On June 18, 2024, Catherine attended a prestigious networking event during the Prime Minister's visit to Japan. This event provided a unique opportunity to connect directly with the elite members of the business delegation, personally selected by the PM for his mission to Japan.
During the event, Catherine had the pleasure of meeting all the delegation members, particularly two prominent wahine toa. One of these influential women was Cheryl de la Ray, Vice Chancellor of Catherine’s alma mater, the University of Canterbury. In their conversation, Catherine shared her journey to Japan following her Law degree from Canterbury, emphasizing how a law degree can open doors to diverse opportunities. Inspired by Catherine's story, the Vice Chancellor invited her to return to the Canterbury Law campus to share her experiences with future law students.
Catherine also had an inspiring encounter with Dame Therese Walsh DNZM, the Business Delegation Lead. Dame Therese has held numerous leadership roles in New Zealand sport and played pivotal roles in the Rugby World Cup 2011 and the Cricket World Cup 2015. Her remarkable contributions to sports earned her the title of Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in June 2015, among other prestigious awards.
Catherine was particularly moved by Dame Therese’s grassroots initiative to advance Year 13 girls in New Zealand, encouraging them to broaden their horizons for the future.
Energized by her conversations with Dame Therese and Cheryl de la Ray, Catherine looks forward to fostering concrete collaborations between New Zealand and Japan with the support of these two inspiring wahine toa.