Dame Susan Devoy - Gold Elite Speaker
Former New Zealand squash player, (Dame) Susan Devoy, was ranked Number One in the world continuously from 1983 until her retirement in October 1992, when she achieved her fourth World Women's Squash Championship. She has, remarkably, won the British Open Squash Championship eight times, the last in April 1992 when she was delighted to regain that title having lost it the previous year.
Susan was named New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year in 1985, 1987 and 1988. A Member of the British Empire and Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for her achievements in squash, in 1998 Susan became a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit – the youngest New Zealander since Sir Edmund Hillary to receive such a high accolade from the Queen.
In the same year she had walked the length of New Zealand fund-raising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Now, she is between jobs focusing on starting her own business and managing her family.
Dame Susan is an entertaining and motivational speaker, who speaks with warmth and conviction. She draws on personal experiences from both on and off the court, and shows the professionalism that ranked her the world's number one squash player for almost a decade.
Testimonials
Great. [Susan's] contribution has helped substantially in ensuring the effectiveness of the programme and for this we are grateful. [Her] presentation benefited the audience greatly.—Johnson and Johnson New Leaders Foundation
Favourite quotes
I think you owe it to yourself to help others.
I want any physically disabled child to have access to any sport on a regular basis.
More information
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