Kate Drew
Chief of Staff
As Chief of Staff, Kate works alongside the Executive Chair to turn InterFinancial’s priorities into action, leading strategic initiatives and continuous improvement. Her work gives the firm’s leaders and advisers the clarity and momentum to focus on what matters most for clients.
Kate brings more than 22 years of experience building and scaling businesses across technology, SaaS, digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. This includes more than six years as Chief People Officer for a founder-owned family office. She reported to and advised the founder directly, and supported the CEOs and leadership teams of the businesses he founded as they grew, acquired and integrated companies in Australia, New Zealand, the Americas and Europe.
Kate has served as a Non-Executive Director and chaired board committees, including nominations and governance. Having sat at the executive table through growth, restructures and acquisitions, she understands what founders need from their business before and after a transaction.
Kate takes her work seriously, but never herself. Outside work, she is usually planning her next overseas escape or tracking down the perfect truffle cheese and Champagne combination.
Areas of expertise
- Advising founders, CEOs and business leaders
- Business growth and scale-up
- Continuous improvement and operational effectiveness
- Board governance and risk
- M&A due diligence and post-acquisition integration
- Strategy execution and business planning
Qualifications and professional affiliations
- Bachelor of Commerce, University of Wollongong
- Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)
- Executive education, Harvard Business School
- People analytics executive education, University of Cambridge
- Mentor, Minerva Network
- Academy Committee member, Queensland Ballet
