In almost 18 years as NSW AILA administration coordinator, Penny Paterson has made many friends.

She enjoys working with people and the myriad seminars and events she has arranged and attended.

Penny began working for AILA in 1996 when NSW committee member Stuart Hetherington, a partner at what was then Ebsworth & Ebsworth, asked if she’d like to take on the role. Penny had just launched her own business as a licensed conveyancer and was keen to have additional work. 

As NSW secretariat, she co-ordinates various committees and sub-committees, arranges seminars and events, liaises with speakers and venues, and attends the events. Penny also conducts various other administrative duties involved in the association’s day-to-day running.

Penny has had a long involvement with the legal profession. She spent 13 years with Ebsworth & Ebsworth, working for Peter Thornton, where she looked after his conveyancing clients. At that stage, she didn’t touch on insurance law, but has since learnt the importance of insurance.

Penny has seen the NSW chapter grow significantly, with the number of sub-committees, seminars and events increasing each year. The Young Professionals’ events have created much interest in NSW, with most events now attracting more than 600 YPs.

With the chapter run on a voluntary basis, Penny has seen many people come and go over the years. She said that was what made AILA interesting - “with new people come new ideas and new motivations”.

In 2013 Penny retired from conveyancing, but retains her AILA role.

Penny’s hobbies are many and varied. She enjoys cooking, sailing, swimming, walking and reading. Penny played classical guitar for 14 years and now plays competition darts two nights a week.

In what she calls her “semi-retirement”, Penny aims to get involved in photography, learn to play bridge, and travel around Australia. Her dream is to win the lottery and travel first-class around the world doing cooking classes wherever she lands.

Penny is Sydney-based, but loves spending time at her property in Milton on the NSW south coast.

• Back to top