Leader in focus, Rebecca Cattermole

7 Mar 2024

As the Chief Executive Officer of St John of God Accord, Rebecca Cattermole describes her role as a gift.

“There is nothing better than seeing a person supported by our organisation achieving a goal and exceeding their own expectations. It is a gift to be in a position where you can have a positive impact on others but it is sometimes a heavy responsibility to hold.” said Rebecca.

While her leadership journey commenced as a Senior Medical Scientist in London, it was a career working with people and seeing the positive impact she could have on them that interested her the most. She was drawn to St John of God Accord due to the strong Values and Mission of the organisation and how they so clearly connect to the disability sector.

“What makes me stay is our culture; we care deeply about what we do for the people we support, we care about how we do our work and we care about each other. Never have I worked in an organisation that truly lives its own values like we do, and where caregivers at all levels understand how our values relate to their individual role,” she said.

St John of God Health Care employs over 13,000 women and Rebecca believes that as a woman in her role it certainly has its benefits.

“Without drawing too heavily on the gender stereotypes, it has been a benefit to be a woman working in an industry where nurturing and care is ‘the business’. It has helped clients, families and caregivers relate to me as a leader and assisted in rapport building,” she said.

As a woman in a leadership role, Rebecca is a strong advocate of peer support and lifting up other women, including ourselves.

“Too often are we too humble at the negotiating table and reluctant to speak up for ourselves. That is something we can all work on – self-advocacy. By collectively promoting and celebrating the achievements of other women, we can foster a more equitable and empowering professional landscape for us all.”