Dr. Susannah Smith

Kaihautū
President (Chair)

Dr. Susannah Smith, is the President and Board Chair of Physical Education New Zealand (PENZ). With extensive experience in child well-being, holistic development, and movement pleasure, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the organization. Formerly the national educational subject advisor for PENZ, she advised on the health and physical education curriculum at both practitioner and ministerial levels. Currently, she is a Project Manager at the University of Canterbury Child Well-being Research Institute.

Sus holds a Master’s in Education, where she studied the educative value of sport, and a PhD in Health Sciences focused on movement pleasure and well-being in secondary school physical education. Her work has earned her prestigious awards, including the International Olympic Literary Prize, First Class Honours, and a UC Doctoral Scholarship.

She has represented New Zealand in Olympic educational programs at the International Olympic Academy in Greece and was appointed to represent New Zealand and Oceania on The Foundation for Global Community Health (GCH), advocating for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in education and health.

With her passion and dedication, she is committed to enhancing physical education and well-being for all learners across New Zealand.