Susan’s professional background is education management. She was a Deputy Head teacher for 5 years and then moved to work in the voluntary sector as Director of Safer Merthyr Tydfil Ltd where she raised over £2M for partnership regeneration work.

Susan was awarded the OBE in 1999 for her contribution to community safety in Wales.  In May 2000 she was seconded to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) as Head of Neighbourhood Management and Neighbourhood Wardens’ Programme for 6 years. These initiatives delivered a £107M Neighbourhood Management pathfinder programme and a £93M warden programme. The warden programme has been acknowledged by ministers, service providers and residents as one of the most successful renewal programmes introduced by Government.

Susan also designed a major youth engagement project within ODPM that included Young Advisors; training young people to work as paid regeneration consultants.

Susan now works as a regeneration consultant.  She is currently training new Young Advisors and future trainers, supporting Southwark with regeneration development work with Housing Associations and the Thames Gateway and advising the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Regional Neighbourhood Resource Centres on their sustainability plans.