Lutheran Care’s Head of Public Relations Katrina Ranford is certainly one clever and resilient woman with a great sense of humour and we are blessed to have her leading our brand, marketing and communications operations. This International Women’s Day, Katrina shares details about both her professional and personal life, and why her daughter is her biggest inspiration.
1. What motivates you to work at Lutheran Care?
Coffee and sarcasm. Only joking, it’s the people. Both those we support, the Marcomms team and the wider LC team. We’re a genuine mix of life experiences, perspectives, passions and personalities, with big hearts, clever minds and a shared commitment to making life better for others.
Whether our people are simply being an ‘ear’ or helping someone through one of the toughest moments in their life, it’s incredibly motivating. In my role, having the opportunity to strategically craft and share these stories, amplify the impact of our programs and influence awareness of emerging community needs is a privilege. If I can use my skills in storytelling, brand and communications to help that work reach further and connect with more people, that’s a pretty good reason to get out of bed each morning (as well as having a laugh with the bunch of legends in the Marcomms team).
2. Can you tell us a bit about your journey to reaching this point in your career?
My career path hasn’t exactly been a straight line – more of a scenic route with a few unexpected turns. Two of the biggest learning curves were working in the car industry and later moving into sport; both environments where it was common to look around the room and realise I was one of only a handful of women there.
Over the years I’ve worked across sales, marketing, communications and business leadership roles, which has given me a broad perspective on organisational growth, connecting with people and creating meaningful impact.
Like many women, my professional and personal lives have often been intertwined. As a single parent and basketball coach for much of my career, juggling work and life taught me quickly about determination, accepting support from others and building resilience. You learn to back yourself, multi-task like a legend, find your voice and stay in the game – even when things get tough.
A special shout out to Jose (Lutheran Care’s Marketing Coordinator) for her reminders of the multiple ‘balls in the air’.
3. How do this year’s International Women’s Day themes, “Give to Gain” and/or “Balance the Scales” resonate with you?
Both themes really resonate with me. “Give to Gain” reflects something I’ve always believed in and adhere to – when you support others, share your knowledge and cheer people on – everyone wins.
“Balance the Scales” also speaks to many experiences women (including myself) have had in the workplace. In some industries you still look around the room and realise you’re one of a few. Progress is happening, but there’s still work to do to make sure women’s voices, knowledge and leadership are recognised.
For me, balancing the scales is about recognising privilege and helping create space for others. Not all women have access to a clear path. For women facing additional systematic barriers, opportunities aren’t handed out. It’s about recognising the value of an individual’s experience, sharing perspective, and encouraging each other to pursue goals, learning opportunities or new paths when they arise.
4. Which woman inspires/inspired you and why?
I’ve been inspired by many women over the years, particularly those who quietly lift others up. They’re the ultimate teammates, the kind who celebrate the whole team getting the win, not just their own performance.
These days, I’d say my daughter inspires me most. She’s 18, driven, empathetic, self-aware and has just the right amount of sass. She keeps me accountable and inspires me to keep learning, be authentic and share my experience where it helps her and others. She reminds me (as I remind her) to be proud of what makes us unique, our achievements to date and continue to author our own fairytale endings.
What I see in her generation is a strength many of us didn’t have at that age – the confidence to speak up, ask and want for more and still lead with kindness. That kind of mindset will hopefully create a ripple effect that will benefit many women to come.
5. What is the best piece of advice you have received from a woman in your life?
Professionally, a former Board Chair said to me: “If you’re sitting at the table, you’ve earned your seat – don’t sit there in silence. Use your voice.”
It’s a good reminder that you don’t need to wait for permission to contribute. If you’ve made the team, you’re there for a reason. Back yourself, speak up and have a crack.
Personally, a national basketball coach I hadn’t seen in over 25 years once greeted me with: “So… you’re not dead yet?”
It was her cheeky way of saying she knew I’d always played life pretty hard. That life may knock you around, but persistence, great friendships and backing yourself will keep you in the game; and a good laugh at yourself along the way doesn’t hurt either.
6. What are your hopes for young women today?
My hope is that more young women feel confident stepping into spaces that might once have felt out of bounds, whether that’s leadership roles, male-dominated industries or any path that excites them. It’s encouraging to see initiatives helping more women enter sectors where they’ve traditionally been underrepresented. Momentum is building, and the benefits businesses are seeing from more diverse teams will continue to speak for themselves.
I also hope women continue to support one another and create opportunities for those confronted with systematic barriers. Progress happens faster when we lift each other up, rather than feeling like there’s only room for one (or a few) at the top.
And finally, I hope they never underestimate the value of their voice, their ideas and their perspective. The world needs them in the room – and perhaps even better, leading it.