Fiona Patten, Legalise Cannabis Party

Veteran politician Fiona Patten knows what it takes to win in politics, having achieved a string of progressive social reforms as a former Victorian MLC and leader of the Australian Sex Party, later renamed Reason Australia.

Known as both pragmatic and principled, Patten has returned to the fray as a federal Senate candidate for the Legalise Cannabis Party.

Her latest campaign follows her recovery from three types of cancer in just two years, and builds on a legacy of political victories, including passing voluntary assisted dying legislation, decriminalising sex work, criminal records reform, legalising ride sharing, and ensuring safe access zones near women’s reproductive health clinics.

Speaking to the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA),  Patten shared her knowledge of the inner workings of parliaments, and explained how not-for-profits (NFPs) could better engage with politics.