Sue Woodward

Sue Woodward, Senior Lawyer, PilchConnect @ Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH - Vic)

After a working as a commercial lawyer, a legal academic and as a consultant to a large philanthropic trust, Sue now works for an independent, not-for-profit community legal centre - PILCH (Vic).  Within PILCH, Sue has been responsible for establishing a new service called PilchConnect. This service provides free/ low cost legal information, training and advice to other not-for-profit community organisations - it ‘helps the helpers’.

Although PilchConnect was only formally launched in November 2008, it has already undertaken significant law reform and policy work, including detailed submissions to the 2008 Senate Inquiry and the current Productivity Commission review.

Sue’s role at PilchConnect builds on her earlier academic work. At MelbourneUniversity, Sue conducted a research project that resulted in a major report (2004) with recommendations about better regulation of the sector.  With the help of her PilchConnect colleagues, this year she is also teaching a masters subject on current issues in the regulation of not-for-profits (June, MelbourneUniversity).

Sue has, over many years, been on committees of various community groups and is currently on the Board of SANE (Australia), a highly regarded national mental health charity.

So, from many angles and for many years, Sue has been following law reform for the sector -  as an academic,  hands-on advising many small-to-medium groups and as a volunteer Board and committee member.

 See www.pilchconnect.org.au

How did you end up here? 

Via a good thought in the shower

What is the best thing about working in the third sector? 

The people I work for and the people we try to help

What drew you to the third sector? 

Wanting to marry my working life with my passion for the sector

If you could be or do anything else, what would it be? 

A tri-lingual musician

What gets you up in the morning? 

My children (literally)  

‘I consider my greatest achievement to be…’ 

healthy, happy children who care about the world

Favourite saying / ‘My parents always told me…’ 

My Mum always said …“bring your cardigan”

‘I hope that this year…’ 

We will have a new, independent regulator for the third sector

‘In life it’s important to…’ 

love, eat, read

If you could meet anyone from history, who would it be? 

Bobalina - famous Greek naval hero - because she caught my imagination on a recent trip to the Greek Islands 

What is one thing about you that few people know? 

I play netball (badly)

What inspires you?  Who inspires you? 

How resilient and brave many people are even when their lot in life seems so unfair

What is the best piece of wisdom you give to your children? 

“You might need your cardigan… give it your best, give things a go, know how to say sorry… and always go wees before bed”

What is your favourite website? 

I have been told to say www.mylifeisaverage.com (it will give me ‘cred’??) but of course http://www.pilch.org.au/legal_info/

What are you reading/watching/listening to at the moment? 

My daughter’s year 11 book - Brave New World - phew more high brow than a lot that I read!