connection / Ithaca consultants
04.2024 - 10.2024
  • I was a consultant social researcher/writer on a project for the NSW Department of Education. I conducted qualitative research around the reasons for low completion rates among apprentices in NSW as background to the Dept addressing skills shortages in the workforce.
  • I led the project in Northern NSW and Newcastle, where I liaised with senior Department staff and regional leaders in Vocational Education and Training and then undertook qualitative research, conducting focus groups and individual interviews with apprentices. I later drafted several sections of the final report to the Department.
  • My knowledge and network in the VET sector in the Northern Rivers, enabled me to progress the project which had a very short timeframe of only 6 months and demonstrate my skill in managing time efficiently.

Councillor

Byron Shire Council
09.2016 - 09.2024
  • I have been elected twice as an independent councillor, a reflection of my reputation for working in the best interests of my community. During my time on Council, I developed a variety of skills that enable me to work effectively with individuals, community organisations, bureaucracies and governments.
  • I brought many new issues and innovations to Council. I moved a Climate Emergency resolution that directed that Council develop a Climate Change Adaptation Plan. I led the reference group for this Plan, which was reviewed and endorsed by IPCC climatologist Dr Joelle Gergis.
  • I also successfully moved that Council develop a Water Sensitive Urban Design Policy, to help alleviate the impacts of development and climate change and to mitigate flooding.
  • Councils function as a team and I worked well with my fellow councillors for eight years, even in difficult circumstances such as COVID, bushfires, floods, a housing crisis and mental health crisis.
  • I worked to improve community engagement by driving for changes to how Council spoke to its residents and moved to developed outreach programs around several key local issues.
  • As the link between the community and the Council organisation, I was often thanked by residents for communicating complex issues in a way that they can understand, facilitating better participation in the local government process.
  • Politics is about persuasion, and I have honed my skills as a persuasive communicator in and outside of the council chamber, successfully advocating for the better outcomes for the community.
  • I have developed networks across the region and stakeholders from all levels of our community across a diverse range of issues.

Vocational Education and Training

Byron Region Community College
01.2018 - 01.2023
  • I specialised in Foundation Skills, the nationally recognised competencies that help people become productive members of the workforce and society. I have experience teaching and assessing students in various national qualifications and vocational courses. When writing assessments, I incorporate Foundation Skills into the learning journey seamlessly. I have mostly worked with Permaculture students studying at Certificate III or IV levels, and have learned a lot about resilience, which has been instructive in the context of recent disasters in the region.
  • I created two new courses that align with my interests in sustainability and human rights 'Introduction to Sustainable and Ethical Fashion' and 'Caring for Water Places', the latter a hands-on citizen scientist class in rehabilitating waterways. I developed the teaching materials, invited industry experts to share their knowledge, and taught and assessed students.
  • As a VET trainer at the College my role was both that of an educator and a coach, helping individuals to learn and develop. I rated extremely highly in Student Satisfaction surveys over the several years at the College.

VET Teacher, Communications, English and Employability Skills

North Coast TAFE
09.2014 - 06.2018
  • I have taught widely in Communications and English at North Coast TAFE across multiple campuses in the Employment, Education and Support Faculty (EES).
  • My students were from diverse backgrounds, ranging from adolescents to seniors, and with varying educational needs. I differentiated my teaching to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
  • I was fortunate to teach in some innovative programs such as IPROWD - ('Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way') - aimed at skilling potential indigenous police recruits aiming to apply for the Police Academy.
  • In a partnership program between Lismore TAFE and YWCA Lismore, I taught Skills for Work and Training to help local Aboriginal women get into the workforce.
  • I also taught HSC English in the TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate over 85% my students achieved their goal of university entrance.
  • Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.

Policy and Media Advisor

NSW Parliament.
06.2009 - 11.2012
  • As part of a fast-paced team for an Upper House member in the NSW Parliament, the Hon Ian Cohen, I was responsible for multiple activities around my policy areas. This included research and analysis, writing critical documents, and advising on the policy areas I covered –Emergency Services, Northern NSW, Ageing, Health, and Tourism.
  • I drafted notices of motion, prepared briefing notes and wrote parliamentary speeches. I undertook a great deal of stakeholder engagement – interacting with representatives from various organisations and community members – to facilitate their issues being brought to the Parliament through the Member.
  • I developed media strategies that supported Mr Cohen's policy directions and collaborated with the media by organising interviews and providing briefings. I also maintained content on Mr Cohen's website and contributed articles and reports for publications. I also organised events and functions inside Parliament House.
  • As a Policy Officer across 6 portfolios, I was active in relationship development with different stakeholders. I also helped to conceive and oversee grassroots support or opposition for proposed changes.
  • Facilitated constructive dialogue among stakeholders through roundtable discussions, workshops, and focus groups.

Communications Officer

Randwick City Council
06.2008 - 12.2009
  • In this role, I was responsible for developing long-term communications strategies for the council. My duties included responding to media enquiries, writing speeches and briefing documents for the Mayor, as well as articles for council publications. I also edited and oversaw the communications material produced by other parts of Council and managed the promotional budget of the unit.
  • Working with all units within the council, I developed communications strategies for various council initiatives and was involved in organising several events throughout the year. Additionally, I led the development and launch of a new website and website content management system. I also managed the implementation of a new style manual for the council.

National Communications and Marketing Officer

Union Aid Abroad (APHEDA)
01.2006 - 01.2008
  • Company Overview: Union Aid Abroad (APHEDA) is the overseas development agency of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).
  • During my time at Union Aid Abroad (APHEDA), I led a major rebranding campaign that involved developing a new concept, implementing the campaign and monitoring its impact. As a result, there was a substantial increase in fundraising revenue. Additionally, I established their first online merchandising facility.
  • I collaborated extensively with union leaders to promote the organisation to their members. I presented at many national union conferences, sharing stories of the projects that we worked on overseas, and rallying support from leaders and union members who came on board to support projects and engage in workplace fundraising. I organised several community education and fundraising events, researched and wrote community education materials, and liaised with media. Moreover, I wrote newsletters, annual reports, and editorials for various union publications.

