Cathy Sommerville Consulting

Tapping into the expertise gained through a multi-layered and diverse career spanning more than three decades, Cathy Sommerville has the ability to rapidly acquire a depth of knowledge of new and complex subject matter and manage the necessary response - whether that is research and evaluation, stakeholder consultation, a communications and issues management strategy, or an approach requiring a mix of all of these deep skillsets.

With a highly tuned risk radar, Cathy devises innovative approaches to complex challenges in difficult and sensitive settings.

Cathy has recent and specialist expertise of more than 14 years in issues management, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and social, behaviour change and communication campaign research for major public hospital, health and aged care services. She also has extensive senior experience across infrastructure and public private partnerships, local government, and international humanitarian aid, community development and advocacy for women and children.

As a Research Project Director for more than seven years, Cathy led multiple national reviews and evaluation projects for Australian Government departments including Health and Family Services, and for State Government and national and multinational corporate clients. 

Cathy has travelled extensively to rural, remote and regional areas around Australia leading major program evaluation projects. She has a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and human rights and understands the importance of applying an intersectionality lens in an evaluation context.

Strategic research to support implementation and communication of major workforce initiatives, particularly in the health and related sectors, is also a key area of expertise.