Susan has leveraged her considerable, global experience to challenge and support me and my development in an incredibly impactful way. Her pragmatic approach and breadth of perspective has helped equip me to navigate challenges and opportunities in different ways.
The ease in creating a connection with Susan helped to make our relationship productive from the very beginning.”
Global Head of People
Major Construction Company
Susan Ferrier
Susan is an accomplished c-suite executive and board director with more than 17 years at the CEO-1 level and over 40 years of international experience working in global roles in multi-jurisdictional contexts. With significant expertise and experience in coaching and mentoring senior executives, Susan’s career has been exemplified through her support to individuals to help them drive collaborative ethical cultures.
Until August 2023, Susan was the Group Executive for People & Culture at National Australia Bank (NAB) for four years where she was accountable for culture and risk culture for the enterprise (40,000 people over 11 geographies) and led the Human Resources function. For the previous eight years, Susan held several roles at KPMG including the Global Head of People, the Global Head of Inclusion & Diversity and the National Managing Partner for People for the Australian firm. Prior to KPMG, she led the HR function at the Australian law firm, Allens, for three years. Susan has also lived and worked in the UK in global and regional roles for investment banks including HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, ING and NatWest.
Her knowledge and skills include shaping business strategy, human capital transformation and design of organisational culture. Susan has extensive experience in high growth companies, M&A/divestitures, joint ventures, strategic alliances, turn arounds and large-scale organisational change. Managing significant levels of transformation, complexity and influencing for business impact are distinguishing features of Susan’s career.
Susan has substantial experience in working closely with listed and non-listed Boards, Board Sub Committees and senior leadership teams in global financial services companies and global professional services firms. Susan is currently on the Board of the Symphony Orchestra, the Financial Executives Institute and is a member of the People & Culture Committee of the University of Sydney. Susan’s prior Boards include as the NAB representative on the Committee for Sydney and the Royal Women’s Hospital Foundation.
Approach
Susan’s approach to coaching and mentoring is individualized to context and is focussed on empowering people to take action to achieve their best. She enjoys working with senior executives who are in, or in transition into CEO-1 roles and with high potential talent who are working to fast track their careers.
Qualifications
Susan holds an Arts/Law degree from the University of Sydney, and an MBA from Nijenrode University, the Netherlands.
Personal Insights
Susan is married with four children in their twenties, enjoys ocean swimming, art, music and cooking.
