Suzy Walton

Inspirational board director, corporate governance expert, broadcaster and mother of seven

TV Presenter / Broadcaster

With a career reaching from the West End to Whitehall and boardrooms beyond, Suzy frequently speaks publicly about her life.

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Suzy Walton's videos

What Suzy Walton's clients say

Here is some of the feedback from audiences and clients who have worked with Suzy.

"Suzy was a keynote speaker at the HEFMA conference which brings together hundreds of NHS managers. She shared her story of persistence and adaptability, leading to a variety of board appointments that she has successfully juggled alongside bringing up a family. Chatting with other delegates, all commented on what a breath of fresh air her talk had been – uplifting and without a hint of arrogance."

Peter Hancock,

Chair,

HEFMA Conference 2023

"Suzy spoke at GNDI’s global conference, chairing a panel on governance trends. Our conference was unique – it ran for 24 hours in all time zones around the world. Suzy was a great host and very professionally juggled speakers, a production team and a studio – all on different continents!"

Rahul Bhardwaj,

Canada, Chair,

GNDI 2022

"Suzy was Chair for the inaugural event in London of the KPMG forum Women in Aerospace, Defence and Intelligence. We had an international audience across government, the military and industry including guests from the U.S.Air Force and the Pentagon. Suzy chaired the event skilfully including sharing her own reflections on key issues in relation to women in leadership."

Jonathon Gill,

Partner,

KPMG 2016

"Suzy gave a keynote address at a London event of the 30% Club. She spoke about how “you don’t always have to have a plan to succeed.” She shared how she came to prominence in a number of professions, not through setting a strategy but rather through a series of ‘lucky escapes’. Where one door closed another opened and Suzy exploited it. Our audience very much enjoyed Suzy’s keynote and took away a lot of learning. Suzy was engaging, humorous and brutally honest. I can honestly say I’ve never before introduced someone where my opening line is “between us we have 15 children…..!"

Helena Morrissey,

CEO Newton Investment Management,

Founder of the 30% Club 2015

"Many thanks for last night. Everyone was impressed by your positive attitude and your determination to succeed: this kind of role-modelling is so important to give people the courage to make the most of their lives and to overcome things that can get in the way. Female role models such as yourself are very important to help us become more equal and more inclusive – particularly at senior levels."

A J Walker CPFA FCIPD,

Director General HR & Change,

House of Commons 2013

"Suzy spoke at our Annual Convention at the Royal Albert Hall as well as chairing a panel of global business leaders. With an audience of two thousand it’s challenging for any speaker. Suzy handled her session with flair and panache. Suzy also spoke at our Women in Business conference in Pall Mall. She gave a compelling outline of her career and the “lucky escapes” which led to her extraordinary success as a director. I know many of those attending found Suzy’s talk to be exceptionally motivating. On both occasions she was terrific."

Simon Walker,

Director General,

Institute of Directors (IoD) 2014

"Suzy talked to our women’s network about the barriers she’d overcome in her various careers and on body language techniques that anybody can use anywhere. We found the talk ‘Climbing the Glass Cliff’ inspirational and at the end she had everyone in the room using the techniques in a simulated briefing to 400 bagpipe players – a memorable day!"

Sarah Bryant,

Senior Executive,

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham 2008

"Suzy delivered a powerful and thought-provoking speech showing that anything is possible if you have courage – an excellent addition to any event programme."

R. Leach,

North West Ambulance Service 2018

"Suzy spoke for a second time at our Annual Convention at the Royal Albert Hall. As before she was a phenomenal success!"

Simon Walker,

Director General,

Institute of Directors (IoD) 2015

"Suzy hosted an inspiring session entitled ‘Overcoming Challenges and Building Resilience’ drawing extensively on her own remarkable experiences and insight. We found her incredibly open and approachable. A very enjoyable and unique session."

