Catherine is a seasoned public speaker, with a rousing style and easy authority. Whether presenting in person or virtually, she speaks with passion and insight on subjects surrounding diversity and inclusion, leadership, politics and making change happen.
Catherine is represented for speaking by Speaking Office, a speaker management company.
Speaking Topics
How to Have Conversations in a Polarised World
We are more divided than ever before and not just on subjects that directly touch on our lives. How can we hope to reach consensus in the workplace if we’re passionately polarised on Meghan and Harry or whether cancel culture even exists? Catherine looks at the drivers of such polarisation, unpicks the way that these arguments are often proxies for other issues such as race and inequality, and looks at what works, and what definitely doesn’t, to defuse potential hostilities and bring people together.Wonder Women: How unlocking female potential benefits us all
This addresses some of the key points in the Difference Works keynote, but looking in more detail at the subject of female participation in the economy and the workplace. Why is it that organisations struggle to retain women and how can they improve that record? And, why the rewards of doing so are huge.The Future of Media in the Digital Age
During a 30-year career, Catherine saw first-hand how digital technologies initially enabled news organisations to flourish and then destroyed the economic models supporting them. Her forthcoming book on royal women looks at the way public figures are instrumentalised to deepen polarisation and spread disinformation. Catherine discusses and assesses the repercussions not just within the industry but for democracy and our understanding of the world, as well as forecasting developments in new media.Good Grief: navigating personal and public loss in the workplace
There is something much more damaging than saying the wrong thing to the newly bereaved—saying nothing at all. Not that there’s much value to mumbled platitudes or ill-timed expressions of sympathy (grieving people often seek a semblance of normality at work and may not wish to be forced to answer questions about how they’re feeling). Luckily, such mistakes are easy to avoid. Catherine talks about what she’s learned from dealing with the bereaved and from her own widowhood and other losses.Difference Works: Why true diversity and inclusion is about much more than ticking boxes
Organisations know they need to improve the diversity of their workforces—but they often don’t know why. Moreover DEI is falling into disrepute, with many programmes being rolled back or disbanded. Catherine unravels the confusion surrounding diversity initiatives, highlights the dangers of creating echo chambers or cultures that suppress dissident opinions and demonstrates the value of more inclusive cultures.Inside the Royal Family
Catherine spent decades covering the royals, including two years behind the scenes researching her biography of King Charles and a further two years examining the misrepresentation of royal women from Anne Boleyn to Meghan. She gives insights and tells anecdotes from the strange world she dubs “Planet Windsor” and also highlights the surprisingly pervasive influence of the royals on public life.Testimonials
Catherine fielded the question from the audience quite delightfully. The whole session was went very well!
LSECatherine was fabulous—razor-sharp, humorous, and extremely engaging.
The Charity AwardsInspiring! Encouraged conversation through her own openness.
Gilead