Diversity Council Australia names new Chief Executive

Diversity Council Australia (DCA) has announced the appointment of Catherine Hunter as its new Chief Executive.

With a career spanning more than 30 years, Hunter is described as "a purpose-driven leader who combines strategic business expertise with a strong commitment to diversity and social impact".

Hunter joins DCA from Woolworths Group Limited where she served as Group General Manager of Inclusion and Belonging from 2021.

Prior to this, Hunter spent more than 16 years at KPMG Australia, most recently as Partner, Corporate Citizenship. During her time at KPMG, she held several key leadership roles, including co-lead of KPMG Indigenous Services, Director and Head of Corporate Citizenship, and Manager of Community Partnerships and the KPMG Foundation.

Her leadership positions extend beyond the corporate sector, with previous roles as State Manager of the Australia Business Arts Foundation and Development Executive at the Sydney Opera House Trust.

Announcing the appointment, DCA Board Chair Sunita Gloster stated “Catherine has a deep understanding of how to engage leaders across business, government and community in diversity and inclusion.

“Her role leading inclusion at one of Australia’s largest employers, coupled with her experience in ESG, specifically in business and human rights, will be invaluable as DCA works to support its members’ needs and address Australia’s workplace opportunities and challenges.

“DCA’s membership base comprises a broad cross section of Australian workplaces - from ASX 100 business and government agencies through to small business. Through our members and our research, we know that workplace inclusion promotes innovation, enhances collaboration, and is key to better business performance.

“Catherine’s proven track record in building and delivering inclusive workplaces for the benefit of individuals, business outcomes and the broader Australian community made her a standout choice for the leadership of DCA.”

In addition to her corporate experience, Hunter also brings significant governance experience. She is currently a Non-Executive Director for Studio Schools Australia, a groundbreaking innovation in Indigenous education seeing outstanding results in achieving higher school attendance for First Nations children in remote areas. Hunter also served as founding Director and Chairperson of the UN Global Compact Network Australia, the principal sustainability initiative for business in Australia, from 2011 to 2019.

Looking forward to her new role, Hunter stated “I’m thrilled to be joining DCA at such a vital time for diversity and inclusion across Australia’s workplaces.

“Building upon the strong foundations laid by former Chief Executive Lisa Annese and the DCA team, I look forward to working with our members as their trusted partner to strengthen their inclusive work practices that enable people to thrive and perform at their best.”

Hunter will commence as DCA Chief Executive in March 2025.

DCA Deputy Board Chair, Chris Lamb will continue to serve as interim Chief Executive until then and will work alongside Hunter during the early stages of her tenure to ensure a smooth transition.