Katherine Richards has made an outstanding contribution to Australia’s engineering, nuclear safety and national security during both her military and civilian careers.

For over 36 years, Katherine Richards served in the Royal Australian Navy with distinction. She was the first woman to lead a warship's engineering department. She saw operational service in the Sub-Antarctic, Solomon Islands and Persian Gulf. As a Rear Admiral, she was appointed as the Head of Navy Engineering. Leading over 5,000 engineers, she ensured the safety, technical integrity and regulatory assurance of the naval fleet.

On completion of this role, she was tasked with designing the new regulatory system for the AUKUS program and led the creation of the Australian Naval Nuclear Powered Safety Regulator.

Following her retirement from active service, Katherine Richards became the Chief Engineer for Engineers Australia. In this role, she is a key public voice for the nation's engineers and leads national conversations that centre on technology and workforce issues. A passionate advocate for engineering and STEM, Katherine champions the visibility of STEM roles for children. Her work with the not-for-profit sector is focused on helping young people to reach their potential in technology-based careers.Her achievements have been recognised through the Conspicuous Service Cross, Member of the Order of Australia, and Honorary Fellowship of Engineers Australia. As an ANSTO Board Member and Chief Engineer at Engineers Australia, she continues to provide national leadership, advancing Australia’s engineering capability and the STEM workforce.