Catherine DeVrye
Twice voted Australian Keynote Speaker of the Year, Catherine is a powerhouse of insight, humor, and real-world experience. Her presentations don’t just inform—they inspire, challenge, and leave a lasting impact. With a unique blend of timeless wisdom and contemporary relevance, she tailors every keynote to resonate deeply with your audience and align seamlessly with your conference theme.
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Twice voted Australian Keynote Speaker of the Year, Catherine is a powerhouse of insight, humor, and real-world experience. Her presentations don’t just inform—they inspire, challenge, and leave a lasting impact. With a unique blend of timeless wisdom and contemporary relevance, she tailors every keynote to resonate deeply with your audience and align seamlessly with your conference theme. No two presentations are ever the same, ensuring an engaging and customised experience every time.
As the author of the #1 bestseller, Good Service is Good Business, and other acclaimed titles such as Hot Lemon & Honey—Reflections for Success in Times of Change and Hope Happens!…Words of Encouragement for Tough Times, Catherine is a thought leader whose words move audiences to action. Her memoir, Hope as My Compass—Who Says I Can’t (Random House), was nominated for the Australian National Biography Award, with literary giant Bryce Courtenay praising it as a “story of hope and perseverance—when’s the movie?”
Recognized as one of the Top 100 Women of Influence in Australia by the Financial Review and awarded Australian Executive Woman of the Year, Catherine brings a wealth of global experience. She has held leadership roles in the private and public sectors, including an executive position at IBM, where she was HR Manager for Asia Pacific Headquarters in Tokyo and later led customer education, management, and leadership development across Australia and Southeast Asia. Having been in the shoes of an event organizer herself, she understands exactly what it takes to create a memorable and impactful conference experience.
Her reach extends across five continents, where she has delivered highly sought-after keynotes for organizations such as American Express, BBC Broadcasting, Coca-Cola, Ernst & Young, IBM, 3M, Qantas, Red Cross, Rolls-Royce, the Australian Air Force, the World Triathlon Championships, and numerous government bodies.
Catherine’s books have been translated into over a dozen languages, and her signature blend of humor and high-impact content ensures that audiences leave with actionable insights they can immediately implement.
What makes Catherine truly stand out? She seamlessly blends Gen Y energy with Baby Boomer experience, bringing both credibility and relatability to her presentations. Each talk is tailored to the specific needs of your audience, drawing from her most in-demand topics.
Catherine’s presentations are infused with compelling real-world analogies drawn from her adventures working with street kids in Vietnam, trekking to Timbuktu, cycling over the Andes, swimming from Europe to Asia, sailing to Antarctica, and summiting Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp. As a co-author of the official Sydney 2000 Games Report for the IOC and an attendee of five Olympic Games—where she carried the torch on the opening ceremony day—Catherine can seamlessly weave an Olympic theme into any presentation, reinforcing powerful business messages.
Your audience won’t just leave inspired; they’ll leave empowered, feeling more positive about your organisation—with tangible takeaways to apply immediately in their work and lives. If you’re looking for a speaker who delivers more than just words—someone who sparks transformation
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Talks that move a room to act
Each keynote is tailored to your audience, theme and outcomes.
KEYNOTE 01: GOOD SERVICE IS GOOD BUSINESS/WINNING TEAMS
- Boost your bottom line without increasing cost
- Use service to differentiate you from your competition
- Gain market share by exceeding customer expectations
- Increase brand loyalty, turn complaints to opportunities
- Make minor improvements for major impacts on internal & external stakeholder experience
- Many customers-one team. Empower staff to be accountable
- Add value-not cost-to your bottom line
- Eliminate Waste and stimulate value
- Create customers for life-and a life for yourself.
KEYNOTE 02: CONQUER THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE
- Shift happens!-Be more resilient to thrive through change
- Change is inevitable. Learning from change is optional
- The 7 most expensive words in business – ’We have always done it that way’
- Turn common sense into common practice in your organisational culture
- Fight complacency-success today doesn’t equal success tomorrow
- Victim or victor from change-your choice.
- Make a living-make a difference
- Back to the Future-Don’t Throw out the baby with the bathwater
- Sometimes the more things change, the more they remain the same.
KEYNOTE 03: SUCCESS/RESILIENCE - TURN OBSTACLES INTO OPPORTUNITIES
An inspirational personal story, which can be applied to our working lives. From early days in an orphanage in Canada-to an education in the USA-to an international career with IBM in Japan, the Australian Executive Woman of the Year outlines:
- We can’t always control events but can always control our attitude
- Focus on what you can do rather than waste energy on what you can’t
- Focus on the positive to produce professional & personal success
- Detour to Dreams-Hope is not a 4 letter word
- Incorporating analogies from volunteering with street kids, cycling over the Andes, climbing Mt Kilimanjaro & trekking to Timbuktu, participants are reminded not to make mountains out of molehills.
Inspiring reads by Catherine DeVrye
Explore publications and books authored by Catherine DeVrye.
Featured Book by Catherine DeVrye
7 Simple Strategies For Success
What your audience walks away with
Belief
Living proof that more is possible, no matter the starting point.
Resilience
Practical strength they can use the moment they leave the room.
Permission
To talk openly about mental health and support one another.
Momentum
The motivation to act, reinvent and perform at a higher level.
What organisers say
"A big thank you for adding value with both content and entertaining delivery that kept everyone fully engaged. Our partners are fully motivated with new skills & crucial reminders to ensure we retain our pinnacle position"
"You sowed the seed of change…The service quality program developed from these beginnings will result in a 40-50% improvement in productivity"
"Captivated entire audience; nailed the brief to reinforce our key messages & delivered beyond expected; professional yet relaxed style; excellent entertainer & also touched people’s hearts!"
"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."
"Powerful & dynamic presenter who leaves a lasting impression; even our most negative team members were impressed…Thank you for a tremendous contribution to our business & the participative culture we have developed. Part of our success is due to your involvement & I am most grateful. Catherine’s business name sums up her philosophy. CDV –is not only her initials but stands for the registered company name Clients Deserve Value-and that commitment to excellence and quality will contribute to the success of your next event."
"An ideal opening conference speaker’-delivering with warmth, humour and relating to personal experiences.’"
Book Catherine DeVrye for your event
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