Catherine Jones is the Chief Executive of Creative HQ. Since joining in 2018, Catherine has led transformative efforts to empower entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs to solve complex problems and bring bold ideas to life. Under her leadership, Creative HQ is driving Aotearoa’s vision of becoming a global leader in sustainable value creation by 2030, with a mission to support 400 high-growth companies to thrive within this timeframe.

Creative HQ is headquartered in Wellington and operates nationally and internationally, delivering impactful programmes that support founders at the earliest stages of their journey. Through initiatives like their FinTech Lab, Creative HQ is nurturing the next generation of transformative companies. Today, Creative HQ-supported companies are valued at $1.3 billion, employing 1,500 people and contributing significantly to New Zealand’s economy.

Catherine’s leadership has been widely recognized.  Most recently, Creative HQ earned the 2024 Hi-Tech Award for Best Contribution to the Tech Sector and the Supreme Wellington Gold Award.

Before joining Creative HQ, Catherine had a successful career in investment banking and law.