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Catherine Friday shared thisHere at WEOY 2026, entrepreneurs are telling me there are three things they want from governments to help them scale and scale fast. They’re ready to contribute and support productivity and economic growth but they need governments to remove barriers to help them achieve it. This means rethinking how institutions, funding, and policy come together to support innovation. It is about creating environments where entrepreneurship is not episodic, but embedded and sustainable. Last night, I heard incredible stories from each of the WEOY finalists. Their innovations, resilience and determination to build their vision is phenomenal. How can governments make their journeys easier? Huge congratulations to the WEOY 2026 winners Jitendra M., Sanjay Gajendra and Casey Morrison, who started Astera Labs almost 10 years ago and grew it to become a $54bn company. Their ambition to make AI more accessible to all. A truly well-deserved award! #WEOY #Government #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidence
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Catherine Friday shared thisHere at WEOY 2026, entrepreneurs are telling me there are three things they want from governments to help them scale and scale fast. They’re ready to contribute and support productivity and economic growth but they need governments to remove barriers to help them achieve it. This means rethinking how institutions, funding, and policy come together to support innovation. It is about creating environments where entrepreneurship is not episodic, but embedded and sustainable. Last night, I heard incredible stories from each of the WEOY finalists. Their innovations, resilience and determination to build their vision is phenomenal. How can governments make their journeys easier? Huge congratulations to the WEOY 2026 winners Jitendra M., Sanjay Gajendra and Casey Morrison, who started Astera Labs almost 10 years ago and grew it to become a US$54bn company. Their ambition to make AI more accessible to all. A truly well-deserved award! #WEOY #Government #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidence
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Catherine Friday shared thisOne of the most encouraging signals for any entrepreneurial ecosystem is when government chooses to engage with intent. At EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ana Stewart, Chief Entrepreneur, Scottish Government, about what it takes to support entrepreneurs not only to start, but to scale and stay. It was a valuable reminder that entrepreneurship does not grow in isolation. It needs the right policy settings, stronger public and private sector alignment, and practical support that helps founders move from ambition to growth. A short conversation, but an important one, on the role government can play in helping innovation flourish. #WEOY #Entrepreneurship #Government #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidence
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Catherine Friday shared thisA clear message from my conversations at EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year this week is that innovators are looking for a stronger partnership with governments. In a fiscally constrained world, economic growth and innovation are closely connected. The question is not only how governments supports entrepreneurship, but how they help create the conditions for innovation to thrive. This partnership will matter more as economies look to build resilience, competitiveness and long-term growth. The 2026 WEOY finalists are truly inspiring and I’m looking forward to seeing who becomes the WEOY 2026 winner later today. #WEOY #Government #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidence Hyong Kim Steve Wilkinson Michael Thompson Hanne Jesca Bax Stasia Mitchell Jad Shimaly Rohan Malik Cornelia Gottbehüt Aina Karlsen Røed Gaurav Taneja Kenji Izawa Benjamin Chiang Steven Maynard Dean Yates Linda Brown Doree Keating Shane Mac Sweeney Justin Fishman, CFA Suzanne Vitale Ahmad Ahmad Jane Yang
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Catherine Friday shared thisI was delighted to join our EY professionals supporting European institutions for an opportunity to step back, exchange perspectives, and focus on how we can help shape a stronger, more competitive Europe. Europe’s tech sovereignty and competitiveness is rapidly shifting from ambition to execution. As AI, cloud, and digital infrastructure become strategic assets, the question is how Europe can scale, connect and translate capabilities into real adoption and impact. Sovereignty ultimately depends not just on what we develop, but on what is used at scale across governments and industries. It was a pleasure to discuss with Andrea Tonci, Fernando Torres Tejera Tom Lenaerts and Zouhair Chaouch how Europe can move from fragmented initiatives to a more integrated and globally connected digital ecosystem, combining sovereignty with openness and innovation. #DigitalSovereignty #Competitiveness #shapethefuturewithconfidence Cornelia Gottbehüt Michel Brabants Alain Perroux Julie Linn Teigland Bridget Walsh
