Catherine Elizabeth McGregor

Dynamic leader with extensive experience in national security and crisis management. Proven ability to produce high-quality outcomes under pressure while mentoring diverse teams. Committed to driving impactful policy development and effective communication.

I wish to pursue ongoing employment within the Department of Home Affairs. I am currently employed in Legal Branch, with an emphasis on National Security Law. I am undertaking the Juris Doctor degree at the Australian National University which is heavily weighted to public and international law across the domains which our Department operates within. I believe my varied career and life experience equips me with skills and experience to adapt to work in a range of roles within the Department of Home Affairs. I have led teams on operational service overseas including embedded with the embryonic Timorese Army conducting training missions. I have been a Visiting Fellow and Council Member of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, as a personal appointee of the Minister for Defence. This recognized my standing within the National Security community. I ultimately hope to qualify as a lawyer within the Department but believe that, pending completion of my studies I can fill this role in International Engagement to a very high level of competence. I believe that possess numerous skills that can contribute to the Department. My long military service career demonstrates that I am suitable for work in teams with a national security focus. Moreover, my media and political background have equipped me with a sophisticated understanding of the context in which the Department operates. I also understand the sensitivity of the work performed within the portfolio and accept, without demur, that I would be obliged to remove my social media footprint and accept the constraints of both Public Sector employment as well as the assumption that my work may require greater secrecy and discretion than other Departments. The Secretary has some understanding of the breadth and depth of my experience as well as a view that I am motivated by suitable values in pursuing this path. I can amplify any of the foregoing in a personal interview should this be appropriate.

Marital Status: Single

• His Excellency Kim Beazley, Governor of Western Australia
• Mr. Ray Griggs AO (former VCDF and Deputy Secretary Department Prime Minister and Cabinet)
• The Honourable Tony Abbott AC

• Senior Official, New South Wales Branch Australian Labor Party, 01/01/86, 12/31/88
• Senior Political Adviser, Robert J. Carr Leader of the New South Wales ALP, 01/01/88, 12/31/91
• Speech Writer, The Honourable Kim Beazley, 01/01/96, 12/31/98, part time
• Speech Writer, John Hewson Leader of the Federal Coalition, 01/01/93, 12/31/94
• Expert Political Commentator, ABC, Fairfax, News Limited, 01/01/94, 12/31/02
• Contributor and Co-host, Sky News Australia, recent
• Editorial Writer, The Australian newspaper, recent
• Cricket Commentator, ABC News Network
• Published Author, 3 books

• Order of Australia (Military Division)
• Australian of the Year (Queensland) 2016