Dame Susan Elizabeth Anne Devoy (born 4 January 1964) is a New Zealand former squash player and senior public servant. As a squash player, she was dominant in the late 1980s and early 1990s, winning the World Open on four occasions. She served as New Zealand's Race Relations Commissioner from 2013 to 2018.
Early life and family
Devoy was born in Rotorua, the youngest of seven children and her parents' only daughter. Her family, including her six brothers, also played squash and Devoy started playing when she was very young. She began playing in tournaments when she was nine and turned professional at the age of 17 after leaving MacKillop College halfway through her final year. She competed on the professional circuit for eleven years from 1981 to 1992.
She married her manager and fellow squash player John Oakley, on 12 December 1986 in Rotorua's St Michael's Church. Together, they have four sons, the eldest of whom is track athlete Julian Oakley. Julian is an NCAA Division I athlete at Providence College, located in Rhode Island, United States, and has a 3:57.22 personal best for the mile.
Playing career
Devoy turned professional at the age of 17. Her first World Open title came in 1985, with a subsequent win in 1987. Further World Open titles came in 1990 and 1992. For most of her career, the World Open was held biennially, a fact that stopped Devoy potentially doubling her tally. She did, however, win the coveted British Open eight times, a record only beaten by Heather McKay in the 1960s/70s and by Janet Morgan in the 1950s.
In 1992, the year of her unexpected retirement, she was the Australian, British, French, Hong Kong, Irish, New Zealand, Scottish, Swedish and World squash champion.
World Open Finals: 5 (4 titles, 1 runner-up)
Awards and honours
In the 1986 New Year Honours, Devoy was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to squash, and elevated to Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1993 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to squash and the community. She was named New Zealand Sports Person and Sports Woman of the Year in 1985. In 1990, she was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.
In the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours, Devoy was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to sport and the community, becoming the youngest New Zealander since Sir Edmund Hillary to receive a titular honour.
Post-playing career
In the October 2001 local elections, she successfully stood in the inaugural district health board elections for Auckland DHB on the Citizens & Ratepayers-Now ticket. She resigned from that position in February 2004, citing concerns about limited political impact that DHBs have but also because she had since moved to Tauranga.
In Tauranga, she was the chief executive of Sport Bay of Plenty and held that position for five years.
In April 2009 an accusation was made that the testimonial Devoy wrote for Tony Veitch in support of the return of his passport was edited and used in his support at his sentencing for injuring with reckless disregard in relation to an assault on his former partner Kristin Dunne-Powell in 2006.
New Zealand Race Relations Commissioner
In March 2013, Devoy was chosen as the successor to Joris de Bres for the position of Race Relations Commissioner. She was selected by Justice Minister Judith Collins, who was later forced to defend the appointment, which was surrounded by some controversy, including concern over prior remarks by Devoy including in her role as a Bay of Plenty Times columnist. In particular, references were made to her criticism of Waitangi Day as a national holiday, and those who wear burqas in New Zealand. The Mana Party called for her sacking, and the Green Party said her views on Waitangi Day were "embarrassing".
Devoy officially began her five-year job on 1 April 2013. During her first few weeks in office, Devoy was criticised for refusing to comment on a number of race-related controversies, including a tirade against Chinese immigrants by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.