Indigenous Strategy Cultural Advisor, Sue Pinckham is a Biripi woman from the mid-north coast of NSW. She’s a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Since joining Macquarie five years ago, Sue has been involved in many projects including research into the needs of carers of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care.

One initiative that’s important to Sue is Indigenous Literacy Week, which is on this week. Macquarie is hosting a number of events that you can get involved in including the Macquarie Great Book Swap to help raise money for The Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

1. In a nutshell, my job is to…
Provide cultural support and advice to staff and students across the University.

2. My definition of success is…
Seeing the faces of students when their dreams come true at graduation time.

3. A person at Macquarie who inspires me is…
Melissa Wurramarrba from Ngukurr, who is doing a double degree in Education (Primary) and Arts. Mel will be a great teacher back in her community. Makes me proud.

4. This year I want to…
See my grandchildren (COVID has stopped me travelling).

5. The scariest thing I’ve ever done is…
Going up in a helicopter with no sides, flying around outback NT. Sitting by a croc-infested river listening to traditional stories and being too engrossed to move. Also, being the instructor when a first-time learner is driving.

6. As a kid, I was…
The only girl that lived in a street with 27 boys.

7. My guilty pleasure is…
Soft shell crab.

8. I’m scared of…
Lateral violence and the impact it has.

9. If I had the day off today, you would find me…
Out of the city, near the water, under a tree.

10. To me, the best thing about the Macquarie community is…
Being able to come together and collaborate with others on important initiatives. Especially this week as we are raising awareness about Indigenous literacy in our remote communities and raising funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.