Suzie Newman is an experienced, award-winning international development leader and a thought-provoking speaker. She has a wealth of experience in Africa, SE Asia and the Pacific and brings technical skills in agribusiness, horticultural production and postharvest management research and extension to her leadership of International Development at New Zealand’s Plant & Food Research.
Dr Newman is a sought-after conference speaker on all aspects of agriculture and livelihood development including the use of new technology, sustainable practices, the shift to higher value crops, food security and partnership across the food value chain.
From 2009-2016, she was based in Ha Noi leading a series of regional projects in Viet Nam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar for the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
In 2012, she was awarded Viet Nam’s MARD Medal for her contribution to Agriculture and Rural Development, and in 2016 she received the Viet Nam Women’s Union award for her contribution to women’s development and empowerment. She holds a PhD in Plant Science (Postharvest Physiology) and a BHortSci (Hons) from New Zealand’s Massey University. In November 2022 she visited Viet Nam as a member of a trade delegation led by New Zealand Prime Minister Hon Jacinda Ardern.