Catherine is passionate about the growth to leadership of young Cook Islands women and assisting the women to overcome the barriers to leadership such as domestic violence, poverty, and the lack of educational and employment opportunities. She has been fortunate to learn skills in her legal career which enables her to provide that assistance. Catherine is Barrister and Solicitor in private practice in the Cook Islands; she is admitted to the New Zealand and Cook Islands High Courts and has 20 years post admission experience. In the Cook Islands, lawyers must have knowledge and experience across many areas of law, Catherine’s experience ranges from practice in family law, employment law, public and administrative law, environment, contract law, the release of official information and anti-corruption and counter-terrorist financing laws.