Catherine is currently Chairman of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and a Director of Saluda Medical Pty Ltd and the Australian Ballet, and Chancellor of UTS. Catherine is a member of the CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility Advisory Board.

Previously, she was Chairman of Telstra Corporation, CSIRO and the Australian Business Foundation, Director of WorleyParsons and Macquarie Bank Ltd, President of the Business Council of Australia, President of the Australian Museum and Chief Executive Women. She started her career with Price Waterhouse, and then spent nearly 20 years in the field of implantable medical devices, including six years as CEO of Cochlear Ltd.

Catherine is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Academy of Science.

In 2003 Catherine was awarded the Centenary Medal and in 2008 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.