About Catalyst
Technology change, for good — delivered with clarity and care.
We combine deep operational expertise with a pragmatic, people-first approach to help organisations navigate technology with confidence.
About Us
Technology is now central to how organisations operate, compete, and grow — yet as environments become more complex, decisions become harder to make.
Catalyst exists to bring clarity to that complexity.
We are independent, evidence based technology and security advisors who help leadership teams understand where they stand today, make confident decisions, and move forward with purpose. Our work isn't about selling solutions or chasing trends — it's about strengthening organisations through technology change that genuinely improves how they operate.
Founded by leaders with decades of experience inside complex technology environments, Catalyst brings deep operational insight across managed services, large scale ICT operations, cyber and information security, and government settings. We've run, secured, and governed the systems we now advise on, leading high profile programs and supporting organisations through growth, disruption, and risk.
That experience shapes how we work.
Our approach is calm, disciplined, and grounded in reality. We take the time to understand your organisation — its constraints, pressures, culture, and goals — then cut through noise and hype to focus on what will genuinely move things forward. Clients value our ability to translate complexity into plain English, humanise technology discussions, balance risk and ambition without drama, and bring structure to situations that feel uncertain or messy.
That perspective comes from years of operating where decisions had real consequences — and it's why organisations trust us to help them move forward with clarity and confidence.
Our Values
Our values guide how we show up, how we give advice, and how we measure success.
Clarity Over Complexity
We cut through technical noise, hype, and bias to deliver clear, defensible insight that leaders can act on with confidence.
Integrity of Advice
Our guidance is independent, evidence based, and always in the best interests of our clients — not vendors, partners, or convenience.
Enduring Impact
We design change to last, strengthening organisations and building capability that remains long after our engagement ends.
Our Leadership
Experienced advisors who've operated where decisions had real consequences.
Lisa Johnston is a highly respected technology and information security leader with over 20 years of experience operating at executive levels across government, managed services, and complex commercial environments, both in Australia and internationally.
Lisa has held leadership and advisory roles across highly regulated and high risk environments, providing strategic oversight and guidance on technology, cyber risk, governance, and organisational resilience.
An internationally recognised practitioner, Lisa is an ISACA Certified Information Security Manager and an ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Implementer and Auditor. Her expertise across global standards, risk frameworks, and assurance disciplines allows her to bridge the gap between compliance, security, and real world operations — ensuring governance and security uplift are both credible and workable.
Lisa's approach is calm, structured, and people centred — helping organisations improve security and governance without fear, overload, or unnecessary disruption.
Hayden Johnston is a highly regarded technology and cyber security leader with over 20 years of experience operating at executive levels across managed services, complex enterprise environments, and high profile organisations, both in Australia and internationally.
Hayden has held senior leadership and advisory roles across large scale, high profile ICT environments, providing strategic oversight on technology direction, cyber risk, service delivery, and organisational resilience in highly regulated and high assurance settings.
With deep experience across managed services and enterprise operations, Hayden is known for his ability to bridge technical depth with executive decision making. He has led major technology transformation programs, cyber and risk initiatives, and ICT reform efforts where clarity, discipline, and trust were critical to success.
Hayden's approach is pragmatic, measured, and outcome focused, helping organisations translate complexity into clear priorities, make confident decisions, and implement change that genuinely supports how the business operates and grows.
Ready to change for good?
Clear priorities. Trusted advice. Enduring impact.