Catherine is a climate change, environment, and natural resources management specialist with over 20 years of experience in program design, implementation, and strategic advisory work on programs in climate change, biodiversity, forestry, and sustainable development. She currently serves as Acting Office Director for USAID/Zambia’s Economic Development and Environment Office, overseeing a portfolio across agriculture, climate change, biodiversity, Nutrition, Water and Sanitation (WASH), Trade, and Energy.

She holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences and Geography, an MSc in Tropical Ecology and Biodiversity from the University of Zambia, and a BSc in Forestry from the Copperbelt University.

She has worked with major Cooperating Partners/donors and development partners including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Development Agency (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), and the Embassy of Denmark, providing technical leadership and policy support. She also supports donor coordination efforts through Zambia’s Environment and Climate Change Cooperating Partners Group.

She is passionate about gender equality and inclusive development. She has helped mainstream climate action, gender and youth across USAID programming and is deeply committed to inclusive development.

In addition to her development work, she lectures part-time at the University of Lusaka, teaching courses in gender, agriculture, rural development, and development policy. She thrives in multicultural settings, adapts easily, and brings a strong understanding of Zambia’s environment and climate change policies and legislative landscape including work on the National Policy on Environment, National Climate Change Policy, REDD+ Strategy, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and national Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA). She brings both technical depth and a collaborative approach to advancing sustainable, climate-resilient development.