Catherine Brighid Livingstone (born 17 September 1955) is an Australian businesswoman who has held positions in the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, CSIRO, Macquarie Bank, and Telstra.
Catherine Livingstone | |
|---|---|
| Chair of the Commonwealth Bank | |
| In office 2017–2022 | |
| Preceded by | David Turner |
| Succeeded by | Paul O’Malley |
| Chair of Telstra | |
| In office 2009–2016 | |
| Chair of the CSIRO | |
| In office 6 November 2001 – 31 December 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Allen |
| Succeeded by | Peter Willcox |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 September 1955 Nairobi, Kenya |
| Alma mater | Macquarie University |
Early life and education
editCatherine Brighid Livingstone was born in Nairobi, Kenya, on 17 September 1955.[1][2] In 1960 her family migrated to Australia.[1]
She attended Loreto Normanhurst School.[3]
She graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting with first class honours from Macquarie University in Sydney.[1][4]
In 1992 she attended the International Program for Executive Development in Switzerland.[4]
Career
editAfter graduating, Livingstone joined the accountancy firm of Price Waterhouse, working in both Sydney and London. She then held several accounting and management roles at Nucleus Ltd, finally reaching the position of chief executive, finance, before being made the CEO of one of its subsidiaries, Cochlear Limited, in 1994.[5] In January 1995 she was appointed a director of Cochlear (UK) Limited, and in December 1999 of Cochlear Europe. She resigned from both positions in September 2000.[6]
Livingstone was director of the Sydney Institute[3] from 1998 to 2005, director of the Rural Press Foundation, and chair and director of the Australian Business Foundation from 2002 to 2005.[7][4]
In 2000, she was appointed chair of Telstra Corporation, a position she retained until 2016.[1]
In January 2001 she became a member of the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) board. In November 2001 she was appointed chair, a position she retained until December 2006.[1]
Livingstone was an independent voting director of the Macquarie Bank and the Macquarie Group from November 2003 to July 2013.[6]
From 2007 to 2008, Livingstone was president of Chief Executive Women.[8]
On 22 January 2008, it was announced that Livingstone would be a member of the panel conducting the review of Australia's national innovation system.[9][10]
From 2013 until 2013 she was on the Prime Minister's Business Advisory Council,[1] and in March 2014, was elected president of the Business Council of Australia for a two-year term, replacing Tony Shepherd.[11][12] She was succeeded by Grant King in November 2016.[13]
Livingstone replaced David Turner as chair of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) in January 2017.[14] In November 2018 she gave evidence at the Banking Royal Commission about her predecessor's poor performance and the lack of transparency in how the bank dealt with following up his refusal to repay 40% of his annual fees. She said that she knew that she had risked her professional reputation in joining the board, but had been determined to change its corporate culture.[15] She retired after nearly six years in the position, in August 2022.[16][17]
Non-executive directorships
editFrom 2007 until 2013, Livingstone was a non-executive director of the NSW Innovation and Productivity Council.[1]
She joined the board of WorleyParsons as a non-executive director in July 2007, and was still a member of the board as of November 2017[update][18] but left sometime between then and December 2023.[19]
The arts and education
editLivingstone was a director of the Royal Institution of Australia from 2009 to 2011, and president of the Australian Museum Trust between 2012 and 2017.[1][17]
From 2013 and as of 2024[update] Livingstone is patron of the Australian Design Innovation Network,[17] an initiative led by CSIRO, the UTS Business School, and the Design Innovation Research Centre. She has also supported various UTS research initiatives and been involved in industry bodies, think tanks, and forums on behalf of UTS, including the launch of the UTS Centre for Corporate Governance in 2003.[4]
From 2013 until 2015, she was a member of the John Grill Centre for Project leadership, at the University of Sydney, and from 2020 until 2022 a member of the Liveris Academy advisory board at the University of Queensland.[17]
Livingstone became the Chancellor of University of Technology Sydney (UTS) on 1 December 2016,[12] a position she retains as of April 2024[update].[20][17]
From 2017 and continuing in 2024, she has been a non-executive director of The Australian Ballet.[17]
Recognition and awards
edit- ?: Fellow of Australian Institute of Company Directors[17]
- ?: Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand[17]
- 1999: Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship for Australia[21][1]
- 2000: Chartered Accountant in Business Award[1]
- 2001: Centenary Medal, for service to Australian society in business leadership[1]
- 2001: Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE)[1]
- 2008: Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2008, "for service to the development of Australian science, technology and innovation policies, to the business sector through leadership and management roles and as a contributor to professional organisations"[22][1]
- 2009: Honorary Doctorate in Science from Murdoch University[4][17]
- 2010: Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business from Macquarie University[4][23][17]
- 2014: Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business, UTS, "in recognition of her commitment to leadership in design integration, science and technology innovation, corporate governance and her continued support of the advancement of women in business"[4]
- 2014: Honorary Doctor of Letters, The University of Sydney[17]
- 2014: Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science[24]
- 2015: Honorary Doctor of Science, University of Wollongong[17]
- 2024: Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), "for eminent service to business, particularly through governance and strategic reform, to tertiary education, to science, technology and innovation capability development, and to the arts"[25][1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Livingstone, Catherine Brighid (1955-)". Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation. Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation. 26 March 2003. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "Catherine Brighid LIVINGSTONE personal appointments". GOV.UK. 19 November 2003. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ a b Eyles, Mackenzie; Yoon, Eugenia (3 March 2021). "Significant Women Who Graduated From Loreto Normanhurst". Loreto Normanhurst. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Ms Catherine Livingstone AO". University of Technology Sydney. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Cochlear Pty LimitedArchived 16 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Catherine Brighid LIVINGSTONE personal appointments". GOV.UK. 19 November 2003. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "John Mullen slides into Telstra chair as Catherine Livingstone leaves". The Australian. 26 April 2016.
- ^ "Catherine Livingstone". Chief Executive Women. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Review of Australia's national innovation system Archived 9 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine, www.innovation.gov.au
- ^ "Government Announces Review of National Innovation System" Archived 22 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, innovation.gov.au, February 2008
- ^ Michael Smith (28 March 2014). "Australia has 'lost pioneering spirit' : outgoing BCA president". Business Weekly Review. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
- ^ a b "UTS announces new Chancellor". Home. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Michael Janda (7 November 2016). "Business Council of Australia appoints Grant King as next president". ABC News.
- ^ "Commonwealth Bank announces appointment of new Chairman". Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ Hutchens, Gareth; McGowan, Michael (21 November 2018). "Commonwealth Bank board asked former chairman to return fees, inquiry told". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "CBA announces Catherine Livingstone AO to retire as Chairman and appointment of Paul O'Malley as successor". CommBank. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the General Division" (PDF). 2024.
- ^ "Board of Worley Parsons". Workley Parsons. Archived from the original on 3 November 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ "Our leadership". Worley. 1 March 2013. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "University of Technology Sydney: Ms Catherine Livingstone AC". University Chancellors Council. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Eisenhower Exchange Foundation Fellow Archived 15 August 2007 at archive.today, eisenhowerfellowships.org
- ^ Officer of the Order of Australia Archived 14 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, It’s An Honour, www.itsanhonour.gov.au, accessed 24-03-08
- ^ "Honorary Doctorates". Macquarie University. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Ms Catherine Brighid Livingstone, Elected 2014, Australian Academy of Science.
- ^ "Ms Catherine Brighid Livingstone AO". Australian Honours Search Facility. Retrieved 25 January 2024.