Susan Black - Laureation
In the name and on behalf of the Senate, I have the privilege to present for the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration, honoris causa, Susan Black.
Susan Black is an outstanding leader in strategic communications, elite sport, women’s football and charitable endeavour, and one of Queen Margaret University’s most distinguished alumni.
Susan’s professional success is all the more remarkable because her path into higher education was not a conventional one. After leaving school, she began her career at NTL, now Virgin Media, where she quickly demonstrated ambition and drive. Yet her thirst for improvement remained strong, and she chose to return to education, balancing the demands of a full‑time career with academic study.
At Queen Margaret College, as it was then, Susan completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Communications, Media, Reputation and Crisis Management, followed by an MSc in Communications. These qualifications provided the academic foundation for a career defined by sound judgement, ethical leadership and strategic clarity under pressure, qualities that would become hallmarks of her professional life.
Her early career at NTL proved pivotal. At a time when the company was expanding into high‑profile sports sponsorship, Susan was entrusted with leading communications around major partnerships with Celtic and Rangers football clubs - a role that placed her at the heart of football for the very first time. It was here that she developed the insight, confidence and strategic instinct that would shape her future career.
Seeking broader international experience, Susan later moved to a public relations agency in Leeds, before an unexpected opportunity arose to join Liverpool Football Club - a moment that would prove transformational, both for her and for the organisations she would go on to influence.
Susan spent fourteen years in senior leadership at Liverpool Football Club, serving as Director of Communications during a transformative period in the club’s modern history. In this role, she was responsible for strategic communications, stakeholder engagement and internal communications at one of the most globally recognised sporting institutions in the world.
Her influence extended well beyond communications. Susan served as Executive Director and Board Member of Liverpool FC Women, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the club’s strategic approach to the women’s game. Her leadership supported Liverpool FC Women’s return to the Barclays Women’s Super League, alongside increased investment, visibility and long‑term ambition for women’s football.
She also served as a Board Member of the LFC Foundation, the club’s official charity. In this capacity, Susan played a key role in the development of the LFC Foundation Legends charity match, which has gone on to raise more than £8.5 million for community programmes, supporting social inclusion, opportunity and wellbeing.
Indeed, when Susan was asked about some of her unforgettable moments with Liverpool FC, she talks about securing a world-class training facility for the women’s team and transforming the club’s charity work with the inaugural charity match at Anfield, which raised over £1 million for the Liverpool FC Foundation and the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance.
This work exemplifies her belief that elite sport carries both influence and responsibility, and that success should extend beyond the field of play.
In late 2025, Susan returned to Queen Margaret University to speak with students and meet senior colleagues, further strengthening her enduring relationship with the University. Her continued engagement reflects a deep commitment to education, mentorship and widening access to opportunity - values that mirror her own academic journey.
Susan embodies the principles that Queen Margaret University seeks to champion: lifelong learning, social purpose, opportunities for women, inclusive leadership and integrity. Her career demonstrates that an unconventional route into education can lead to exceptional achievement, and that the confidence to return to learning can be truly transformative.
Susan Black’s achievements are global, her leadership exceptional, and her impact immeasurable. Yet here at Queen Margaret University, we are especially proud to call her part of our community - and, as football puts it so well, she is truly one of our own.
Chancellor, in recognition of her exceptional achievements, her leadership in global sport and community engagement, and her enduring contribution as a proud graduate of this University, I have much pleasure in inviting you to confer upon Susan Black the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration.
