Susan is a leading specialist for socially sustainable resource development and is recognized for her expertise in human and indigenous rights, and international standards. She continues innovating to further social sustainability for all stakeholders and enhance the reputational value of companies during their ongoing social journey.
 
Susan is a sociologist with over 25 years’ experience in rural development, with nearly 20 years working directly in social aspects of the mining, oil & gas, energy and infrastructure sectors, from early project development through closure planning. Her specialties include strategic social assessment of relations between communities and resource development activities, human rights and business, and planning for socially responsible development.
 
She has worked extensively assisting companies to meet and exceed international standards in social performance and human rights due diligence and developing effective on-the ground strategies for reducing risk and enhancing social value. Her professional expertise includes strategic social assessment, ESG compliance reviews and advisory support, stakeholder engagement, human rights due diligence and impact/risk assessments, indigenous issues, corporate and operational capacity building and international best practice in management of social impacts and benefits.
 
As one of the first practitioners to apply the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, she has worked with both IPIECA and its member companies to implement human rights impact assessments into existing ESHIA processes and to integrate human rights due diligence processes.
 
Susan holds a M.Sc. in Development Sociology, from Cornell University, USA, as well as a B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology from Swarthmore College, USA, and a graduate Diploma of Agricultural
Science from Lincoln University College of Agriculture in New Zealand