Catherine Moonan is the author of ‘The Pitch Coach’, published by Liberties Press in January 2016. Catherine set up Communication Matters in 2002 to provide training in Communication and Presentation Skills. Since then, Catherine has trained individuals and corporate groups within a wide range of business sectors. Catherine is the Pitch Coach on RTÉ’s ‘Dragons’ Den’, having successfully coached over 500 contestants on all the series to date and helped them to secure over €5 million investment

Catherine has coached entrepreneurs and graduates on many of Ireland’s established start-up programmes. These include Enterprise Ireland’s SPRINT Programme and ‘Access Silicon Valley’ Programme, Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur Finalists, NDRC’s HealthTech and FinTech, UCD’s Innovation AcademyUCD’s Innovation Academy, DCU’s Ryan Academy, DIT’s Hothouse Programme and several New Frontiers Programmes in the Institutes of Technology around Ireland. Catherine was also a mentor with Synbio axlr8r, Makers TV Accelerator, Bank of Ireland Accelerator Programme and Start Planet Northern Ireland. Catherine has also worked as the Pitch Coach for 700 start-ups from 50+ countries as part of the European Innovation Academy (EIA) 2016 in Nice and Turin.

Catherine is also a broadcaster and journalist. She has contributed to the Irish Independent, the Sunday Independent, the Irish Daily Mail, RTÉ Radio One, Newstalk, Today FM, Dublin City FM and BBC Radio Humberside. She has also carried out research for RTÉ’s political and business series Prime Time.

Catherine is a graduate of Dublin City University (DCU) and holds an Honours Degree in French and German and a Masters Degree in Journalism; she also holds a Higher Diploma in Education from Trinity College Dublin. Prior to setting up Communication Matters, Catherine’s career background includes working as a member of Aer Lingus Cabin Crew, a French and German Secondary School Teacher and a Manager with Compaq Computers.