Dr Cate Thomas has a diverse working and academic career in health, human services, leadership and management which is reflected in her qualifications in the human services, education and business/management areas. Cate is a dynamic leader and strategic thinker. She has demonstrated leadership and influence in the academic, government, and non-government arenas holding key positions such as Manager Research to Practice in NSW government, has worked as a private social policy consultant undertaking consultancy into childcare models,  and delivered keynote addresses. Cate is passionate about education, lifelong learning and quality curricula, and with industry and academic experience is able to deliver authentic and evidenced-informed curricula and education to students.

Cate completed her PhD at Sydney University in 2011 on the topic The Research Utilisation Nexus: Putting Research into Practice. (An examination of research to practice utilisation in a child welfare context in New South Wales). She is passionate about evidence-informed practice in the human services field and received a NSW Premier's Silver Award in 2008 for her work in the research to practice area. She also received a Social Media Presence Award in 2016 from the  Australian and New Zealand Social Work and Welfare Education and Research (ANZSWWER) for raising awareness and debates around inclusion, advocacy and social justice issues. In 2017 Cate was the recipient of the ANZSWWER Social Work Educator Award.

• Intersectionality
• Gender equity
• Evidence-informed practice
• Child welfare
• Organisational learning and development
• Social Justice and social policy
• Disability
• Service Delivery Issues in Regional Australia