Sue Owen

Dame Susan Jane Owen (born 3 June 1955) is a former British civil servant, economist and former academic. She served as the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from October 2013 until her retirement in March 2019.

Early life She was educated at Lady Eleanor Holles School in Hampton, London. She received a degree in economics from Newnham College, Cambridge in 1976 and a MSc (Economics) at Cardiff University in Wales in 1978.

Career Owen was an academic lecturer and researcher at Cardiff University and the London School of Economics, where she studied women in the labour market from 1979 until 1988. In July 2017 the department was renamed to be the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, to reflect the increasing importance of that part of the department's work.

As Permanent Secretary, Owen oversaw civil servants in the fields of the arts, sport, tourism, creative industries and media. She worked with 45 arm's-length bodies, overseeing appointments to their boards. From 2013–15 her role also included promoting equality and diversity in society, including some matters related to the legalisation of same-sex marriage. Owen was also an ex officio member of the Arts, Media, Sport and Economy committee of the Honours Committee, which nominates people for the Queen's Birthday and New Year Honours.

In July 2014, Owen became the LGB&T (straight ally) Champion for Her Majesty's Civil Service, which is a voluntary leadership role designed to serve as a figurehead for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender government employees. In June 2015 Owen also became the Civil Service Diversity Champion, replacing Simon Fraser.

In March 2019, it was announced that Dame Sue would be succeeded as permanent secretary by Sarah Healey.

Honours and personal life Owen married Martin Albrow in 1987.

Owen was appointed a Commander of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the Queen's Birthday Honours for 2010. She was promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (DCB) in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Offices held