Cath Cooney

What’s your job title?
Interim Head of Strategic Planning

What sort of duties do you have at work?
Supporting the delivery of SGS’s strategic plan, and accelerating capability in leadership and systems transition

What has your career path looked like until now?
An eclectic path from biomedical science, through public health policy, planning and organisational leadership, to board adviser and systems transformation specialist roles

What’s your secret to making progress each day?
The day starts the night before – having a clear set of priorities on the to-do list for the next day, and then a good night’s sleep

What motivates you at work?
Working alongside people who have a shared sense of purpose to address the challenges we face for humanity and the planet

What makes SGS different from other places you’ve worked for?
Being part of a values driven organisation that has nurtured an idea ‘on the page’ into becoming a tangible reality in service of regenerative transformation

Who inspires you?
My three kids

What kind of music do you like?
Current favourites are Karine Polwart, Fred Again/Brian Eno and Blue Rose Code

What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
Lucy By The Sea, by Elizabeth Strout

What’s your favourite food?
South Asian food

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
To go to art school

What’s your favourite thing to do on a weekend?
An ideal weekend will include catch up with family and friends, cooking and eating great food, some live music, and a walk on the beach

What’s your favourite season and why?
Enjoy all the seasons – summer because of the longer days and seeing the seedlings flower