Dr Sue Hodges

Managing Director

Sue has over 35 years of experience in the fields of history and heritage interpretation. Before establishing SHP in 2001, she worked as an historian for a wide variety of public and private sector organisations. As SHP’s Managing Director, she leads the team with a sharp focus and good sense of humour.

Sue’s work at SHP encompasses all aspects of heritage projects, from concept planning to interpretation plans, installations, exhibitions, signage, public artwork and heritage trails. She is a creative director at SHP and reviews and signs off all projects.

Sue also plays an active role in the professions of history and interpretation nationally and internationally. She was President of the ICOMOS International Committee on the Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites (ICIP) from 2015 to 2024, a Member of the ICOMOS Advisory Committee from 2015 to 2024, and a member of the UNESCO international Working Party on Sites of Memory (2017). She was previously an Executive Committee Member of Australia ICOMOS and President of Interpretation Australia from 2010 to 2013. Sue has also conducted training in interpretation in Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Scotland and Malaysia and has participated World Heritage, Interpret Europe and ICOMOS conferences.

She was the Convener of ICOMOS’s 2016 Annual General Assembly held in Istanbul. Sue currently advises UNESCO World Heritage in the areas of contested history, people-centred heritage, values-based heritage and Sites of Memory.

On any Saturday

Sue loves animals, skiing, mountain biking, baking, Netflix and reading. She is the proud dog parent of Jerry, Abby, Rusty and Magic, together and 11 pet ducks and 10 chickens. On a Saturday you’ll find Sue … mountain biking and playing with her dogs.

Qualifications

PhD (current)

UTS, M.A. (Public History) 1991

B.A. (Hons, History & English) 1982

Professional positions

President, ICOMOS International Committee for Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites (2015 – 2024)

International Expert Member, Foundazione Romualdo Del Bianco (2018 – current)

Member, International Working Party on Sites of Memory (2017 – current)

Executive Committee Member, Australia ICOMOS (2014 – current)

Honorary Associate, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney (2012 – current)

President, Interpretation Australia (2010 – 13)

Member, AusHeritage (2012 – current)

Pet Patrol

Magic

Magic is an expert at client liaison but is a little too determined to ‘do a deal’ (bitey bitey).

Abby

Abby is a speed queen and helps us race towards deadlines.

Jerry

Jerry’s enjoying his golden years after getting an honorary ‘dogtrate’ in 2025.

Rusty

Rusty loves nature but is not allowed into national parks because he’d chase the marsupials.