E83 | Dame Susan Devoy

Episode summary | Dame Susan Devoy

Dame Susan Devoy is one of New Zealand’s greatest-ever sportswomen and was the world’s top-ranked squash player from 1983 until 1992.

After leaving school at 17, she traveled across the world to embark on a full-time squash career where she eventually won eight British Open women’s titles and four World Opens. Following her retirement in 1992, she was knighted aged just 34 and was the youngest Kiwi to achieve the honour since Sir Edmund Hilary.

Then, after gaining 20 years professional experience across a number of governance and management roles – including chair of The Halberg Trust and CEO of Sport Bay of Plenty – Devoy served as Race Relations Commissioner for five years. It was an incredibly challenging public role that featured death threats and abuse all while battling complex social beliefs and advocating for an understanding of culture and diversity.

Dame Susan has packed so much into her life and was incredibly open about all the highs and lows along the way. She also has a lot to still give with a passion to make a change.

Show notes | Dame Susan Devoy

1.52 Dame Susie D

8.55 Squash battles between Susan and husband John

13.59 The Devoy and Oakley families give willingly to the B2B research team

18.49 A mum of four boys: Julian, Alex, Josh, and Jamie

29.54 Running 3km before and after training at age 10

35.15 Creating an elite athlete: the youngest sibling from a small town

38.15 Leaving school at 17 to pursue a professional squash career

47.49 The realities of being an overseas athlete in the 1980s

50.45 Winning the first British Open at age 20 and her public profile at the peak of her powers

55.51 Dame Susan and the Rosebowl Trophy

58.15 Staying at the top of the game and the fear of failure

1.04.10 The reasons behind deciding to retire at the peak of her powers

1.14.00 The walk for muscular dystrophy in 1988 that raised $500,000

1.19.55 Becoming the Race Relations Commissioner

1.28.33 The worst parts of the job and learnings from five years in the role

1.34.11 Racism in New Zealand

1.38.53 Would Susan do the role again knowing what she knows now?

1.40.47 Thoughts on high performance sport in New Zealand

1.47.28 A few celebrity interactions: Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Sir Edmund Hilary

1.52.06 Last words from Steven, Seamus and Susan