Susan Ralphs

"After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, Sue worked for four years with Oxfam, regularly visiting overseas offices to provide training, ensuring compliance with organisational policies & procedures and scaling up the financial management capacity of Oxfam to respond effectively to catastrophes such as the genocide in Rwanda.

"In 1995 Sue became Finance Director of YWCA England & Wales. During the ten years that she was there, the YWCA transformed its operations from being a housing association to focusing on the needs of socially excluded young women in a community context. Sue managed the finances during this period of significant change, including the development of a framework to effectively manage an investment portfolio of over £20m.

"Sue is also involved in a voluntary capacity with a number of local charities."

• Director, Ethical Property Company