Susan Kay-Williams has been the Chief Executive of the Royal School of Needlework since August 2007 where she was tasked to update the RSN in its programmes and its presentation, while still keeping teaching the art of hand embroidery to the highest standards at its core.
Susan brings together a background in non-profit management, academia and a passion for textiles, especially in the area of colour. She enjoys collecting pieces, especially Chinese and Japanese embroidery She is a natural dyer where she enjoys seeing the different shades and hues that can come from one dye source through exhaust baths. This interest has led her on to a research interest in the history of colour in textiles and how textiles are represented in art.
Her first degree was in English and American Literature from University College Cardiff, her Masters was on the Stage history of Shakespeare's Henry VI trilogy from the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham and her PhD was on the impact of the external environment on charity marketing and fundraising 1989-1999 at CASS Business School, City University, London. She also has post graduate qualifications in marketing and has lectured on marketing for the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
