That being said, things truly began in earnest for Suzy when she cut her teeth in the world of journalism. After graduating from university and presenting a programme on BBC Radio Manchester, she quickly climbed the industry ladder with a string of jobs that saw her racking up bylines in weekly, daily and regional outlets, as well as in national newspapers. Eventually, she advanced to the role of sub-editor for the Daily Mirror before then going on to work at The London Daily News, one of Britain’s first 24- hour publications. During her stint at the former, she also completed an MBA, juggling her studies with evening shifts so that she could receive a more formal education in leadership (going beyond anything that the Girl Guides could ever teach). In Suzy’s own words, it was this qualification that then gave her a “ticket into management”, opening doors that allowed her to branch out from the world of journalism. And from thereon out, Suzy’s career trajectory became far more eclectic.
speaking at library conferences and advisory committees. [That’s] what’s really fascinating about working in management. Once you’re in, then you can change sectors with relative ease.” As if to prove this very point, Suzy then went on to secure a variety of (in some instances, overlapping) directorial, non- executive and executive roles at a wide range of companies. Among others, she brought her expertise to the Training and Enterprise Council, Focus Central London, the Ofcom Advisory Committee for England, Connections West Yorkshire, and the Department for Work and Pensions Standards Committee. Yet, in between all of these, one job in particular (based here in Doncaster) would ignite a brand-new passion in Suzy.
Taking the Reins
Making A Difference
A short-lived publication, The London Daily News closed after just a few months, and Suzy was subsequently made redundant. Rather than seeing this as a defeat though, she took it in her stride, looked for the inherent silver lining, and embraced an opportunity to move back up North. Putting her new MBA to use, she soon took on a Managing Director position at a business named Morley Books, which she describes as the “middle man between getting a book published and getting it shelf-ready for libraries”. In a nutshell, this means that they would take care of things like barcodes, labelling, reinforced bindings and so on. From an outside perspective, this might sound like a radical departure for a journalist, but Suzy actually sees it as quite a logical career progression. “Editing a newspaper is a bit like being a business leader anyway and so I was able to bring a lot of transferable skills to Morley Books. Before long, I was
As Chair of both Keep Britain Tidy and the local acute NHS Trust, Suzy Brain England OBE is a real force for good in Doncaster. Even by the standards of the entrepreneurs and business people we profile here in Network magazine, Suzy Brain England OBE has a particularly extensive résumé. Said career has taken her from the bustling offices of Fleet Street through to government departments, independent charities and the National Health Service, where she now serves in a leadership capacity at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH). Working across all these different sectors, she brings a wealth of experience & managerial-savvy to whatever role she undertakes; whether that’s as a non-executive director, a trustee or a chair. Yet despite having so much on her plate (with many of her positions being coterminous), Suzy maintains that she doesn’t find any of this overwhelming. Even on an especially hectic day — in which her diary is clogged with back-to- back appointments, including a meeting with ourselves — she still gives off a calm and collected demeanour. “I don’t know if other people would find it complex or not, it’s just what I do”, she reasons as we sit down for a chat in her office at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. “The classic question I get nowadays — whenever I go to interview to be a chair for a new organisation — is: ‘Will you be able to give us enough attention when you already have all of these other commitments?’ “And, to that, my reply is: ‘You don’t know me’. You see, no organisation only has me part-time and I pride myself on being a 24/7 chairman. I don’t go home and close the laptop. Whatever time of night or day they need me to respond, I’ll flex my diary and we will work it out. That’s just how it is. You might call that work but,
to me, it’s just life. It’s what I enjoy doing.” Being devoted to so many organisations and good causes transcends mere career ambition though. It takes genuine passion and a determination to make a difference. Luckily, Suzy has both of these qualities in spades. From The Girl Guides to Fleet Street While Suzy’s CV spans a number of industries and roles, she argues that there have been a few constants knitting them all together. Elaborating upon this, she tells us: “Public speaking has been at the heart
of my jobs and that is something that can be traced all the way back to my childhood, when I was a prize-winning schoolgirl. I used to come back from English Speaking Union competitions with rose bowls! I sincerely believe these things start early, long before your career does, with […] extracurricular activities, Saturday jobs and holiday jobs. That’s where you hone the skills that will go on to help you in professional life.” On a related note, Suzy attributes her leadership talents — which have allowed her to thrive in the workplace and even secure a coveted OBE — to her time as a Sixer in the Girl Guides. For her it all begins there, as opposed to with any high-flying jobs or prestigious titles (impressive though these may be).
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Suzy Brain
Suzy Brain
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