Director, Communications

Saint Vincent de Paul Society
01.2003 - 01.2005
  • The St. Vincent de Paul Society is the largest charitable organisation in Australia that caters to every aspect of human need.
  • As the head of the unit, I was responsible for managing all the Society’s communications. This includes responding to media enquiries, developing story ideas to pitch to media, acting as a spokesperson for the Society, and giving media interviews. Additionally, I worked with the Fundraising Unit to develop events and draft and produce collateral material for donor communications and targeted fundraising campaigns.
  • The unit was very dynamic, needing to respond promptly to events that arise at short notice, such as political issues that affect the Society’s clients or natural disasters like bushfires where the Society has a role in the NSW state disaster response plan.

Communications Consultant, Social Issues Marketing

Quay Connection
01.2000 - 01.2003
  • Company Overview: Quay Connection is a consultancy that specialises in the planning and implementation of communication campaigns focused on social, health, and environmental issues.
  • During my time at Quay, I worked on various campaigns and projects for clients such as the Australian Greenhouse Office, Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA), Office of the Status of Women (Partnerships Against Domestic Violence initiative), AusAID, the National Diabetes Strategy, the NSW government Dementia Awareness strategy, the QUIT (anti-smoking) campaign, and the National Youth Alcohol Campaign, among others.
  • As part of my role, I liaised with the media, researched and developed communication strategies, managed projects, created campaign materials, wrote and placed content for websites, organised media and publicity events, coordinated community liaison associated with campaigns, wrote speeches and reports, and also wrote content for tender documents.

Education

Diploma of Project Management - Project Management

TAFE NSW
NSW
01-2025

Graduate Certificate - International Development

UNSW
Sydney, NSW
2020

Master of Arts - Communications and Cultural Studies

University of Western Sydney
Sydney
2008

Bachelor of Arts - English Literature and History

University of Sydney
Sydney
1987

Certificate IV in Training And Assessment - LLN (Language, Literacy and Numeracy specialisation)

Byron College
Byron Bay, NSW
2017

Certificate IV Community (Radio) Broadcasting - Radio Production And Presenting

Sydney TAFE
Sydney
1997

Skills

  • Strategic communications
  • High level interpersonal communication
  • Stakeholder and community engagement
  • Project management
  • Networking and government liaison
  • Analytical, research and writing skills
  • Public speaking
  • Vocational training
  • Media liaison
  • Project coordination
  • Analytical thinking
  • Teamwork and collaboration

Other skills and relevant activities

  • Community broadcaster
  • I was Monday ‘Drive’ presenter on Sydney’s Eastside Radio 89.7FM for 4 years, researching and producing the show and conducting interviews, live to air. Also devised, produced and presented:
  • Cinemascape– this weekly film review show on Eastside Radio 89.7 (Sydney) was very popular with listeners and was broadcast nationally on the Community Broadcasting Satellite service.
  • AidWorks – this weekly program ran for 6 years on Sydney’s 2SER (107.3 FM) delving into issues surrounding overseas development and the politics and practice of delivering aid. Aidworks was the most downloaded program on 2SER.
  • President, Byron Coastal and ICOLL Centre
  • Formed in 2021, BCIC is an environmental organisation designed to establish a hub for collecting and sharing knowledge about our unique coastal environments and ICOLLs (Intermittently Closed and Open Lakes and Lagoons). Engaging community scientists and other stakeholders, we aim to preserve and enhance, using science and traditional indigenous knowledge, to help resoetre these places and also draw down ‘blue’ carbon. About 70 of the coastal lakes and lagoons in NSW are ICOLLs, making up 21% of all global ICOLLs. Estuarine areas such as these are at the forefront of helping us understand and mitigate the coastal impacts of global warming.
  • President, Byron Residents’ Group
  • BRG is comprised of Byron locals who work to contribute to shaping how Byron Bay develops into the future. We believe that Byron Bay is still unique among NSW’s coastal towns and advocate to maintain the essential small-town, nature-focussed, community feel and resisting excessive and environmentally destructive development.

Timeline

Communications, Research and Stakeholder Engagement

Quay Connection / Ithaca consultants
04.2024 - 10.2024

Director and Project Manager

Byron Coastal and ICOLL Centre
01.2023 - Current

Vocational Education and Training

Byron Region Community College
01.2018 - 01.2023

Councillor

Byron Shire Council
09.2016 - 09.2024

VET Teacher, Communications, English and Employability Skills

North Coast TAFE
09.2014 - 06.2018

Policy and Media Advisor

NSW Parliament.
06.2009 - 11.2012

Communications Officer

Randwick City Council
06.2008 - 12.2009

National Communications and Marketing Officer

Union Aid Abroad (APHEDA)
01.2006 - 01.2008

Director, Communications

Saint Vincent de Paul Society
01.2003 - 01.2005

Communications Consultant, Social Issues Marketing

Quay Connection
01.2000 - 01.2003

Diploma of Project Management - Project Management

TAFE NSW

Graduate Certificate - International Development

UNSW

Master of Arts - Communications and Cultural Studies

University of Western Sydney

Bachelor of Arts - English Literature and History

University of Sydney

Certificate IV in Training And Assessment - LLN (Language, Literacy and Numeracy specialisation)

Byron College

Certificate IV Community (Radio) Broadcasting - Radio Production And Presenting

Sydney TAFE

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Catherine Coorey