Born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa, Susan began her career in the early 80s as a computer programmer and worked in a variety of roles in the IT industry for nearly 20 years. In 2001, she enrolled in a Bachelor of Music at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and graduated at the end of 2004 with composition as a major. Life was never the same again!
A career in the arts began with some part-time music teaching, a short stint as a school teacher (which included completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Education – Music) and then being appointed as the Chief Executive of the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company in 2010. In this role, Susan realised the enormous benefit of the arts, both as a vital part of any society as well as an essential tool for children’s emotional, intellectual and social development.
At the beginning of 2017, Susan and her husband, Peter, relocated to New Zealand where she was appointed as the Artist Liaison Manager at The Court Theatre. After the resignation of the previous Chief Executive, Susan was appointed Acting Chief Executive until Barbara George stepped into the role at the end of October 2018. Susan was subsequently appointed as General Manager at the theatre where she is excited to be working with an extraordinary group of people ensuring that, through the medium of live theatre, we continue to engage, excite and challenge audiences in Canterbury and beyond.