Reid PSM, Cathy

Cathy has over 30 years of experience working with Commonwealth agencies on major public projects including privatisations, complex investments and procurements, infrastructure and responses to COVID‐19 challenges.

She has a strong track record on projects that benefit from ‘joining the dots’ across a number of different streams of activity, including the interplay of commercial, contractual, program and regulatory matters. She has led a team of AGS lawyers supporting the Government’s initiatives for the Western Sydney International (Nancy‐Bird Walton) Airport and associated rail connection for a number of years.

Cathy works closely with Commonwealth agencies and their advisers to plan and implement legally-robust project strategies that deliver practical and implementable solutions, with a strong focus on working collaboratively to achieve public interest outcomes. She has particular expertise in identifying and anticipating legal, commercial and practical issues in drafting, negotiating and processes for government agreements.

Cathy previously worked on the privatisation of federal airports, ANL Limited, CSL Limited, Qantas and Australian Airlines. She has also advised on a range of ship management arrangements for Commonwealth‐owned vessels, as well as bespoke insurance and indemnity arrangements for Commonwealth agencies and a number of Defence outsourcing projects in the health and transport sectors.

Relevant experience

Some of Cathy’s projects include:

• leading an AGS team advising on the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport
• advising on rail connection to the airport, including interfaces inherent in concurrent construction
• advising on a wide range of matters associated with airports around Australia, including extension and restatement of tripartite deeds with airport financiers
• advising CSIRO on the tender and contract for Australia’s new marine research vessel, the RV Investigator
• advising on a range of government business enterprise (GBE) governance matters.

Areas of practice

Major projects | Legal strategy | Procurement | Intergovernmental agreements and MOUs | Legal risk management | Governance | Aviation and maritime matters

Qualifications

Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Australian National University

Bachelor of Arts, Australian National University

Recognition

Cathy was awarded the Public Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours 2019 'for outstanding public service through the provision of legal advice and contributions to the strategic management of major Commonwealth infrastructure, marine and aviation projects'.