Susie Myers (Vale)
One of Susie's legacies, following her courageous battle with brain cancer that ended in 2020, is Alan's decision to support the founding of The Koala Sanctuary. Susie loved animals from an early age and was a strong advocate for protecting wildlife. She earned her Information Systems degree at San Diego State University, but veterinary science was a passion she nearly pursued. Even as she excelled as a senior woman in technology, with roles in both San Diego and Silicon Valley, her passion for wildlife persisted.
She fell in love with Australia's wildlife during her very first visit to Cleland Conservation Park in 1990. Soon after her move to Australia with Alan in 2002, Kangaroo Island also won her heart. In 2018, her Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) submission regarding the Smith Bay port proposal highlighted the koala's struggles on the island at a time when public concern about their welfare was minimal. Susie would have been thrilled to see The Koala Sanctuary become a reality.