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Catherine Friday shared thisBuilding resilience: latest edition of EY’s government and public sector digital magazine out now. In our uncertain world, governments must set direction, absorb shocks and continue delivering public value – often with constrained resources and always under intense scrutiny. This requires resilience. Resilience comes from making deliberate choices under pressure. It comes from focusing on long‑term public value, not short‑term comfort. These issues and more are examined in the latest edition of EY’s government and public sector digital magazine. It investigates how leaders can govern with clarity in uncertain times, and the thoughtful trade-offs today that can strengthen capability, trust and delivery tomorrow. 👉 Explore the insights in the magazine: https://ow.ly/ccyU50Z2Ax5 📝 Sign up to receive the latest global government and public sector insights from EY: https://ow.ly/eRXN50Z2AIO #Government #Leadership #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidence Rohan Malik Cornelia Gottbehüt Dean Yates Ahmad Ahmad Shane Mac Sweeney Meghan Mills Sarah Gates Gaurav Taneja Benjamin Chiang Kenji Izawa Doree Keating Steven Maynard Paul Donato Suzanne Vitale Justin Fishman, CFA Lisa Hughes Hanne Jesca Bax Luke Healy Josie Cluer Stig Thorgersen Aina Karlsen Røed Amanda Evans Jürgen Bauderer Bradley (BJ) Nichols Sheena Thompson Paul Palmer Piotr Ciepiela Dr. Thomas Erwin Mark R MacDonald
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Catherine Friday shared thisEncouraging conversations on EU tech sovereignty and competitiveness: now let’s translate them into actions that help Europe innovate securely and at scale.Catherine Friday shared thisOur Brussels office was full of energy this week as we welcomed 130+ colleagues from across Europe and beyond, all united by a shared ambition: shaping a more competitive and resilient Europe. Together, we explored some of the most pressing topics on today’s agenda: from geopolitics and the energy transition to tech sovereignty and cyber resilience. A sincere thank you to our speakers from EU institutions, think tanks and alliance partners for their openness and valuable insights. What stood out most is the impact we can unlock when we come together, challenge our thinking and learn from one another. Now, the real work begins: turning these conversations into tangible outcomes for our EU team and our clients. #EYBelgium #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidence Catherine Friday Bridget Walsh Cornelia Gottbehüt Alain Perroux Steven Claes Andrea Tonci Andrea D'Acunto Ömer Turna Sandro Galea Philippe Lesage Tristan Dhondt Matteo C. Juan Carlos Carrillo Guéric Jacquet Arnauld Bertrand 🇪🇺 Laurent Moscetti Stefano Bodrato Pierre Hausemer Monica Pesce Martin Rune Jensen Liana Suleymanova Joke Wiercx Arturas Piliponis Marc Lhermitte Alessandro Faini Rafal Rogoza Isabella Martorina des Garets Teodora Suciu Donato Ferri Chris Vandermeersche Andy Deprez Ingmar Christiaens Ingrid Stoffels Eef Naessens
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Catherine Friday shared thisWorkforce readiness is a top priority for the public sector all around the world. I’m delighted that EY is convening this debate. Please sign up!Catherine Friday shared thisHow ready is your workforce for the future? On June 3, I’m excited to lead a webinar sharing a sneak peek at insights from EY’s Future-Fit Workforce Study, shaped by perspectives from 14,000 public servants across 25 countries. Hosted by Public Sector Network, we’ll explore: ➡️ An early view of public servant sentiment and emerging themes around workforce readiness ➡️ Peer‑to‑peer benchmarking to see where governments are leading and where challenges remain ➡️ A panel discussion with Alexander Evans OBE from the The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Robyn Scott from Apolitical Join us to explore what these early signals could mean for the future of the public sector. 🕘 When: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 | 2:00 PM BST | 9:00 AM ET 🔗 Register here: https://ow.ly/hI9L50YQGaz #PublicSector #WorkforceTransformation #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidence #governmentofthefuture #publicsectorreform Dr. Juliet Andrews Carlo Chiattelli Louise Dyrendahl Christopher Dodge Wasfi Masri Veenu Jaichand Samir Bedi Chivonne Williams Erik Heller Kat Lee Akinori Mizuno Kate D. Catherine Friday
