Susanne (Sue) Lynnette Hickey

Awarded for service to government, business and industry

Born: 25 July 1958 – Hobart, Tasmania

Entered on roll: 2017

“From Miss Tasmania to Lord Mayor of Hobart”

Fundraising for cerebral palsy was to have a lasting influence on Sue Hickey who became Miss Tasmania 1979 and continues to be passionate about making a difference for the community and State.

Determination, dedication, being businesslike and multitasking have defined Sue’s approach to business, Local Government and serving community organisations for over 35 years.

During the 1991 recession, Sue started the business Slick Promotions. In 2007, she won the Telstra Tasmania Businesswoman of the Year.

An ability to work on multiple projects saw Sue successfully balance the management of Slick Promotions, family life and completing a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Tasmania. The University awarded Sue membership to the Golden Key International Honour Society for being in the top 15% for her studies in 2011.

Sue was the second woman to hold the position of President of the Rotary Club of Hobart and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship (Rotary). As President, Sue focused on increasing female membership, improving management systems and supporting initiatives including Common Ground, Bravehearts, SecondBite, Windeward Bound, Sailability, Barrington Lodge and the Queensland floods.

Inspiration for one Rotary project arose after Sue met a homeless man who had been bashed and was in the gutter. Although the man assured Sue he would be all right, it was the trigger for a Rotary project to organise Christmas vouchers for the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul to distribute to beneficiaries. Sue has since gained further insight into the plight of the homeless by ‘Sleeping Out’ with the Salvos for six years.

In 2014, Sue was elected Lord Mayor of Hobart, making her the second woman to hold the position. Good governance, professional conduct, setting priorities and taking action define her contribution to Hobart. She has championed toilet projects and new rubbish bins, promoted Hobart and the Southern Tasmanian region both locally and internationally.