PRESIDENT

PhD Psychology, BS (hons) (UNSW) 

Kathryn van der Merwe (Kath) joined Telstra in July 2023 as the Group Executive of People, Culture and Capability. A respected leader in people and transformation, Kath brings a proven track record in strengthening organisational culture and building capability. 

In her role with Telstra, she is responsible for investing in, engaging and supporting our company’s workforce to shape the future of work and deliver on our Connected Future 30 strategy. 

Prior to joining Telstra, Kath led Talent and Culture at ANZ, where she delivered key people initiatives aligned with the bank’s strategic goals. She oversaw the operations of ANZ’s Global Service Centres and drove purpose-led transformation that embedded cultural values and modern leadership practices. 

Her leadership saw the implementation of a new enterprise-wide framework for performance, remuneration and recognition, alongside enhancements in digital and data capabilities. 

Before joining ANZ in 2021, Kath served as Results Delivery Expert Vice President at Bain & Company, where she helped build the Results Delivery practice. She led transformational change and organisational design projects across the Asia-Pacific region, delivering measurable outcomes for clients. 

Kath holds a Doctorate in Psychology and Bachelor of Science with First-Class Honours from the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She is based in Melbourne.