Suzy Walton

Dr Suzy Walton is a governance expert, speaker, and leader with a diverse career spanning government, business, and the arts, inspiring audiences with her insights on leadership, resilience, and navigating uncertainty.

Dr Suzy Walton has spent her career at the heart of leadership, governance, and public service, holding senior roles across government, business, and the non-profit sector. She was the longest-serving board director at the Institute of Directors (IoD), where she chaired the Accreditation and Standards Committee before becoming a Strategic Advisor. She also plays a key role in shaping national policy, serving on the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, which advises on NHS service change, and the Social Security Advisory Committee, working with DWP and HMRC. In 2025, she was appointed to a policy role in the Cabinet Office by the Prime Minister.

Dr Suzy’s governance expertise spans 15 major boards, including Birmingham Children’s Hospital, the University of Westminster, and the Internet Watch Foundation, where she worked to combat child sexual abuse online. She has also supported veterans as Vice-President of Combat Stress and played a key role in regulatory oversight as a board member for ACCA, which governs the accountancy profession worldwide.

Her career in government includes time as a Senior Civil Servant in the Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet Office, and the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. She has served on the State Honours Committee, Defra’s Science Advisory Group, and the Ethics Group of the National DNA Database. Her deep knowledge of corporate governance, regulation, and public policy makes her a sought-after expert on how organisations run—and why diversity is essential to success.

Beyond governance, her journey is one of adaptability and resilience. Before entering public service, she performed in London’s West End, starring in Children of a Lesser God for over three years, before moving into broadcasting as a producer, presenter, and editor at LBC Radio. She holds three degrees, including a PhD in military suicide research, and is also a mother of seven—her youngest arriving during the COVID pandemic.

In her keynote speeches, Dr Suzy explores the idea of ‘lucky escapes’—how many of the things that shaped her career happened because of what she didn’t do, rather than what she did. Drawing on her experiences from the stage, the boardroom, and as a mother, she inspires audiences to recognise their own potential, navigate uncertainty, and embrace the unexpected. With a unique ability to balance complex responsibilities, she proves that with the right motivation and courage, we are all capable of more than we think.