Professor Sue Spence

Emeritus Professor Susan Spence is a clinical psychologist and recognised international leader in the causes, assessment, treatment and prevention of anxiety and depression in youth. She has a BSc (Hons - 1st class, University of Reading, UK), Master of Business Administration (University of Sydney), and a PhD in Clinical Psychology (University of Birmingham, UK). She is currently based in the Australian Institute of Suicide Research and Prevention, and the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University and also holds the position of Honorary Professor at the University of Queensland.

Her previous positions included Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at Griffith University, Dean, Division of Linguistics and Psychology at Macquarie University, and Head of School of Psychology and Professor at the University of Queensland. Her research focusses on the etiology, assessment, treatment and prevention of anxiety and depression in young people. She has received over $23.5 million in research grants during her career and has managed numerous randomised controlled trials to successful completion. She is the author of 8 books, 38 book chapters and over 150 research articles in refereed journals. Her research is highly influential, with over 20,000 citations, with publications in top international journals in her field.

E/Professor Spence places a strong emphasis on translation of her research into clinical practice, being the author of the internationally used Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and one of the founders of the BraveOnline treatment program. Professor Spence is a member of several editorial boards and is regularly invited to present keynote addresses at international conferences. Her work has been recognised through the awards of Officer of the Order of Australia, Fellowship of the Australian Psychological Society, British Psychological Society; the Academy of the Social Sciences of Australia and the Academy of Cognitive Therapy.