This month we spoke with Kat McAteer, Operational Excellence Business Partner at the City of Onkaparinga, about her role, her participation in the
LG Professionals SA Women's Network 2026 Mentor Mentee Connections Pilot, what's next in her professional development journey, and how meeting fellow Aussies in Europe brought her from western Germany to Adelaide.

What is your role and how long have you been in local government?

At the moment, I’m working across two councils. My main role is Operational Excellence Business Partner at the City of Onkaparinga. Alongside this, I work two days per week as Senior Customer Experience and Project Lead at Campbelltown City Council as part of a six-month hybrid secondment.

I joined Onkaparinga 13 years ago in a part-time role while raising my children and have since worked across community development, grants, engagement, customer experience, continuous improvement and strategic projects. I’ve really valued the variety local government has offered me and the opportunity to keep broadening my experience while contributing to better outcomes for our communities.

You’re joining us at our Women’s Network Conference – what are you most looking forward to?

I’m particularly looking forward to the session on kindness as a leadership strength. It’s a topic that really resonates with me, and I’m interested to hear more about how kindness can strengthen clear and confident leadership. I’m also keen to meet women from across local government, share experiences and hear different perspectives. It’s a valuable opportunity to come away with new ideas, practical insights and connections that continue beyond the conference.

You were a part of our 2026 Mentor Mentee Connections Pilot. What was the most impactful benefit of being involved?

The match through LG Professionals SA was exceptional, and I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor than Michelle. She is kind, intelligent, highly capable and emotionally attuned, and embodies the combination of strength and warmth that I value in leadership. Even with her significant responsibilities, she was generous with her time and genuinely committed to giving back. Our conversations encouraged me to be open about where I want to go next and pursue opportunities that would broaden my experience. As a direct result of the mentoring, I applied for and secured my current six-month hybrid secondment. I’m grateful to both councils for making the arrangement possible. It’s a great example of how valuable the right mentoring relationship can be.

What’s next for you in your professional development journey?

I really enjoy learning and am lucky enough that it’s an integral part of both of my current roles. As I look ahead, I’d like to build on my leadership experience, take on greater responsibility and contribute more broadly across the organisation. I’m particularly interested in exploring data and data storytelling more formally, including how we bring different information together, understand what it’s telling us and use it to support better conversations and decisions. I also value opportunities to connect with others across local government through BPI, the Women’s Network and LG Professionals SA. For now, though, I’m very much looking forward to the Women’s Network Conference as part of that.

Tell us something about you that we don’t know?

I grew up in a small town in western Germany. My mum is from Leipzig, and my dad is from the Atlas Mountains in Algeria. In my early twenties, I moved to the UK for a journalism traineeship with an international advertising company, writing a trend newsletter for its German clients. I later studied Film History and worked in broadcasting, including at the BBC. Along the way, I met lots of Australians, particularly people from Adelaide, and those friendships eventually brought me here. Outside work, I enjoy weekly pottery classes at Wakefield House and have recently taken up Reformer Pilates, which is much harder than it looks!