Filter articles
Why work at Catalyst? Open source, growth, and people-first tech
25 Aug 2025, 11:43 AMMeet some of the Catalyst team and learn why open source, growth and people-first tech are the threads of community that bind us together.
Open source brings together a community of people. From five friends who started the business in 1997, to now, one thing is sure: a community-focused ethos is what draws people to Catalyst. For nearly 30 years, Catalyst has attracted top talent and created world-leading and award-winning solutions based on open source software. Recently, we caught up with a few people across different teams. They echoed similar themes: stories of belonging, purpose, and continuous growth. This is what they had to say about finding their place in our community.
Nisha: “Catalyst gave me the opportunity to step into my career.”
Pictured: Nisha Dahya, People & Capability Advisor and Analyst at Catalyst.
Catalyst has supported people at every stage of their career, but some of the most exciting moments happen at the very beginning. With a background in Information Technology and HR, Catalyst was the perfect combination for Nisha Dahya to grow in her HR career.
In her role as People & Capability Advisor and Analyst, Nisha gets to focus on what matters most – the people.
Whether that’s providing advice on development opportunities, supporting upskilling, or rolling out initiatives that encourage a healthy work-life balance.
Nisha reflects, “At Catalyst, people are at the heart of everything, making wellbeing a priority means we can do great work while still looking after ourselves.”
Over the past four years, Nisha has also helped recruit many of the people who make up Catalyst today. For her, “Recruitment isn’t just about filling a role, it’s about finding people who align with our values and helping them grow once they’re here”- a philosophy that speaks to how community builds upon itself. Looking ahead, Nisha is excited about continuing to find meaningful ways to support people’s development and make work feel like a place where everyone can thrive.
Doris: “The people are warm, welcoming, and supportive.”
Pictured: Doris Tam, Mahara Developer at Catalyst.
Doris Tam started her career in tech at Catalyst through the Open Source Academy as a secondary school student. The academy helps equip students with basic skills and knowledge to help them consider a tech career. When uni came along, Doris shared that it was a “no-brainer to seek an internship here at Catalyst.”
For Doris, open source was more than a technical approach - it also matched her values. Open source means anyone can use the code, inspect it and change it. With a global open source community, people can share and benefit from changes made. Doris shares, “It feels good giving back to something bigger than myself”, capturing that sense of purpose that runs through so many Catalyst stories.
Eight years after her internship, Doris has continued her work as a developer in the Mahara project, an ePortfolio platform that supports authentic learning practices in higher education and professional development. For Doris, being able to create features and changes as a response to the Mahara and portfolio community is a real highlight.
"Creating changes that can make a real difference in people's lives is a strength of open source software. And there's always so much to learn and puzzle over as the project and its community evolve.”
Pedro: “Catalyst has new doors of opportunity to learn and grow at every corner.”
Pictured: Pedro Sawyer, Security Specialist at Catalyst.
Open source values don't just come out in software solutions, but in every choice made to improve people's experiences with technology. One way this can come through is through sustainability and scalability.
We spoke to Pedro Sawyer, a Security Specialist at Catalyst, who's part of the team that keeps our data and systems secure and protected. Elements of his role are implementing security measures, identifying possible vulnerabilities, and keeping systems updated. This includes our client’s data and projects, ensuring that no matter the project, it's in safe hands.
For Pedro, Catalyst was the perfect choice for him because of the balance of challenge and flexibility in his role. He shares, “I’m happy to be part of the team that helps change and improve overall security practices for the entire company and our clients.”
He enjoys working closely with his team, who have created a welcoming and friendly environment for him to grow in. Because of this, Pedro shares that “I hope to continue growing and learning here, and am always excited for what’s next.”
Gretta: “Ten years later, I continue to feel at home at Catalyst.”
Pictured: Gretta Seebeck, UX Practice Lead at Catalyst.
Gretta Seebeck has been at Catalyst for a decade. But her relationship with Catalyst stretches even further back than when she was a client for Catalyst. When a UX role popped up, Gretta went for it. “Catalyst seemed the perfect place to do the type of work I liked (relatively complex projects for the public sector) and find the balance with family life.”
As our UX practice lead, Gretta enjoys the opportunities to grow and continue her craft, while sharing her knowledge. She appreciates that, “Catalyst people are given autonomy in their work and approach and trusted to design and recommend the solutions that they think are best.“ For her, this trust and autonomy is how we create solutions that truly work for people and build for communities.
Over her time at Catalyst, Gretta has worked on a range of projects, including working with the Ministry of Education on the Progress and Consistency Tool (PaCT) and Te Waharoa Ararau. She enjoys helping improve experiences, whether it’s making a question easier to understand or completely rethinking processes and workflows, always with real people and real communities in mind.
Steve: “There’s great opportunities to tackle problems for everyday Kiwis in Aotearoa with practical, ethical solutions.”
Pictured: Steve Adams, Business Development Manager in Auckland at Catalyst.
Steve Adams is one of the newest members to join the Catalyst team, joining the Auckland office as a Business Development Manager. When he saw the role listed, Steve shared that he jumped at the opportunity to join the team after many years of admiring Catalyst’s work.
For Steve, Catalyst combined his values of open source and responsible, innovative solutions. He’s excited to create adaptable, accessible solutions for the communities that need them.
When asked how he’s settling in, Steve shared he’s enjoying “working with teams of smart people on a mission to make a positive impact with technology.”
Trudi: “Catalyst ticked the boxes”
Pictured: Trudi Uttinger, General Manager in Christchurch at Catalyst.
Trudi Uttinger is our General Manager in Christchurch. Also new to the team, she believes the most important thing about going to work each day is believing in what you are doing, both for the company and yourself, enjoying the teams you work alongside, and continually growing and learning. And that is why she chose to work at Catalyst.
Catalyst ticked all the boxes. For Trudi, the company values resonated very strongly with her own, both professionally and personally.
“The technology Catalyst delivers to clients is world-class, and the people are intelligent, kind, passionate and interesting human beings.” In the short time she’s been here, Trudi shares that she can see how much she’s already grown, and this is only the beginning of her journey.
Grow at Catalyst
At Catalyst, we see our team as a community living and breathing shared values, mutual support, and the belief that technology should serve people and communities. If you’re interested in joining the team, explore our available roles or put forward an expression of interest.
Related projects
Diversity drives better solutions
Elin Simes, David Thompson, and Ella Banaticla share what diversity means to them in their roles at Catalyst.
Meet the 2025 Catalyst Open Source Scholarship recipients
Catalyst offers two scholarships to students in tech-related fields every year. In 2025, the recipients also had a four-week internship at our Wellington offices.