Faculty

Susan Markham

Susan Markham has more than 25 years experience in the design and delivery of global communications programs on major international issues. As the director of strategic communications for the United Nations until 2006, she headed a team of 365 staff based in 63 countries and managed the organization’s issues-driven communications strategies on economic, social, and sustainable development, human rights, the advancement of women, political and peace-related issues, as well as UN reform and crisis management. She is experienced in handling the international news media, having been UN spokeswoman for many high profile international events held in the past 15 years, including the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, which drew more than 4,000 media. Markham introduced to the UN innovative communications tools and approaches such as the development (in 2003) of the client planning process as a basis for strategic communications planning; the first thematic issues-driven global communications campaigns (1990s); and the first impact assessment of a UN communications campaign (1995). She is an accomplished television journalist and producer with more than 100 broadcast documentary programs to her credit. Markham is the author of numerous articles, brochures, and booklets on international economic and social development issues, human rights, and women. She was editor of the reference book The United Nations and the Advancement of Women (1995) and a former member of the editorial board of the Journal of Communications Management and of the bi-monthly periodical Development Update. She has a B.A. with honors in philosophy from Victoria University, New Zealand, and is a graduate of the Sydney Film and Television School, Australia.

Susan Markham teaches Global Communications: The Business of Issues.