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Suzy Walton
Inspirational board director, corporate governance expert, broadcaster and mother of seven
With a career reaching from the West End to Whitehall and boardrooms beyond, Suzy frequently speaks publicly about her life.
Suzy Walton's videos
What Suzy Walton's clients say
"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!"
"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."
"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…..!"
"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."
"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."
"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!"
"Suzy delivered a powerful and thought-provoking speech showing that anything is possible if you have courage – an excellent addition to any event programme."
"Suzy spoke for a second time at our Annual Convention at the Royal Albert Hall. As before she was a phenomenal success!"
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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!"
"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."
Available for
Languages:
- English
Suzy Walton's 2023 biography
Suzy Walton’s background
Suzy, who has 7 children including a boy born during the covid pandemic, was originally a West End actress. She played the juvenile lead of Lydia a young deaf girl in the award-winning play “Children of a Lesser God.” She then had a career as a broadcast journalist working as a presenter for BBC Television and a reporter for Sky News. For several years she had her own travel show – Time Off on LBC Radio. Never shirking a challenge, Suzy was producer, presenter and editor for the show.
Suzy then embarked on an academic career obtaining two Science degrees before becoming a Senior Civil Servant. She worked in the Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet Office and the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. During this period Suzy received a PhD degree for classified military research.
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 serves as an advisor to the Secretary of State for Health on the national Independent Reconfiguration Panel. She also has the honour of being the longest standing board member at the Institute of Directors. She served from 2013-2022 – sitting on the main board and also as Chair of the Accreditation and Standards Committee. For the Ministry of Justice, Suzy sits on the disciplinary panel and hears cases involving judges and other members of the judiciary.
She is the former Vice-President of the Royal Society of Medicine, and the former Deputy Chair of the Royal Society of Arts, the University of Westminster and the Internet Watch Foundation. The latter is an organisation that seeks to eradicate child sexual abuse from the internet. She has also sat on the boards of Birmingham Children’s Hospital and ACCA which is the global regulator for the accountancy profession. For ACCA, she also chaired the global Qualifications Board.
Suzy is a former member of the State Honours Committee which makes recommendations for awards to the Prime Minister and the King. She was also a member of the Ethics Group of the National DNA Database in the Home Office. Also, for Defra she was a member of the Science Advisory Council.
She has also sat on the board of HEFCE which is the former funder and regulator of the university sector. And for the Department of Health, she was a member of the National Specialist Commission Group which held a £5 billion budget for health services for rare conditions.
Suzy is Chartered in three different professions. She is an expert at juggling responsibilities and achieving success in the face of significant barriers. Suzy was a widow for many years and faced cancer but has still managed to combine several careers 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 stage, the nursery and the boardroom, Suzy reflects on what she believes is critical for success and how to overcome barriers.
Suzy talks in particular about ‘lucky escapes’ – her belief that you don’t have to have a plan to succeed. Drawing on her broad experiences she talks about how many of the things that turned out well for her happened by chance because of something she didn’t do – a lucky escape if you like.
Suzy Walton's 2023 talks & topics
Juggling responsibilities
Women and diversity in the workplace
Suzy Walton's 2023 speaking fees
- United Kingdom
Specific fees fall within the ranges shown. These are presented as a guide only and are subject to change without notice.
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