Cathal joined Badleys as a software developer in 2005. After finishing his PhD at Queen's University of Belfast in 2001, he initially worked as a reservoir geologist in North Wales with Robertson Research before undertaking a post-doctoral research project at the University of Leeds, looking at the geomechanical implications of compaction on soil pore systems.

After his time at Leeds, Cathal returned to industry working as a reservoir geologist with Badley Ashton, Lincolnshire.