Susan Sawbridge
Chair
Managing Director, Daylight
Susan (“Sooz”) Sawbridge is Chair of WISPA and a long-standing advocate for gender equity in sport. With extensive governance experience across the sport sector, she provides strategic leadership focused on systems change, policy influence, and strengthening leadership pathways for women and girls. Susan is recognised for her ability to guide organisations through growth while remaining grounded in values, community, and purpose.
Sooz runs her own consultancy, Daylight, which focuses on strategy and implementation for the visitor economy (especially events) and sporting organisations. Sooz’s connection with women in sport began with the first whiteboard sessions to work through if, why and how New Zealand should bid to host the secretariat for the IWG on Women and Sport – delivered by WISPA, in line with a wider drive to create some momentum for women in sport. For her part, Sooz led the government’s role in the three women’s world cups (FIFA, Rugby and Cricket) as the Manager of New Zealand Major Events. Sooz is also on the board of the Super Rugby Pacific Commission and adaptMTB, an adaptive mountain biking charity. She was previously Chair of the International Association of Events Hosts and sat on the Project Alliance Board for the Wynyard Edge Alliance, which built the infrastructure for the 36th America’s Cup. Sooz is a great believer in an active life: she has cycled the length of Aotearoa on a mountain bike, regularly competes in Masters Rowing and occasionally dabbles in multisport.
Get to know Sooz Sawbridge
Sport that shaped you the most?
Probably swimming and riding bikes because I started early and still do it! Other things go in and out of my life but those two remain.
Your leadership superpower?
Helping people achieve their best, while staying happy as individuals and as a team.
Whats one thing you care deeply about changing in sport?
Equity! Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy sport.
What are you most excited to contribute as part of the WISPA board?
Helping to keep the ship on track in our new WISPA environment and as the world continues to change around us.
Favourite Women's Sport Platform
Well, I'm always a LockerRoom fan... but my favourite has to any platform that includes women's sport like it's an ordinary, everyday, of-course-it-should-be-here thing.