Sue Appleby

Sue Appleby is a seasoned communications professional with over 30 years of experience working at director level.

Her expertise lies in public and private sector stakeholder management, particularly in fast-moving political environments like local government and the NHS.

Sue excels at building relationships, identifying emerging trends, and addressing complex issues effectively.

She is known for her hands-on problem-solving approach, resilience under pressure, and exceptional coaching and mentoring skills.

Passionate about inclusion and equality, Sue is adept at communicating with hard-to-reach groups.

Currently, Sue is actively involved at trustee/governor levels offering strategic insights and enjoying the challenge of providing perspective from an arms-length position.

Her specialties include independent communications reviews, strategic communications planning, crisis management, and organizational change.

Sectors she has experience in encompass local government, central government, NHS, business to business, and regulated business.

Sue holds a postgraduate diploma in Communication from the University of Stirling and has a background in academic study at Worcester Girls Grammar School.

She has held various significant roles such as Managing Director at Sue Appleby Associates Ltd, Interim Head of Communications at General Pharmaceutical Council, and Head of Communications at London Borough of Southwark among others.

Sue has also contributed her expertise as a Board Trustee at Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust and as a Governor at Canterbury Christ Church University and The Caldecott Foundation.

She leverages her vast experience in employee engagement, crisis management, and best-practice benchmarking to lead organizational communications with clarity and integrity.