Catherine Livingstone AC

It’s not uncommon for recognition within the Order of Australia to be awarded to individuals with a history of diverse influence, but Catherine Livingstone AC is a standout.

She is currently the chancellor of the University of Technology in Sydney, as well as the director of the Australian Design Council, Saluda Medical Incorporated, Quasar Satellite Technologies, Pacific National and The Australian Ballet. 

These positions are just a few of the reasons she was appointed a companion of the Order of Australia, 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. 

Ms Livingstone says her recognition reflects her efforts to try and contribute where she can in the national interest. 

“The particular categories that were acknowledged, the importance of education, of universities, of science and technology, that was really important to me,” she says. 

Ms Livingstone has also held positions including director and chair of Commonwealth Bank, on top of chair of Telstra, the Australian Business Council and CSIRO. She has also been president of Chief Executive Women and the Business Council of Australia. 

Recognition of this kind is particularly important for women who may not otherwise acknowledge their years of hard and sometimes difficult work, Ms Livingstone explains.

“[Nomination] is part of an important process that people go through and think about why and how someone has contributed. And then, of course, getting the recognition is, for the individual, really important,” she says. 

“It can give women the confidence that they can not just aspire, but can be recognised in this way. This can give them the confidence that it’s important to actually acknowledge to themselves what their achievements are.

“It gives you the incentive to do more … the country thinks that your work is important, and the fact you’re being recognised gives you another boost of energy and momentum to keep going, even when the going gets tough.” 

Ms Livingstone encourages everyone in the community to nominate a worthy person they know. 

“If people aren’t nominated, they’re never going to be recognised,” she says. 

“Put in the effort, think about these people and to go through that nomination process.”