Our Chair

Central West Chair, Susan Madden

Susan is committed to rural and regional communities and is recognised as a leader in agriculture, regional development and natural resource management from her extensive experience providing professional services in support of these sectors.

She has developed a wide network across rural and regional Australia, working with community, industry and government representatives.

Susan has more than 15 years of professional experience working in agriculture and natural resource management specialising in the areas of economics, policy, advocacy, communications and management.

She has worked in both metropolitan and regionally-based roles in the public and private sectors, including not-for-profit, allowing her to develop an understanding of a range of governance structures and management strategies used to achieve broad ranging organisational objectives.

In 2016 she was appointed to the board of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and is the Principal Economist – Natural Resources and Agriculture with GHD Pty Ltd.

Susan has a personal commitment to resilient communities in productive, healthy landscapes across NSW. Her family have farmed in the north west of the state for 150 years and she is also fortunate enough to be involved in primary industries along with her partner who operates a successful stud cattle business where she lives at Dubbo.

Her leadership capabilities and contribution to agricultural and natural resource management have been recognised through several industry awards and achievements including the Australian Cotton Industry Chris Lehmann Trust Young Achiever of the Year Award finalist and Macquarie Cotton Growers’ Association Young Achiever of the Year Award recipient.

Susan has a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Sydney, majoring in economics, agricultural economics and accounting, graduating with First Class Honours and the University Medal.

Contact Susan: 0422 003 049