Catherine DeVrye
Author of Memoir and Biography
based in NSW
Bestselling author of nine books-twice named Australian Keynote Speaker of the Year-Catherine DeVrye shares true, uplifting stories that entertain and stay with you. She has kept a daily journal for over 50 years, never imagining those handwritten reflections would one day morph into books translated into over a dozen languages.
Born in a Canadian orphanage and expelled from English class, the accidental author arrived in Australia with a backpack, $200 and a one-way ticket after the death of her parents soon after graduating in the USA.
Following a global career with IBM, Catherine has presented in more than 30 countries and travelled through over 150.
A cancer survivor, Olympic torch bearer, and volunteer with Vietnamese street kids, she’s swam with sharks in Madagascar, trekked beyond Everest Base Camp—and voyaged to Timbuktu. Her talks blend humour, heart and hard-won perspective, reminding audiences that humanity is often kinder than headlines suggest.
Her new memoir, Beyond Timbuktu: Journeys of Hope & Humanity (Hardie Grant, July 2026) celebrates connection in unexpected places. Previous books include Hope Happens!, Hot Lemon & Honey, Who Says I Can’t, Hope as My Compass..
A volunteer lifesaver on Sydney’s northern beaches, Catherine is available to speak anywhere-anytime.
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This author holds a Working with Children Check (WWCC), Working with Vulnerable People Check (WWVP) and Police Check.
