Biography

Suzy Walton Ph.D is a Chartered Director, Chartered Scientist and Chartered Occupational Psychologist.

Suzy holds a number of non-executive directorships on the boards of public interest organisations. She also sits on various government committees:

• The University of Westminster (appointed 2005)
  Non-executive director, charity trustee and governor. She also chairs the HR Committee, and is a member of the Strategic Planning & Resources and Remuneration committees
• The Internet Watch Foundation (appointed 2007)
  An organisation which seeks to minimise the availability of potentially illegal internet content
  Non-executive director and charity trustee. She also chairs the Remuneration Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee
• Ethics Group: National DNA Database (appointed 2007)
  A Non-Departmental Public Body reporting to the Home Office
  Member of group
• National Specialised Commissioning Group (appointed 2007)
  An NHS supra body overseeing the purchase of all treatment for rare and specialist conditions and a spend of over £3 billion
  Sole lay member
• Combat Stress (appointed 2008)
  An organisation providing clinical mental health treatment for Armed Forces veterans
  Non-executive director and charity trustee. She also chairs the Medical Services Committee and sits on the Strategy Committee
• Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (appointed 2008)
  Non-executive director. She also sits on the Audit and the Planning & Investment committees
• Government's Science Advisory Council (appointed 2009)
  Member of group
• The Institute of Directors (appointed 2009)
  Member of the Chartered Director Committee (a board subcommittee) and also external reviewer of candidates for Chartered Director
• The Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners (2006-2008)
  An organisation that sets practice standards for forensic scientists and promotes public confidence in forensic practice and court testimony
  Non-executive director. She also chaired the Nominations Committee
• The Bar Council (two terms served 2000-2006)
  Lay member for disciplinary tribunals and complaints committees



Previously, Suzy was a Senior Civil Servant in central government for over a decade. From 2006-2007 she served in the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit. Other roles have included; leading on various aspects of corporate policy for the Cabinet Office (2004-2006); leading on futures work across many domestic policy areas in the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit (2000-2004); heading up the public understanding of science programme for the Office of Science and Technology (1999-2000); and, working as a military psychologist for the Ministry of Defence (1996-1999). She also worked as a research scientist for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (1995-1996).




Suzy has a PhD in Applied Psychology (suicide) which she undertook while working for the Ministry of Defence. She also holds a first class BSc degree and an MSc. She received an ESRC scholarship for her Masters studies. In 2007 she became professionally qualified in corporate governance, obtaining the Certificate and Diploma in Company Direction (Institute of Directors). Subsequently she was awarded Chartered Director status.




Her earlier career was as a producer, editor and presenter for Sky News, LBC Radio and the BBC. For LBC Radio she had her own radio programme for three years. She has also had a three and a half year stint in the 1980s as a West End actress playing the juvenile lead in the award winning play Children of a Lesser God - a role which required Suzy to become fluent in American Sign Language.




Suzy has published extensively as an academic writing on social policy and mental health issues. She is also an external reviewer for the Institute of Directors for Chartered Director candidates. She also works as a speaker and a coach/consultant:

• As a speaker she has given talks on a range of topics including terrorist profiling (US Air Force Special Operations School, Fort Walton, Florida) and her own personal experiences of working across a range of professions while raising a large family

• As a coach/consultant she works with individuals to help them meet the challenge of operating beyond their stated authority. With groups and boards she is often called upon to (her words) "ensure strategy has the same resonance for boardroom ears as today's media crisis"




Suzy is a mother of four children ranging from age 3 to 20 years.