Plan International Australia CEO Susanne Legena is a passionate feminist, a champion of young people and a big believer that humans have more that unites us than divides us. She’s keen to shake up the Australian aid industry and collaborate with other organisations to solve problems such as poverty, social justice, the climate crisis and gender equality. Susanne has a well-defined and unique style of leadership, focusing on empathy, collaboration and design thinking, and has developed an inclusive and innovative culture at Plan International Australia that has been embraced by her colleagues. She believes that innate talent is just as important as experience.

Susanne began working in the INGO sector in 2011 and was appointed Plan International Australia’s CEO in February 2018. She was the first in her family to graduate university, studying Sociology and Politics. She went on to work in youth homelessness and women’s shelters, and later spent time working for a senator in South Australia to gain a deeper understanding of politics, before moving into the public service as a chief of staff and later joining Plan International Australia to build up its Advocacy and Community Engagement Team. She has a 22-year-old stepson, a six-year-old daughter, and a fellow green thumb partner who she keeps bees and harvests honey with.

Being a mother has crystallised what Susanne wants most – a just and fair world for all children. One of her key achievements has been sharpening Plan International’s focus on children and equality for girls, as well as empowering young women to amplify their voices via the Youth Activist Series. Susanne is passionate about bringing these younger voices into decision-making. One of her aims is to use her position of influence to give younger people an opportunity to speak with the right people in the room.