Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Indi, Victoria, 2013. Re-elected 2016. Retired prior to general elections, 2019.

Committee service

• Joint Statutory: Human Rights from 14.5.2015 to 9.5.2016.
• Joint Standing: National Broadband Network from 10.10.2016 to 11.4.2019.
• Joint Select: Constitutional Recognition Relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (2018) from 26.3.2018 to 29.11.2018.
• House of Representatives Standing: Agriculture and Industry from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Infrastructure, Transport and Cities from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2019.
• House of Representatives Select: Regional Development and Decentralisation from 13.6.2017 to 28.6.2018.

Personal

• Born 29.11.1953, Albury, Australia

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• DipEd (University of Melbourne).
• MAppSc (University of Western Sydney).
• BA (Monash University).
• Teacher.
• Legislative and research assistant to the Member for Indi, EC Cameron, MP 1980-83.
• Rural community consultant 1984-87.
• Rural Affairs Adviser, Dept of Agriculture (Vic.) 1987-90.
• Managing Director, Catherine McGowan Consulting (leadership, agriculture, community development) 1990-2013.
• Lecturer, University of Western Sydney 1992-2003.

Electorate

• Name: Indi
• Location: north-eastern Victoria; the main towns include main towns include Alexandra, Beechworth, Benalla, Bright, Corryong, Eildon, Kinglake, Mansfield, Marysville, Mount Beauty, Myrtleford, Rutherglen, Tallangatta, Wangaratta, Wodonga and Yea.
• Area: 28,567 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 103,734 (at 2.7.2016)
• Industries: tourism, forestry, wood chipping, viticulture, agriculture, timber processing and manufacturing.
• Includes:

Honours

• Awarded Centenary Medal, 01.01.2001.
• Appointed Officer of the Order of Australia, 14.06.2004.