Kate works with the ANU community to translate science and research into policy at local, national, and multilateral levels. Her professional background includes consulting for government and private industry on climate risk, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) integration, and sustainability reporting.

Kate's research career as a controversy analyst involved examining corporate breaches of human rights and environmental norms. Kate's research into the management of such controversies provided wealth management clients with a valuable stress test for the stated ESG policies of publicly listed entities.