Our people, their stories: Australia’s Foreign Aid Program

Catherine Walker grew up in Launceston and expected to pursue a teaching career following in her parents’ footsteps. Instead, she worked for the Australian aid program for twenty-two years after periods as an Adviser to two Cabinet Ministers. 

She held senior development roles overseas, including in Timor-Leste as Chief of Donor Coordination with the United Nations and in Solomon Islands as the Development Coordinator with the Regional Assistance Mission (RAMSI).

As AusAID’s Deputy Director-General of Global Programs, she led the expansion of Australian aid activities in Africa, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan as well as managing the Government’s response to natural disasters and humanitarian crises.  In 2011, she was appointed to the UN’s Advisory Group on its Central Emergency Response Fund.

Her career has taken her to many countries where Australia’s aid has helped to save lives and improve livelihoods.  Catherine will talk about why aid is an important national endeavour and through her experiences in developing countries comment on some of the successes and challenges in effective aid delivery.

She retired and returned to Longford permanently in 2014.  Since then, she has served on the Board of UN Women Australia, undertaken a review of Australia’s aid to Bougainville and served on an expert panel to advise the former Government on a new international development policy.

RSVP

About this series

The Our people their stories: oral histories of Northern Tasmania monthly talks reveal the personal stories of a diverse range of people who enrich the life of our community. This series is presented by the QVMAG Friends. 

When

Location

RSVP is essential to admin@qvmagfriends.asn.au or telephone 0459 658 457

QVMAG Inveresk, 2 Invermay Road, Invermay, 7249, View Map