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Catherine Friday shared thisDespite widespread enthusiasm around AI in government, results, in practice, have been mixed. Why? Many initiatives begin without clear use cases, governance structures, or a focus on citizen outcomes. In my latest guest piece for AI Journal, I share insights from EY research on how public sector leaders can move from ideas to impact with responsible, scalable AI implementation. Find out more 👇 https://lnkd.in/gVXd9xuN #AI #PublicSector #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidenceGovernments have a big opportunity with AI — here’s what they need to doGovernments have a big opportunity with AI — here’s what they need to do
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Catherine Friday liked thisCatherine Friday liked thisLast week, we had the opportunity to engage with Maharashtra Information Technology Corporation Ltd (official)'s TechMahaImpacT Conclave as Knowledge Partners − an important platform exploring how technology can drive the next phase of public sector transformation. The discussions reinforced a key theme: technology, when applied thoughtfully, can significantly enhance governance, service delivery, and citizen outcomes at scale. The conclave featured insightful sessions on AI, digital skills, healthcare innovation, and intelligent digital ecosystems, bringing together government leaders, industry experts, and technology practitioners to exchange perspectives and practical approaches. I am particularly proud of the strong contributions from our team. Anurag Dua shared valuable perspectives on AI in governance, highlighting the critical importance of responsible AI adoption, along with robust data privacy, cybersecurity, and transparent governance frameworks. Harish Porwal contributed to discussions on building future-ready capabilities, while Meghna Shrimali provided insights on leveraging technology to drive empowerment across aspirational districts. Beyond the dialogue, it was also an opportunity to demonstrate our solutions and engage closely with key stakeholders. EY continues to work closely with the Maharashtra Government in accelerating digital governance initiatives and remains committed to supporting their journey in building scalable, secure, and citizen-centric digital ecosystems. Prakash Jayaram, Mahesh Wakode, Shuchi Trivedi, Tarun Parihar, Vaibhav Sakhare, Sagar Shirke #TechMahaImpacT #DigitalTransformation #AI #Governance #TechForGood #EY #BetterWorkingWorld
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Catherine Friday liked thisCatherine Friday liked thisA special night ahead in Monaco at EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year. After bringing together entrepreneurs from across the world representing over 48 countries, each with a story of grit, risk and relentless belief, it all builds to this moment. Representing Australia is Laurent Boillon. You’ve already made Australia proud. 🇦🇺 What stands out for me in Laurent’s journey is simplicity at the core: passion, an obsession with quality, consistency and doing things properly from old traditions mixed with innovation, scaled into something remarkable, scalable and global. From Melbourne to #Monaco, it has been a privilege to stand alongside Laurent, Julie and the Oceania and global teams and our EOY Alumni this week and see these stories take their place on the global stage. From arriving in Australia from France decades ago and bringing true artisan baking with him, to building a category-defining business across Australasia, Laurent’s story is one of craft, courage and conviction. Colin McNeil Patrick Winter Jacquelyn Van Niekerk Linda Brown Fiona Roydhouse Chloe Dunn Hanne Jesca Bax David Hyman Janine Allis Naomi Simson OAM Annabelle Williams OAM PLY Kris Satish Téa Angelos #EntrepreneurOfTheYear #GlobalEntrepreneurship #Entrepreneurs
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Catherine Friday liked thisCatherine Friday liked thisA timely and insightful discussion with Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes this week, following the delivery of her second State Budget. It was a privilege for Committee for Melbourne, in partnership with EY Australia, to host an exclusive lunch bringing together members and leaders from across our network at such an important moment for Victoria. In a year shaped by economic uncertainty, global shifts and a looming state election, the Treasurer shared valuable perspectives on the key features of the Budget and the priorities influencing Victoria’s path forward. What stood out most was the quality of the discussion – hosted by EY’s Managing Partner, Melbourne, Michael Daly. As always, these moments reinforce the importance of creating space for direct, constructive engagement between business and government and we thank Treasurer Symes and all who joined us for your engagement. Scott Veenker Fiona Luscombe Troy Wood Danny Jackson Jodie LeeTet GAICD Rebecca Overend Michele Canteri
