28 Facts About Susan Deacon

Susan Catherine Deacon was born on 2 February 1964 and is a Scottish business executive, advisor and former politician who served as Chair of the Scottish Police Authority from 2017 to 2019.

Susan Deacon was Assistant Principal External Relations at the University of Edinburgh from 2012 to 2018 and has been a non-executive director of several companies.

Susan Deacon was the first female Chair of the Institute of Directors from 2015 to 18.

Susan Catherine Deacon was born in Musselburgh Maternity Hospital in East Lothian on 2 February 1964.

Susan Deacon studied at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with an MA in Social Policy and Politics in 1987 and later an MBA in 1992.

Susan Deacon was vice president of Edinburgh University Students' Association, and chair of Scottish Labour Students.

Susan Deacon was involved in the creation of the Business School as a new graduate school within the university.

Susan Deacon was elected to the Scottish Parliament as MSP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh in May 1999 and, though widely tipped for ministerial office, her appointment by First Minister Donald Dewar as Scotland's first cabinet Minister for Health and Community Care came as a surprise to many.

Susan Deacon had been education spokesperson in Dewar's election campaign team and had been initially rejected as a candidate by Scottish Labour's controversial vetting process, eventually becoming the only person to appeal successfully.

Susan Deacon was offered a further Cabinet position by incoming First Minister Jack McConnell in November 2001 but, by then pregnant with her second child, decided instead to leave Government and go to the backbenches.

Susan Deacon was responsible for the first Scottish Health Plan.

Susan Deacon won plaudits for her strong stance against militant anti-abortion campaigners, though was criticised by the Roman Catholic Church for her position on issues such as teenage pregnancy and contraception.

The only Scottish member of the RSA UK Commission on Illegal Drugs, Communities and Public Policy, Susan Deacon was a critic of Government drugs policy and opposed the Iraq War.

Susan Deacon was re-elected as an MSP in 2003 securing the largest Labour majority in Edinburgh.

Susan Deacon said she had had enough of the 'raw tribalism of party politics' and that she wanted to 'move on to seek new challenges and to channel my energies in other ways.

In 2010, Susan Deacon was appointed by Michael Russell, MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning as the Scottish Government's "Early Years Champion".

Susan Deacon's report, Joining the Dots, received widespread interest and is credited with influencing policy and investment in children's early years development and education.

Susan Deacon became involved with the global energy group, Iberdrola, following its acquisition of ScottishPower Ltd in 2007, serving first on the company's UK Advisory Board and then as a non-executive director and Chairman of ScottishPower Renewables Ltd.

Susan Deacon has served on a number of other boards and advisory groups, including the Traverse Theatre, Pfizer UK Foundation, the Institute of Occupational Medicine, Dewar Arts Awards Trust, and the strategic review of the National Trust for Scotland.

Susan Deacon is a non-Executive director of Lothian Buses Ltd, Chair of the Edinburgh Festivals Forum and a Professional Fellow and Advisor with the University of Edinburgh, and serves, in a personal capacity, as a Member of the Secretary of State for Scotland's Scottish Business Task Force.

Susan Deacon is a fellow of the RSA and in 2017 was made a Companion of the chartered Management Institute.

Susan Deacon's appointment was widely welcomed, coming as it did on the back of significant criticism of the body and its previous Chair.

Susan Deacon signalled a series of early changes in the Authority including a more transparent and outward facing approach and the appointment of a number of new Board members.

Since becoming Chair, Susan Deacon has presided over a number of changes in the leadership of Police Scotland.

In 2019, Susan Deacon resigned from her position as Chair of the Scottish Police Authority.

Susan Deacon noted that "the governance and accountability arrangements for policing in Scotland are fundamentally flawed, in structure, culture and practice".

Susan Deacon suggested that in order to resolve these problems the Scottish government needs to consider how policing is scrutinised in Scotland and if, perhaps, there needs to be a better separation of politics and policing.

Susan Deacon was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to business, education, and public service.