Dr Alan Patching
The essential facts every leader needs
In this session, Dr Alan Patching will bring his wealth of clinical counselling and psychotherapy knowledge to our members to unpack stress and how it shows up at work. Combining his best-in-field commercial project- and people-leadership expertise, Alan will explain to leaders the biology of stress and key signs of workplace psychological stress—sharing insights essential to safely managing psychosocial hazards in teams.
Background
Professor Alan Patching recently completed a three year contract as Director of Industry Engagement at Bond University, during which time he served on the Advisory Boards of Serving our People (charity), and the Brisbane Housing Corporation. He was also Vice President of the Committee for Brisbane before accepting an invitation to join the Advisory Council of the Committee for Brisbane.
Patching has pursued several career paths. He paid for his Quantity Surveying qualification from Queensland Institute of Technology by working weekends as a fashion and sports photographer and photojournalist (Rugby League Week and local Brisbane newspapers) before completing a post graduate certificate in project management at a US university and going on to manage or direct a total value of some $22 billion (in 2022 dollars) worth of construction projects. This career path was highlighted by his position as CEO of the owning entity of the Sydney Olympic Stadium, and as owners’ project director responsible for design and construction of the largest Olympic stadium venue ever constructed.
Alan also had a well-recognised career in property, where he negotiated (at the time) large commercial lease deals and major building purchase and sales contracts that were industry records at the time. He also negotiated the deal to bring Tiffany & Co of New York to Australia.
Before commencing his career as an academic at Bond Unviersity, he conducted a psychotherapy and counselling clinic on the Gold Coast, based on a UK Masters degree in Psychotherapy and Counselling Practice and later, a PhD on attitudes to and causes of psychological stress among construction professionals. He still sees clients regularly, and in addition, has a strong interest in psycho-social workplace hazards. In fact he worked with Shehan Peiris of Howden to produce a detailed microcredential for Bond University on leadership and aid skills to recognise and deal with psychos-social hazards, and the stress they cause, in the workplace.
Alan has represented Australia in professional public speaking, has written six books and several training programs, and still managed to fit in an active sporting life and gaining his pilots licence including command instrument rating and jet endorsement. He is father of four adult offspring and lives with his wife in Brisbane CBD.