About
Meet Kate Naess
Kate's story is one of resilience and overcoming adversity and to achieve what some believed impossible. Today, Kate empowers individuals and teams to thrive in today's dynamic environments. Born with a hand difference, she has consistently thrived, achieving remarkable milestones along the way. It was the devastating and sudden passing of her mum, Vicki, that first inspired Kate to transition from Para-equestrian to Para-triathlon in 2014. An ambition born from personal loss, Vicki's memory remains a driving force for Kate quickly built her reputation as one of the best Para-triathletes in the world. Kate made her Paralympic debut in the women's PT4 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where she finished fifth. This achievement was particularly notable given Kate's background in Para-equestrian, which saw her represent Australia on multiple occasions including the 2010 International Federation for Equestrian Sports World Equestrian Games in Lexington, USA.
While Para-equestrian and Para-triathlon share few commonalities, Kate's competitive instinct and motivation to improve are ever-present. She excelled on the International racing circuit including Bronze medal at the 2015 ITU Paratriathlon World Championships, Seven World Paratriathlon Series titles, Two ITU Paratriathlon World Cup wins, 5th Rio Paralympics. Kate and her husband Jarle welcomed a baby boy Henrik in 2018, and incredibly, Kate returned to the Para-triathlon circuit just six months after Henrik's birth.
Their second child Sofie was born in 2022.
Beyond her athletic career, Kate holds a Master's degree in Industrial and Organisational Psychology. She applies her expertise to help organizations, individuals, and teams cultivate high performance. Post-retirement, she led Triathlon Australia's high-performance well-being program and provided expert commentary for Paralympic triathlon events, including Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 with Channel 7 and NINE, respectively.
Kate continues to consult across various industries on inclusion, leadership development, and high-performance strategies. Her diverse background allows her to work effectively with teams and individuals, fostering growth, resilience, and peak performance.
Kate leads with a values-driven approach that brings out the best in people and organizations. Her unique methodology equips leaders with the insights, tools, and strategies to build resilient, inclusive, and high-performance cultures that thrive in today’s dynamic environments.
Kate’s own journey from the world stage in sports to the forefront of organizational psychology informs her authentic, hands-on approach to helping others navigate challenges, overcome adversity, and unlock their potential.
Kate Naess is a registered psychologist and former elite athlete with over 20 years of experience in high-performance environments.
She has represented Australia on the world stage, including the Rio Paralympics 2016, and brings that same dedication to her clients. Kate combines evidence-based strategies with her personal journey, helping others harness their potential and embrace high-performance principles in every area of life.
Kate’s Philosophy
Kate believes that while we can't always choose the cards we're dealt, we can decide how to play the hand. Guided by resilience, adaptability, and growth, her mission is to help others turn obstacles into opportunities.
Working with organisations, whether coaching leaders or elite athletes, facilitating workshops, or delivering keynote speeches, Kate equips individuals and teams with the tools to embrace change, strengthen leadership impact, and achieve sustainable success.
Work with Kate to help you and your organisation unlock your potential and thrive.
My Way
Big Challenge First
Have patience and allow magic to happen in your life. I struggled with my work and life balance, did not have time for myself and building healthy relationship.
Establishing my Goals
I dedicated years to learning and establishing my goals to help me achieve my dream self and lifestyle. The first step was to understand myself and my true dreams.
Transformation
Transformation process was not easy and quick process. I spent months working with my therapist and life coach. The result was magical and I am now living my dream life.
- 1:1 coaching
- Empowering
- Awakening
Sporting Achievements
Kate made her Paralympic debut in the women’s PT4 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, transitioning from her background in Para-equestrian, where she had represented Australia at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, USA. Despite the stark differences between the two sports, Kate’s relentless competitive spirit has led her to significant achievements in Para-triathlon, including:
Bronze medal at the 2015 ITU Paratriathlon World Championships
Seven World Paratriathlon Series titles
Two ITU Paratriathlon World Cup wins
International race victories just 7 months after the birth of her first child
Academic and Professional Achievements
Beyond her athletic career, Kate holds a Master’s degree in Industrial and Organisational Psychology. She has applied her expertise to help organizations, individuals, and teams cultivate high performance. Post-retirement, she led Triathlon Australia’s high-performance well-being program and provided expert commentary for Paralympic triathlon events, including Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 with Channel 7 and NINE, respectively.
Kate continues to consult across various industries on inclusion, leadership development, and high-performance strategies. Her diverse background allows her to work effectively with teams and individuals, fostering growth, resilience, and peak performance
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