PUBLISHED MARCH 2024

Susan Green,
First Foundation Trustee

Susan Green had a 25-year career in banking law, which saw her shaping complex transaction delivery as she led a specialist team in the world of institutional banking. She’s also held roles of Associate General Counsel for Institutional Banking, Corporate Counsel for Institutional Banking and senior solicitor in a leading local firm. She says it is a privilege to work with the passionate and dedicated staff and board at First Foundation.

“I’m so proud to have been invited to join this board and to contribute my skills to such a quality group. We have a diverse and highly experienced team at the table”.

Susan was drawn to First Foundation because of its unique approach to meeting a dire need in New Zealand.

“There is a widening gap between those families where higher education and professional careers are the norm and those who can’t access that. It becomes a perpetual cycle that locks people into non-qualified low-wage work. However, if you can break through that, there are more opportunities from that generation forward.” 

“We like to think of New Zealand as a place where hard work and aspirations can get you anywhere, but some people face many more barriers than others. When young people and scholars are required to contribute to the family household income, it becomes much more difficult to reach your potential.”

“Offering a hand up is a great way for us to work together so more people can fulfil their aspirations. First Foundation’s impact is so important to New Zealand and its growth.”

Susan says she’s learnt first-hand that higher education can change your future. She was the first in her family to go to university, defying the expectation to enter the family business. Her success proved the power of such a pathway, and her sibling and cousins followed in her footsteps. Nevertheless, she knows what it’s like to want to contribute directly and immediately to the household and how much must be sacrificed to do both.

“All my school holidays were spent working in the family business. And I worked every weekend the rest of the time. I often felt really guilty that I was at university and doing such long degrees.”

Susan has made her family incredibly proud, reaching the top of her profession. She also recognises how different things were when her children went through university themselves. She could offer more guidance and have different conversations because she’d been through it herself. First Foundation’s programme understands this.

“It’s much more than just giving a scholar money and helping financially. The mentoring means scholars have someone who can guide them through their experiences and decisions along the way. The introduction to work helps equip you with a network.

There’s no doubt Susan is a highly driven person. And, as a trustee of First Foundation, she’s ready to focus both her drive and professional skills to see the organisation grow and reach more deserving young students.

“Our scholarship partners, funders, and donors are outstanding and generous in their endorsement of our mission. They see the years of evidence proving the programme works. However, it’s heartbreaking how many high-calibre eligible applicants we have to turn away because we don’t have more supporters. “

So, it’s about building awareness and ensuring more people have the opportunity to understand First Foundation and help more top students go further”.