Susan Devoy Biography – Susan Devoy Wiki
Susan Devoy recognized as Dame Susan Elizabeth Anne Devoy is a retired New Zealand squash player and senior public servant. While a squash player, she was dominant in the late 1980s and early 1990s, winning the World Open on four occasions. She served as New Zealand’s Race Relations Commissioner from 2013 to 2018. She started playing in tournaments when she was nine and turned professional at the age of 17 after leaving MacKillop College halfway through her final year. She competed on the professional circuit for eleven years from 1981 to 1992. Devoy is a castaway on the 2022 series of the New Zealand reality television show Celebrity Treasure Island. She also makes a return n the 2023 series of Celebrity Treasure Island: Fans versus Favourites.
She has supported charities including as a New Zealand patron for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In 2007, she appeared in Like Minds, Like Mine TV commercials in New Zealand to counter the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness. As a contestant on Celebrity Treasure Island 2022, where she was an intruder who entered the show partway through the competition, her chosen charity was The Aunties. The Aunties is a South Auckland, New Zealand-based charity helping vulnerable women and children who have experienced domestic violence. Founded in 2013 by Jackie Clark, the group aims to provide material help and pastoral care in the spirit of manaakitanga.
She turned professional in squash at the age of 17. Her first World Open title came in 1985, with a subsequent win in 1987. Further World Open titles came in 1990 and 1992. For most of her career, the World Open was held biennially, a fact that stopped Devoy from potentially doubling her tally. She did, however, win the coveted British Open eight times, a record was only beaten by Heather McKay in the 1960s/70s and by Janet Morgan in the 1950s. In 1992, the year of her unexpected retirement, she was an Australian, British, French, Hong Kong, Irish, New Zealand, Scottish, Swedish, and World squash champion.
In the 1986 New Year Honours, Devoy was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to squash, and elevated to Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1993 Queen’s Birthday Honours, for services to squash and the community. She was named New Zealand Sports Person and Sports Woman of the Year in 1985. In 1990, she was awarded the New Zealand 1990, Commemoration Medal. In the 1998 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Devoy was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to sport and the community, becoming the youngest New Zealander since Sir Edmund Hillary to receive a titular honor.
In the October 2001 local elections, she successfully stood in the inaugural district health board elections for Auckland DHB on the Citizens & Ratepayers-Now ticket. She resigned from that position in February 2004, citing concerns about the limited political impact that DHBs have but also because she had since moved to Tauranga. In Tauranga, she was the chief executive of Sport Bay of Plenty and held that position for five years. In April 2009 an accusation was made that the testimonial Devoy wrote for Tony Veitch in support of the return of his passport was edited and used in his support at his sentencing for injuring with reckless disregard in relation to an assault on his former partner Kristin Dunne-Powell in 2006.
In March 2013, she was chosen as the successor to Joris de Bres for the position of Race Relations Commissioner. Devoy officially started her five-year job on April 1, 2013. In the wake of the November 2015 Paris attacks, Devoy and Hazim Arafeh, president of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, released a joint statement condemning violent extremism and “standing alongside all innocent victims of terrorism in peace, solidarity, and humanity.” After the Christchurch mosque shootings in March 2019, Devoy called on New Zealanders to listen to the voices of vulnerable people, challenge hate, and “stand up for human rights by letting Muslim Kiwis know that you’ve got their back.” Devoy’s term ended in 2018 and she was succeeded by former Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon in 2019.
Susan Devoy Age
She was born on January 4, 1964, in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Susan Devoy Husband
She married her manager and fellow squash player John Oakley, on December 12, 1986, in Rotorua’s St Michael’s Church. Together, they have four sons, the eldest of whom is track athlete Julian Oakley. Julian is an NCAA Division I athlete at Providence College, located in Rhode Island, United States, and has a 3:57.22 personal best for the mile. She has lived in Tauranga.
Susan Devoy Children
She has four sons, the eldest of whom is track athlete Julian Oakley. Julian is an NCAA Division I athlete at Providence College, located in Rhode Island, United States, and has a 3:57.22 personal best for the mile. Her son Josh Oakley, a sales manager, is a contestant in 2023’s Celebrity Treasure Island: Fans versus Favourites beside her.
Susan Devoy Family
She was born in Rotorua to her parents John and Tui. She is the youngest of seven children and her parents’ only daughter. Her family, including her six brothers, also played squash and she began playing when she was very young.
Susan Devoy Net Worth
Her net worth is approximately $1.5 Million NZ.
Susan Devoy Instagram
Her Instagram handle is @damesuzyd.
