Meet the Founder
Meet the Founder
Susan never planned to work in climate action or education systems change. Her path began at Dublin Zoo, where years of volunteering and working taught her about conservation, behaviour change, and the power of education to shape how we care for the world around us. But once she saw the gap between the urgency of the climate crisis and what young people were being supported to learn, she couldn’t look away.
So she founded Education for Sustainability, an award-winning social enterprise transforming how climate action and sustainability are taught in Irish schools.
What began as an idea is now a national programme. Susan authored the 8-week Climate Literacy Teacher Training Programme, now delivered in 17% of Irish schools, equipping teachers to embed climate action confidently across curriculum, campus and community. It is built on a simple principle: sustainability education should be not just informative, but empowering, practical and rooted in hope.
Under her leadership, Education for Sustainability has reached over 50,000 students, trained 2,000 teachers, and partnered with schools, communities, government bodies and social enterprises to turn learning into real-world action. The organisation has delivered two Research Ireland climate literacy programmes, bringing climate education to marginalised schools and communities, and is now delivering the Pobal New Solutions Arthu project, reaching a further 90 schools and 35 community groups.
Susan’s work sits at the intersection of education, climate leadership and social innovation. She brings expertise in curriculum and programme design, teacher training and professional development, and the management of large-scale, multi-site projects. She builds strong partnerships across schools, local authorities, government and community organisations, with a particular focus on inclusion and climate justice for disadvantaged communities. Drawing on her background in science communication, she translates complex climate issues into accessible, engaging learning for young people, educators and the public.
Susan has spoken on the TEDx stage, and her work has been backed by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, Community Foundation and Rethink Ireland in recognition of its national impact and scalability. In 2024, Education for Sustainability was named Best Social Enterprise at the LAMA Awards, a milestone that reflects the collective effort of an incredible community.
What drives Susan is a simple belief: when young people are trusted with knowledge, creativity and agency, they rise to the challenge. Education can, and must, be one of our most powerful climate solutions.
To connect or collaborate with Susan, get in touch.
Check out Sue's recent TED talk here:
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