The Australian Women's Register

Susan Caroline Bambrick graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) degree in 1965. She received her doctorate from the Australian National University (ANU) in 1970 and was one of the first married female PhD students at the university.

Susan gained employment in the Faculty of Economics and Commerce at ANU, where she specialised in the field of industry economics. In 1972 Susan set up the first undergraduate course in mineral economics at the university and in 1981 she was sub-dean of the Faculty of Economics. Susan was appointed to the Trade Development Council in 1979 and the following year she became the first female appointed to the council’s executive. Then in March 1981 Susan was elected president of the Australia Institute of Energy; the first woman to hold the position. She was also a member of the Uranium Advisory Council since its inauguration in 1981 and a council member of the National Library of Australia

Also in 1981, Susan completed a year-long appointment as the director of studies for the Public Service Board and she also worked on their interchange program. In November 1982 Susan became the first Fulbright Australian Scholar-in-Residence at the Centre for Australian Studies, School of Mineral Sciences, at Pennsylvania University. For a time, she was also director of studies for management training courses run by the Australian Mineral Foundation.

On 31 December 1982 Susan was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire ‘in recognition of service to education in energy and resource economics’.

Between March 1984 and January 1987 Susan was Dean of Students at ANU. Susan was appointed Mater of University House at the Australian National University in 1987 and later she became Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the Albury Wodonga Campus of La Trobe University.