Sue Smith (Senate)

Occupation: Professor

Co-operative Businesses traded with in last 12 months Food and Bank

Skills and experience

I am passionate about responsible business practice and the impact on communities in which businesses reside. As such, the Co-op embodies my values and beliefs. I would love to take this a step further by being an active Council Member who will work hard on behalf of the wider community to ensure the Co-op continues to be a responsible, effective and impactful business.

Additional information

I am a Professor of Innovation and Enterprise and I am responsible for business engagement at the University I work for. This has given me great insight into the impact all businesses have on their teams and the communities where they are located. This isn't always positive but it can be and the Co-op can pave the way for showing that responsible business practice can include making a profit AND have a positive impact.

I am a Non-Executive Director for a social enterprise whose focus is about empowering those who don't feel they have a voice to make changes in their communities and make a difference. At work I am responsible for the student incubator where I ensure social innovation and responsible business models are at the forefront of the agenda. I encourage students to set coops up as a sustainable business model which can be profitable. In my home life I care about the community I live in and the responsibility business plays in this. My husband is disabled and uses a wheelchair. I know first-hand the many challenges he and others like him face. I hope I practice the ethos of the Co-op in my daily life in terms of the values: self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. I can bring my personal and professional skills together to help ensure the Co-op has a local and global impact.