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Catherine Friday liked thisCatherine Friday liked thisBecoming a Partner at EY is a major milestone, earned through sustained performance, leadership, and trust – particularly in a challenging market environment. Congratulations to our 25 newly promoted Partners in Oceania. Each of you has demonstrated the judgement, resilience and impact we need to grow in the right areas and deliver for our clients and teams. I’m proud to welcome you to the partnership and look forward to the contribution you’ll make as we continue to build momentum and shape the future of EY across Oceania. Andrew Mudie, Rafi Karnik, Mark Broadbent, Manesh Redhi, Oliver Carfrae, Simon Barrie, Camilla Waterhouse, Jackson Kerr, Yoon Chung, Julia Pochini, Matt Armitage, Gordon Davis, Fill Oppedisano, Patrick Huynh, Gordon Whitehead, Monika Gugliotti, Martie Tziotis, James Laing, Peter Wang, Beth Coleman, Nadine Redford, Matt Daley, Pallavi Chauhan, CA, Fiona Roydhouse, Jenni Callaghan.
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Catherine Friday liked thisCatherine Friday liked thisI’m delighted to congratulate our newly promoted Partners and Associate Partners across EY-Parthenon Oceania. These leaders consistently demonstrate what it means to be Together, All in - delivering meaningful impact for our clients, supporting and inspiring our teams, and helping build confidence in the communities we serve. Their promotions recognise not only exceptional achievement, but the energy, ambition, and resilience they bring to EY-Parthenon and to EY every day. They are a powerful reflection of the depth of our talent and the future we are building together. Please join me in congratulating this outstanding group on their well-earned success. #TogetherAllIn #EYParthenon
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Catherine Friday liked thisCatherine Friday liked thisYesterday was my last day at #EY, after 3.5 years. Personally, I found working at one of the Big 4 to be an excellent way of learning about many different industries and working methodologies. For me, it allowed me to identify my passion in #healthcare and start working towards building my knowledge and skills in this industry. Working in healthcare provides opportunity to make a meaningful and real difference to the lives of patients and healthcare clinicians, which is why I’m passionate about it. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some super intelligent people at EY, and my experience was that people are very happy to share their knowledge and bring me along the learning journey. There’s many people to thank and I’ve made a lot of connections I’ll be able to keep for a long time, but I especially wanted to thank Catherine Wyeth and Tracy Beaton for your continued support and mentorship throughout my time at EY. I learnt SO much from you both and am extremely grateful! For me, the time is right to move out of external consulting now and move into industry. I’m very excited about my new role, to be shared with you soon…!
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Chair of Finance, Audit and Risk Committee; Trustee
Melbourne & Olympic Parks
- Present 9 years 7 months
The precinct is notably acclaimed for hosting the Australian Open and the city’s most celebrated national and international, sports and entertainment events. Proudly hosting the Grand Slam, rugby, football, rugby league, netball, basketball, cycling and gymnastics; while also staging the highest caliber of artists and shows. I am very proud to volunteer as a Trustee and Audit Committee Chair for this landmark Victorian Government agency.
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Publications
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Hit the reset button on university funding
The Australian Financial Review
See publicationThe growing disconnect between the skills that employers require and those graduates (or their parents) spend thousands of dollars obtaining through the post-secondary education sector is shaping up as the nub of immense disruption in Australia.
Read more: http://www.afr.com/news/policy/education/tafe-and-uni--its-time-to-reset-the-funding-model-in-entirety-20180405-h0yee4#ixzz5CoDXt0hi
Follow us: @FinancialReview on Twitter | financialreview on Facebook
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