Sue Wilson,

Chair, Diversity and Inclusion,

Bank of England, 2014

"Thank you very much for coming to the University of Hertfordshire to talk to us. I genuinely felt moved and absolutely inspired by your life and work. You have made my experience on the programme so much more valuable and I hope to have an ounce of the strength you have going forward."

LB,

Marketing Undergraduate,

University of Hertfordshire 2017

"Suzy was an inspirational voice at a major conference we ran. Her openness and experience make her an articulate role model for women in leadership and those aspiring to be leaders. She was also very approachable, spending time with our delegates, speakers and staff, and being a guest blogger on our website. This is a valuable combination: a member of the boardroom who remembers what it takes to build your career."

Ruth Wilson,

Director, GetSet Women Conference,

QEII Conference Centre, Westminster, London 2010

"Many thanks for the session. You were truly a hit. The impact you had was one of awe – for what you had achieved, the amount you had crammed into your life and that you were still human!"

Janet Waters and Pauline Dixon,

National School of Government 2004

"Thank you so much for coming. The sensitive and analytical way in which you presented gave the girls an extremely clear view of the ways they could improve. Your coverage of technique, public speaking, the cut and thrust of debate etc were all excellent in providing the girls with feedback. To have someone who has achieved so much provides an awe-inspiring role model to have someone who has managed to combine a variety of roles with being a mother of three gives the girls an excellent example of what they too can achieve."

Dr Yvonne Burne,

Headmistress,

City of London School for Girls 2004

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Suzy Walton's 2025 biography

Suzy Walton’s background

Suzy, who has 7 children – the youngest arriving during the COVID-19 pandemic, was originally a West End actress. She played the juvenile lead of Lydia the young deaf girl in the award-winning play “Children of a Lesser God.” She then became a broadcaster working as a presenter for BBC Television and a reporter for Sky News. She also had her own travel show. For three years she was producer, presenter and editor of Time Off on LBC Radio.

Suzy then went to university as a mature student. She gained BSc and MSc degrees and worked in central government. As a Senior Civil Servant, she served in the Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet Office and the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. Suzy received a PhD degree for research into military suicide.

Over the last decade, Suzy has sat on the boards of over 15 major organisations and government committees.

She is a Vice-President of Combat Stress which treats veterans for PTSD and for the Institute of Directors (IoD) she is a strategic advisor having been a director on the IoD main board for almost a decade. For government, Suzy is a board member on the national Independent Reconfiguration Panel which advises on large scale changes to the NHS. She is also on the Social Security Advisory Committee which scrutinises legislation on the welfare system and in the Ministry of Justice Suzy sits on the disciplinary panel that hears cases involving judges. In 2025 the Prime Minister also appointed Suzy to a policy role in the Cabinet Office.

Suzy is the former Vice President of the Royal Society of Medicine and the former Deputy Chair of the Royal Society of Arts. She has also served as the Deputy Chair of the University of Westminster and the Deputy Chair of the Internet Watch Foundation – an organisation seeking to eradicate child sexual abuse from the internet. She has also sat on the board of Birmingham Children’s Hospital and ACCA which is the global regulator of the accountancy profession. For ACCA, she also chaired the global Qualifications Board.

In government circles, Suzy is a former member of the State Honours Committee which makes recommendations for awards to the Prime Minister and the King and she worked in the Home Office as a member of the Ethics Group for the National DNA Database. She’s also been on Defra’s Science Advisory Council and the board of HEFCE which is the former regulator of universities.

Suzy is Chartered in three different professions. She is highly proficient at juggling responsibilities and achieving success despite facing barriers. Suzy was a widow for many years but has managed to combine her career with raising a family of 7.

Through her open and honest speaking style, Suzy inspires and motivates her audience. She encourages people to believe that they are capable of more than they think. Drawing on experiences from the nursery, the stage and the boardroom, Suzy reflects on what she believes is critical for success.

Suzy talks in particular about ‘lucky escapes’ – her belief that you don’t have to have a plan to succeed. Many of the things that turned out well for her happened by chance, she says, because of something she didn’t do – a lucky escape if you like.