Suzanne Blackwell

Suzanne Joy Yerex Blackwell is a New Zealand clinical psychologist, and holds an honorary position at the University of Auckland. In 2024 Blackwell was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to clinical and forensic psychology and the law.

Academic career

Blackwell completed a PhD titled Child sexual abuse on trial at the University of Auckland in 2007. She is an honorary academic at the university. Blackwell is a clinical psychologist who works in the areas of child sexual abuse and professional ethics.

Blackwell has researched how a juror's misconceptions about sexual abuse might affect their decision-making in court, and has provided expert evidence to courts on counter-intuitive behaviour in complainants, such as why complainants might delay taking action, retract their complaints, or might stay in contact with abusers. In the 2024 King's Birthday Honours Blackwell was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to clinical and forensic psychology and the law.

Selected works