Susan Markham (She / Her)

Susan Markham is a strategic leader who works across sectors to increase gender equality for a safer world. At Smash Strategies, she provides strategic advice, advocates for global and domestic women’s rights and brings together like-minded individuals to make a lasting difference. She helps organizational leaders understand that gender equality is good for their “business” whatever that may be. She recently served as a Director at HFX, where she advised the organization on best practices for incorporating a gender perspective and women's voices into all HFX activities including the Halifax International Security Forum, the world’s foremost security conference for democracies. She also directed a fellowship for senior military women from NATO and partner countries to discuss and understand the world’s leading security issues. Previously at USAID, Susan advised Agency leadership on gender policy issues and led cross-sectoral program efforts in resilience, adolescent girls education and energy. She directed the Women’s Political Participation program at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and worked in domestic politics. Susan is the co-author of a new book, "Feminist Foreign Policy in Theory and in Practice: An Introduction".