Kate Davies is an accomplished senior executive with more than 20 years of leadership in public administration, policy development, governance, and sports administration. As CEO of Netball Queensland since January 2022, Kate stewards the governance and growth of the sport throughout the state as well as the management of the iconic Queensland Firebirds, and the 5,000-seat Nissan Arena home to the Firebirds, Brisbane Bullets and other professional and community sporting events all year round.
Starting as a graduate in the Commonwealth public service, Kate progressed to hold executive and Ministerial policy advisory roles across several federal portfolio areas, including small business, tourism, employment and workplace relations.
After twelve years in the nation’s capital, Canberra, Kate returned to her hometown of Brisbane to be Executive Officer to the Premier of Queensland and has since held several executive management roles, including Divisional Manager, Governance and City Administration at Brisbane City Council.
Kate’s career trajectory into sports administration commenced as General Manager, Corporate Affairs and Strategy with Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket. In this role, Kate provided strategic leadership, managed program delivery and developed long-term relationships with key strategic, operational and community partners across cricket in Queensland. She was responsible for securing international cricket content for major regional centres, $15M across all three levels of government to establish the National Cricket Campus in Brisbane, and successfully lobbied for $35M upgrades to the Gabba. Kate also led projects that resulted in the growth in fan engagement in the Women’s Brisbane Heat team and the audit and development of a 10-year infrastructure strategy for Cricket in Queensland.
Whilst Executive Officer to the Premier, Kate was a member of the Queensland Government Commemorative Events & Celebrations Committee and convened the Premier’s Business Advisory Forum; has been an Ambassador for the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust; held the position of Chair of the Juiced TV Advisory Board (supporting the wellbeing of thousands of paediatric patients admitted to hospitals every year); and is currently a member of the Redkite Government Committee (a charity providing essential support to children and young people with cancer).
Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts (Government) and Bachelor of Business (Management) from the University of Queensland, a Graduate Certificate of Public Relations from Deakin University and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
