Hi, I’m Cathy Hockey, an Executive Coach.
I understand the complexity, pressure, and responsibility that comes with leading in purpose-driven and highly regulated environments.
Across the for-purpose sector, leaders are balancing mission with commercial viability, managing diverse stakeholders, and carrying the emotional load of leading teams through constant change. I understand these challenges because I’ve been there too.
MY BACKGROUND
I’m an executive coach, consultant and facilitator with over 30 years’ experience coaching and leading teams and organisations across industries.
My career began in banking, where I stepped into my first leadership role at twenty-five. I later founded Bushlink, an award-winning social enterprise, leading it to commercial success and long-term sustainability. More recently, I was CEO of Northside Enterprise Inc., a registered charity and NDIS provider, navigating complex service delivery, regulatory reform, and stakeholder expectations.
MY MISSION
Working with executives and senior leaders in the for-purpose sector, I’m on a mission to support them to create positive and meaningful change using a sustainable leadership approach.
I am committed to building the capacity of our not-for-profit and for-purpose sector. I apply a 10-20% discount to my services for Australian NFPs, Social Enterprises and for-purpose organisations and reinvest at least 50% of my profits into that purpose.
MY COACHING STYLE
I bring a strong focus on emotional intelligence and communication, and my work is grounded in empathy and trust. This enables robust challenge, honest feedback, and practical insight.
I know the benefits of strengthening leadership effectiveness, improving team alignment, and helping organisations adapt, learn and grow while keeping to their mission.
IF YOU”RE READY TO CONNECT
If you’re navigating complexity, change or growth and want thoughtful, practical support that understands your context, I’d love to connect.
Book a free planning call to explore how we might work together.
A little extra…
Outside of work I love to catch up with family and friends. I live on Sydney’s beautiful Northern Beaches and I love bush walking and camping. A campfire and a cup of tea or a glass of wine and I’m happy!
For the past few years I’ve been getting creative with charcoal sketching and watercolour painting.
I love to find ways to reset and feel grounded and I’m energised by all the great conversations I get to have with my clients.
“Leaves organisations stronger for having worked with her"
I've had the opportunity to work with Cathy in two very different contexts, and in both she brought a rare combination of strategic insight, practical judgement and genuine care.
At Disability Advocacy Network Australia, Cathy supported our strategic planning process through both facilitation and strategic analysis. Her papers provided a strong evidence base that challenged our thinking and helped us identify clear, actionable priorities. As a facilitator, she created an environment where people felt safe to contribute honestly, drawing out diverse perspectives and building genuine ownership of the outcomes. She also understood the importance of ensuring the process was genuinely accessible for a team made up primarily of people with disability, enabling everyone to participate fully and contribute their perspectives.
I also worked with Cathy during the winding up of the Attitude Foundation, where she supported the Board through what was inevitably a complex and emotionally significant process. Cathy brought clarity and rigour to the work while never losing sight of the people involved or the legacy the organisation had created. She was a calm, trusted adviser throughout, providing thoughtful guidance, practical support and a steady presence when it mattered most.
Cathy has a rare ability to combine strategic thinking with compassion. She helps people navigate complexity with confidence and leaves organisations stronger for having worked with her. I would not hesitate to recommend her.
Emma Bennison, CEO, Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA)
“Supports leaders in accountability”
“Cathy brings a practical, hands-on management approach. She supports leaders in accountability, navigating challenges, and improving their leadership in real time. She knows what it means to work with limited resources and tight deadlines and how to build capability from the ground up.”
Charlotte Rimmer, MD, Aide de MD
“Feeling prepared, confident, and focused”
“After my session, I was able to go into a crucial meeting feeling prepared and with confidence & focus. The result was really positive, and has brought me closer to achieving my overall goals.”
Coaching client
“A highly respected executive”
“Cathy is a highly respected executive in the social enterprise sector with deep expertise in the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Charities broadly. Cathy held the role as CEO of Northside for 3 years, and during her time reporting to the Management Committee, I observed her passion for driving continuous improvement and growth in the organisations she led. Would highly recommend Cathy for consulting and commercial expertise.”
Elizabeth Farrell, Chair, Northside Enterprise Inc.
“Her leadership has always inspired me”
“I have worked with Cathy over many years and her leadership has always inspired me. She always leads with compassion and has a unique ability to bring people together. I think Cathy would help anyone seeking to improve their personal leadership.”
Mike Baird, CEO, McKinnon
“Reconnect with my authentic self”
"Job hunting and preparing for interviews felt overwhelming, and I knew I needed to build my confidence and improve how I communicated my strengths. Cath’s coaching was both insightful and empowering. She helped me reconnect with my authentic self and express my value in a way that felt natural and true. I didn’t just become more confident in interviews (and got a job at the end)—I gained clarity about who I am and what I bring to the table. Her coaching was exactly what I needed."
Cerine, Coaching client
“Cathy was incredibly insightful”
“Cathy is a true leader. The kind of individual you want by your side for both personal and professional growth. If you’re curious about personal development, the Strengths Profile is a fascinating tool. The debrief session with Cathy was incredibly insightful. She guided me in deeply exploring my strengths and helped me understand the impact they have on my ongoing professional growth and career direction. Her support was invaluable!”
Yara Ruiz, Strengths Assessment
“The helping hand I needed in taking the giant leap”
“Just the helping hand I needed in taking the giant leap from my corporate job to a rewarding job in the non-profit sector. Cathy Hockey helped me identify areas I needed to focus on in my career progression. Her guidance also helped me tailor my resume and bring my transferrable skills to the forefront.”
Mentoring client
Proudly working with purpose-driven leaders and organisations.
Contact Me
Interested in working together? Send me some info and you’ll hear from me shortly. I look forward to chatting with you!