Chief Executive Officer
Dr Sue Griffiths joined The Young Foundation as our CEO in March 2026. She previously spent more than five years as Managing Director of international development research and consultancy social enterprise, Social Development Direct – a commercial subsidiary of the girls’ charity Plan International UK. There, Sue led work focused on gender equality, disability, and social inclusion working globally with projects in Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and South Asia.
Earlier in her career, Sue was Executive Director of Global Partners Governance, an organisation providing political development consultancy to international and UK institutions. She also spent nine years at the House of Commons where, as Senior Clerk, she led the administrative and policy research team for several select committees to deliver a programme of inquiries and hearings, as well as advising on parliamentary processes.
An Independent Member of the Overseas & International Honours Committee since 2024, and a Non-Executive Director at Global Partners Governance Foundation since 2020, Sue was an Independent Expert Member of the Parliamentary and Political Service Honours Committee (2018 to 2025), and Expert Member of the Advisory Group on Bullying and Harassment at the UK House of Commons (2019 to 2020).
Sue’s academic background spans languages, literature, and international development. Her Executive MBA explored disruptive organisational strategy in international development, her PhD was on the French Enlightenment Novel, and she has an MPhil in European Literature. With a Bachelor’s degree in French and Arabic, Sue is an enthusiastic linguist, speaking French, Arabic and German as well as some Spanish and Russian. Outside work, she enjoys travel, games and gardening as well as long-distance walking.
Contact information
[email protected]Contributions
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