About
I am a journalist of over 20 years’ standing, having cut my teeth at Sky News. I’m both nosy and chatty (pre-requisites for the job) and love to interview people.
Since going freelance in 2015, I have regularly written about personal finance and expat issues, for The National in the UAE but having also been published regularly on the Red Bull site, the Women’s Institute Life magazine, Dubai Tourism, Expatra, Love Money and MSN.
I spent 15 years working for corporations, medium-sized businesses and startups. After graduating from City University with a journalism degree, I started out at Gartner as an editor before becoming one of the first three journalists on the Sky News website and launching the Sky Movies, Academy Awards and Sky Showbiz websites.
Expat 'repat'
I then moved to Dubai and launched a local newspaper website for Gulf News, then ran the portfolio of sites (from a $50,000-a-subscription database to events sites) for business-to-business publication MEED. I took a travel break then became editor-in-chief at Yahoo Middle East, serving 55 million users. My final job in Dubai was working at a money start-up, managing content and launching new sections.
I also run my own content consultancy, Locke Digital Ltd (currently dormant). Most recently I was under contract to UAE-based DEI consultancy Aurora50. Previous clients included the British Standards Institute (BSI), for whom I co-authored a research report on businesses moving into the publishing space, and B2B publisher Informa, training content teams in London, Washington DC and New York on best digital practice and improving their editorial processes for a digital-first workflow.
I am now a doctoral researcher at the University of Surrey. I also do contract work as a sole trader for Heriot-Watt University on gender equality in the GCC workplace.
I have also been a senior visiting lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London, teaching digital and content marketing at master’s level, and social media at Goldsmith’s University at undergraduate level. I am an associate fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
I live in Staines-upon-Thames, in the lovely English county of Surrey (the ‘upon Thames’ is very important to those of us keen to live down Ali G), and have a young boy, so we’re always on the lookout for a good playground. As a expat ‘repat’, I appreciate the UK’s seasons, so regularly get out for walks or bike rides.
I love to travel (50 ticked off) and am a keen yogi – I’m currently practicing hot yoga to keep me warm in England’s unpredictable climes. I project-managed my home renovation, having come back from Dubai in 2015 after nine years there. I love the Gulf – I grew up in Bahrain – but I’ve also lived and studied in France.
Professional bio
Suzanne has been a journalist and content consultant for over 20 years, both in the UK and UAE. Notable roles have included being on the launch team for the Sky News website and editor-in-chief of Yahoo Middle East, with an audience of 50 million users, and she has been editor or editor-in-chief to six sites.
Suzanne is currently a doctoral researcher at the University of Surrey focusing on AI, digital media and age inclusion in the workplace, as well as a contract researcher for Heriot-Watt University for the GCC Board Gender Index Report series.
Suzanne has worked for many years as a freelance journalist, regularly writing about personal finance, expat issues and lifestyle. She has written more than 300 articles for The National as well as writing for Red Bull, Love Money, MSN, Dubai Tourism ,Expatra, and the Women’s Institute.
Suzanne also runs her own content consultancy, Locke Digital Ltd (currently dormant). Clients have included UAE-based DEI consultancy Aurora50, the British Standards Institute (BSI), for whom she co-authored a research report on businesses moving into the publishing space, and B2B publisher Informa, training content teams in London, Washington DC and New York on best digital practice and improving their editorial processes for a digital-first workflow.
Suzanne has also worked as a visiting senior lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London, where she taught digital and content marketing at master’s level, and social media at Goldsmith’s University at undergraduate level. She is an associate fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Get in touch
I’m always open to new work and collaborations, get in touch and let’s chat.
“True alchemists don't change lead into gold; they change the world into words.”
William H Gass, novelist and philosophy professor