After graduating in psychology, Su wanted to experience everyday life rather than continue with a PhD, so she set up a Housing Aid Centre where she learnt much more about mental-health, poor housing and inequalities. She became an advocate for people overwhelmed by bureaucracy; during a time known for social activism and the early social economy. Her confidence in people and community resilience stem from this time period.

Later, Yorkshire Television approached Su to be a presenter on community programming where she honed her skills in journalism, facilitation and project management. Following this, Su moved to Manchester to join the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) and later become Director of Co-Work, a social enterprise development agency.

After a period as Director of Equalities for the NWNHS – Su could see that equality targets were working for senior women but failing to have any impact on those on the frontline. Su wanted to make visible the barriers to public service innovation and to create the conditions for innovation. The Vice Chancellor was interested and backed Su’s ESRC research and the Northwest Change Centre which grew from it. The NWCC was in effect an early innovation hub and was noticed by strategic advisers who invited Su to present the model and to contribute to the 2007 Innovation White Paper.

As Director of the Whitehall Innovation Hub Su devised an innovation strategy based on collaboration and connectivity, a strategy slow to gain traction in UK but adopted by New Zealand, Canada, Singapore and Finland governments.

Su retired from MBS in 2012 and moved to Devon where she has since worked as a coach and consultant on place-shaping, transformational leadership and innovation strategies.

Su was the Parliamentary Candidate in Torbay for Labour in the 2015 general election.

To contact Su, please email: [email protected]