Suzie Norton

Suzie Norton is the Founder Director at Zanna Creative, a UK-based creative enterprise supporting creative and cultural organisations, social enterprises and individuals.

Suzie has 20 years experience within the UK's creative and cultural sectors, working in senior positions across a variety of fields. She is an experienced leader with specific expertise in formulating strategy, organisational and board development, partnership and stakeholder management and advocacy.

Suzie started her career in Westminster working as political producer and reporter for GMTV, where as a Member of The Lobby in the Parliamentary Press Gallery she developed a deep inside understanding of the workings of government and established contacts that remain to this day. Then moving to the BBC where as a Senior Broadcast Journalist she produced documentaries for the award winning current affairs programme Inside Out.

Then, as the inaugural Director of Film Birmingham she was responsible for establishing the city's first film office and setting up its first digital festival 'Hello Digital'. In this role Suzie was also part of the Senior Management Team for Birmingham City Council's Cultural Division responsible for overseeing the Arts Strategy for Birmingham and a £10.5m budget. 

Following which Suzie was appointed CEO of regional screen agency Screen WM, responsible for the strategic development of the film, TV and games industries in the West Midlands. Her role involved working nationally and internationally advocating for the UK creative industries and working with multiple partners and stakeholders. She oversaw large scale government and European funding bids raising £20m for investment in the region. Delivery programmes included a £10m digital innovation project with Channel 4, a multi-agency creative business development programme and a £5m feature film equity investment fund. She also led significant organisational change including a full company restructure and a governance review of the Screen WM board. 

Suzie went on to work as an independent film producer and consultant before establishing Zanna Creative in 2017. In addition to her role at Ffilm Cymru Wales, she is an Ambassador for UpRising, a UK-wide youth leadership organisation, a Clore Fellow 2017/18, a member of the Creative Industries Federation and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.