Celebrating Sue: A Phenomenal Woman Who Builds Foundations for Change
Childhood and Early Years
Born in Zimbabwe and later moving to South Africa at the age of five, Sue’s childhood was filled with constant change. She attended eight schools in twelve years, moving every 18 months due to her father’s career in insurance. Despite these transitions, she remembers her childhood fondly—marked by family road trips and Christmas holidays by the sea. As the eldest of four, Sue learned early on the importance of responsibility and resilience, traits that would later define her career.
Forging Her Own Path
Without a single role model to look up to, Sue became her own source of strength. The challenges of adapting to new schools taught her to depend on herself. This independence would shape her career, first in the music business, where she managed people in high-pressure environments, and later as a counsellor. At 45, Sue made the bold decision to retrain as a counsellor, taking her strong leadership skills and business acumen into the non-profit space.
Leadership with Purpose
Today, Sue is the Managing Director of The Lunchbox Fund, where she leads with vision, compassion, and determination. Over the past three years, she has successfully grown the organisation’s national reach while building a positive and supportive environment for her staff. She believes in the importance of creating a strong, balanced foundation—knowing that without it, everything else crumbles. Her motto reflects this belief: “As it starts – so it shall continue. Build a strong, balanced foundation – and you can create magic.”
Impact and Achievements
One of Sue’s proudest achievements was spearheading a massive relief feeding programme during the Covid-19 pandemic. By leveraging the organisation’s operational processes, they pivoted to provide relief feeding to over one million people, serving an astounding 30 million meals. This effort showcased the power of civil society coming together in service of the nation.
Her current work continues to disrupt cycles of poverty by ensuring children receive nutritious meals enriched with micro-nutrients. She believes that once a child is fed, they can learn, grow, and have a greater chance of future employment. In her words, “We provide children with the fuel to learn and play… in essence, we are part of a nation-building process.”
Why Sue is Phenomenal
Sue is more than a leader; she is a nation-builder. Her ability to combine expertise, compassion, and resilience makes her truly phenomenal. She not only drives organisational growth but also ensures that every child fed and every staff member supported is part of a larger vision—one of hope, opportunity, and transformation.
