About Us

Culture Flex was established by Katherine Hoar, after spending twenty years in international business and cross-cultural environments. A recurring theme over that time was the power of culture to make or break an endeavour, and the lack of awareness most of us have, of that power: cross-cultural skills were a core competence affecting the bottom line, not simply a side issue.

Katherine personally leads all work undertaken by Culture Flex and is trained and certified by the Cultural Intelligence Center USA, to administer and debrief cultural intelligence (CQ) assessments. She has formed an international network of experienced and qualified cross-cultural specialists with whom she collaborates.  In the course of her work, Katherine has advised two Western Australian premiers, ambassadors, CEOs, senior management and community members, in international and cross-cultural business issues and provides executive coaching, training and programme development for a range of organisations.

Katherine’s background includes private and public sector with a focus on international commercial management, international relations, trade and investment. Katherine has market experience in Japan, mainland China, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, USA and UK, and has worked with colleagues and clients across the globe. She has experience with a wide range of industries and sectors including manufacturing, commodity and specialty chemicals, industrial gases, tourism, food and wine, furniture, skincare and cosmetics.

Katherine is a Japan-specialist. She has led a cross-functional business incubation department, for Japanese global trading house Marubeni Australia, where she worked as a commercial manager in the Chemical Division. Previously she worked in Japanese regional government, focussing on international community and business relations, skill building, information sharing and investment attraction initiatives.  Katherine also worked for the Western Australian state government as an international market development specialist and developed trade missions to Japan, Korea and China.

Katherine holds a Bachelor of Economics, with Honours in Japanese Studies and a specialisation in International Trade and Finance, from the University of Western Australia (UWA) and has had research and cultural material published in English and Japanese. She also holds a Graduate Diploma in Management from the Australia Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and is a Certified CQ Facilitator.

Katherine is a Board Member of CSSU, and of the UNSW Alumni Advisory Board, President of the UNSW Business School Perth Alumni, and Committee Member of Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association.

Katherine has experienced life as an exchange student in Japan (twice) and enjoys engaging with other cultures through mind-opening international travel linked to personal interests such as tea, ceramics and textiles, local history, philosophy and religious expression, and the natural environment.