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Grayscale headshot of Susanne Legena, who has curly hair and is smiling. She is wearing a leather jacket.

Susanne Legena

BA, MA (Professional Communication)
EAA Board Director | CEO of Plan International Australia

Susanne is the CEO of Plan International Australia and has had more than 20 years of Senior Management experience in the public and not for profit sector working in community development, advocacy and social change. Susanne is a passionate advocate and spokesperson for the work of Plan International Australia providing emergency response in partnership with local organisations and young people in more than 80 countries around the world. Susanne has seen first-hand the incredible work of Plan International in places such as Laos, Uganda and Zimbabwe and the importance of specific interventions for children and for girls especially for education in emergencies.

Susanne served on the ACFID Board for six years until 2022 and is currently a director for CommUnity Plus a community development organisation in the West of Melbourne. Prior to joining Plan International Australia, Susanne was Chief of Staff to the Victorian Minister for Energy and Community Development – with responsibility for the whole of government strategy to tackle disadvantage.

Susanne has a BA from Finders University in Political Science and Sociology and a Masters in Professional Communication from Deakin University.