

Catherine DeVrye is a globally experienced business speaker and bestselling author who brings authentic leadership insight, humour, and substance to every stage. With a dynamic international career and a compelling personal story, she empowers audiences to drive performance, resilience, and service excellence.



"Your presentation on strategies for success opened our eyes to limitations & our paradigms have now shifted to a higher plateau…first time we have given a standing ovation to any speaker."
"Thought-provoking. You captured the minds of our senior executives and forced them to ponder the meaning of a customer service culture. Your drive for exceeding expectations was well and truly met when you then also filled in for a presenter who was running late. You managed the last minute request with grace, flexibility and quick thinking."
"The response from my team has been overwhelming. The many commonsense messages & ideas you delivered on teamwork, service, delivery & personal attitude really struck a chord with all."
Catherine DeVrye is a highly respected business speaker, bestselling author, and former IBM executive known for delivering results-driven insights on resilience, service, and leadership. With hands-on global experience across the corporate, public, and not-for-profit sectors, she equips audiences with tools for navigating change and thriving through challenge.
Catherine’s diverse professional journey spans executive roles in sales, marketing, human resources, and leadership development. During her decade at IBM, she held senior positions across three continents, including Asia Pacific Headquarters Human Resource Manager based in Tokyo, and Customer Education Manager for Asia/South Pacific.
She later served as CEO of Junior Achievement Australia, worked as an advisor to Ministers of Education, Sport and Consumer Affairs, and sat on the board of the world’s third-largest police service. Her early involvement in launching Australia’s iconic ‘Life. Be In It’ campaign reflects a lifelong commitment to wellbeing and performance.
Catherine has addressed audiences in over 30 countries, including engagements with Fortune 500 clients such as Rolls-Royce, American Express, KPMG, and 3M. Her consultancy, CDV Management—short for Clients Deserve Value—reflects her philosophy of excellence and practical impact.
Catherine combines depth of experience with high energy and authentic delivery. Her sessions balance credible business acumen with human stories that resonate. Equally effective in keynotes, fireside chats or workshops, she motivates audiences to think differently, act with purpose, and deliver value.
Her presentations are tailored, content-rich and often laced with humour—leaving leaders and teams empowered to adapt, innovate, and achieve their personal and organisational best.
Catherine is the bestselling author of nine non-fiction books, translated into over a dozen languages, including Hope as My Compass, Hot Lemon & Honey, Good Service is Good Business and The Customer Service Zoo. She has also co-authored corporate histories and contributed columns to national and international media.
Catherine holds a Master of Science degree and has completed executive education at Harvard University, Melbourne Business School (Mt Eliza), and IMD in Switzerland. She has also lectured at universities and delivered keynote addresses at institutions including the Singapore Institute of Management.
From orphanage to boardroom, and cancer survivor to global adventurer, Catherine’s story is one of resilience in action. She’s climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, trekked to Everest Base Camp, cycled over the Andes, and ventured to Timbuktu. She’s also an active surf lifesaver and advocate for personal wellbeing.
Depending on your brief, she will share elements of her remarkable life journey to uplift and connect with audiences on a deeply human level.
Contact us now for more information on how Catherine can elevate your next team meeting!



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