Catriona Rowntree
Book Catriona Rowntree for speaking engagements & events.
Australia’s Most Travelled Woman’, that’s the title earned by Catriona Rowntree after nearly 15 years at the helm of Australia’s favourite travel show Getaway on Channel Nine.
Her television career began after completing a Diploma of Journalism at Macleay College in 1990, followed by stints researching at BRW, various Sydney newsrooms and beginning an obsession for Community Radio via putting the news to air and hosting an interview show on FM 915(Rhythm and Jazz).
In 1992 Catriona auditioned along with 8,000 other hopefuls, for a Reporters job in WonderWorld!, making it into the final 5 girls, but was piped at the post. Persistence led to victory when Catriona was taken on as a Researcher in 1993. After much begging, the following year Catriona was allowed to film one story for the show (Putt Putt Golf, where she donned a safari suit and had a ball, literally) and has been employed on-air ever since.
That soon led to hosting What’s Up Doc, filmed live on weekends from GTV in Melbourne and after 3 years of sending out resumes to her favourite radio stations, the Community Radio obsession evolved into a paid gig on Triple J radio, hosing the national Weekend Request Show. So began a period of working 7 days a week in 3 states and loving every single second of it.
In 1994 Catriona stepped into the Hosts seat on WonderWorld!.
The hard work paid off and the golden opportunity to roam the globe for Getaway was offered in 1996. Since then Catriona has worked on many other TV projects including the National IQ Test, Funniest Home Videos, Logies Red Carpet Arrivals and The Chopping Block. In 2006, Catriona celebrated her 10 years on Getaway by publishing ‘Catriona’s Australia: 100 of my favourite Aussie locations’ through JDP.
In addition to her TV roles, Catriona has been able to utilise her passion for Community work as the Patron of the Arnotts Foundation, Ambassador for OCRF, Mission Australia, Phillip Island Penguins. In 2010, Catriona was delighted to honour her husband’s role as Chairman of the Geelong Landcare Network by becoming an Australian Landcare Ambassador and in 2012 she will be the Ambassador for Year of the Farmer.
As a self confessed chatterbox, Catriona is also highly sought after as an MC and host for various events.
Catriona has worked with many brands including Sunsense and Goulburn Valley. In 2012 Catriona was officially announced as the Brand Ambassador for Pharmacare’s EASEaCOLD range.
Personally, Catriona’s life completely changed when marrying Victorian farmer James Pettit in 2008 and swapping her Jimmy Choo’s for RM Williams. An absolute passion for the land and environment is now able to blossom in every way.
Catriona and James welcomed baby Andrew into the world in 2009 and returned to her Getaway travels in 2010, their second baby Charles was born in March 2011. Inspired by motherhood, and now in it’s third year, Catriona’s ongoing children’s range of clothing with Target goes from strength to strength.
Catriona Rowntree is a very popular public speaker the consummate MC, she’s spontaneous, witty and always in control.
Topics
Travel
Health, Farming/Country Living
Family