Susan has been a city councillor for 20 years over two periods, most recently returning to the city council and the City Executive Board in 2015.

She was elected Deputy Leader in 2017 and then Leader in 2018. As Leader of Oxford City Council, Susan also leads on Economic Development and partnership working.

Susan is a Director of Oxford Local Economic Partnership, Chair of Fast Growth Cities, Chair of the Future Oxfordshire Partnership (the successor of the Oxfordshire Growth Board) and is on the Executive of the Ox-Cam Pan Regional Partnership. She is the Labour Vice Chair of the District Councils Network and she also works as Head of Media and Staff Communications at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.