Dame Susan Dilys Dougan ( Ryan; born 3 March 1955) is the

Governor-General Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, sometimes known simply as Saint Vincent or SVG, is an island country in the eastern Caribbean. It is located in the southeast Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, which lie in the West Indies, at the south ...

since 1 August 2019. She is the first woman to hold the office. She was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George on 29 January 2020 and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 2010 Birthday Honour List for services to education and to public administration.

Early life and education

Susan Dilys Dougan was born in the village of Colonarie in Saint Vincent. She holds a MA (ED) in Curriculum and Evaluation from the

University of Southampton The University of Southampton (abbreviated as ''Soton'' in post-nominal letters) is a public university, public research university in Southampton, England. Southampton is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universit ...

, Hampshire, England.

Career

Dame Susan Dougan began her career as a non-graduate teacher. Over a 34-year career, Dame Susan rose through the ranks of the teaching service to Headmistress of the St. Vincent Girls High School (2001-2004), and later served as Chief Education Officer from 2004 to 2009. She also served as Cabinet Secretary from October 2009 to September 2013. Dame Susan has also served in several other national capacities such as Representative to the

Organization of American States The Organization of American States (OAS or OEA; ; ; ) is an international organization founded on 30 April 1948 to promote cooperation among its member states within the Americas. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, the OAS is ...

for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Representative to the Commonwealth of Learning for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Chief Shelter Manager for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. She was appointed as the Governor-General's Deputy in December 2014. Dame Susan was sworn in as the first female Governor-General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on 1 August 2019. She was administered the oaths of Office and Allegiance by High Court Justice Brian Cottle during a ceremony witnessed by state officials as well as relatives, friends, and the media.

Gallery

File:何震寰向聖文森國代理總督朵根（Susan Dougan）呈遞到任國書.png, Dougan with Ambassador Calvin Ho of Republic of China (Taiwan) to St. Vincent, 2018. File:TW ambassador with Dougan.jpg, Dougan and Ambassador Ho, 2018. File:Kovind meets Dougan.jpeg, Dame Dougan meets President Ram Nath Kovind of India, 2022 File:Realms Lunch Coronation Event (52872269906).jpg, Dougan conversing with

Prince William William, Prince of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982), is the heir apparent to the British throne. He is the elder son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. William was born during the reign of his p ...

and Princess Catherine of Wales during a

Commonwealth Realms A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state in the Commonwealth of Nations that has the same constitutional monarch and head of state as the other realms. The current monarch is King Charles III. Except for the United Kingdom, in each of the ...

Coronation Event at

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a royal official residence, residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and r ...

, 2023. File:Cooperation between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Women Empowerment 17.jpg, Taiwanese ambassador Fiona Huei-chun Fan, Eloise Gonsalves (wife of Prime Minister Dr.

Ralph Gonsalves Ralph Everard Gonsalves (born 8 August 1946) is a Vincentian politician who has served as prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the leader of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) since 2001.

), and Dougan at the Women’s Empowerment Project Showcase in the Court House Yard, 2024.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dougan, Susan Living people 1955 births Alumni of the University of London Alumni of the University of Southampton Governors-general of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Officers of the Order of the British Empire Dames Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Saint Vincent and the Grenadines women in politics Female governors-general