C E L E B R A T I N G
Susan MacMillan
Celebrating Susan MacMillan
A TRIBUTE FROM COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS
30 April 2021
Jubilant 
My affair with ILRI began when it was formed and I have 
thoroughly enjoyed reading about it through Susan over all these 
years. I wish her the very best as she shifts to a new stage of life. 
I hope we still see her work. Neville Clarke
Dedicated
Your contribution to ILRI is amazing 
and unforgettable. You have been 
a mentor to many of us here. I want to 
thank you for all your guidance, support 
and the opportunity to have learned from 
you, not only technical knowledge but 
also how to treat people kindly. 
Wish you all the best, Susan! 
Chi Nguyen
Committed and passionate 
By sharing 6 out of your 40 years of Service for ILRI with 
you, I have admired that communication for you is not a 
ted job but a mission - and that your commitment is a passion. 
Commit
Congratulations for an amazing career! Can’t forget your 
r details- 
Keen eye fo curious Somali Goat Mellie! With warm regards and a big hug.
oof” means that 
“Susan-pr Uwe Werblow
Thanks a 
the text is perfect! 
lot Susan! 
tenweck
Isabelle Bal
Meticulous
It is diffi cult to th ink of ILRI with out Susan Macmill an. It is greatly to her credit 
th at she was able to overcome her fi erce loyalty to ILRAD and great initial dismay at 
th e merger with  ILCA, to go on to do so much for  ILRI. Susan was an inspired wr iter 
always th inking of new ways of demonstrating th e social and economic wor th  of animal 
agriculture and her insistence on perfect grammar is legendary. That dedication to 
penning th e right message was complemented by her determination to kee p well  infor med 
about emerging scientifi c discoveries and th eir potential impacts on humanity. It is good 
to know th at ILRI will  still  be able to benefi t from Susan’s wealth  of knowledge and 
invaluable enth usiasm and I wish her and John a very happy retirement. 
Ralph von Kaufmann
Commited 
The branding of ILRI is quite unique among the CGIAR centres and is clearly associated 
with one person: Susan MacMillan. Her consistency in style, her catchy titles, the tasteful 
use of drawings, pictures and the unique human touch of much of the graphic design are 
all a trademark of ILRI and Susan. She came to Kenya as a young teacher, over the years 
developed a deep love for the people of Africa and Kenya in particular. This shows in her work. 
Susan has impressed me by her strong commitment to ILRI and its mission. I remember 
passing by her offi ce on my way home late in the evening and fi nding her working on a 
Passionate project. I particularly enjoyed the creative meetings with her, her team and also with the late 
Her communication style Jeff Haskins from Burness Communications. Those discussions were very productive in 
and talented support. Outside jointly developing strong communication messages. Susan is a perfectionist; at times the 
ILRI, Susan introduced me fi nal version of a conference poster would get to me minutes before boarding a plane…. I want 
to a forum that I valued very to thank Susan for her huge contribution to ILRI and its mission. She played an important 
much! Amos Omore role in helping me to communicate effectively during my tenure at ILRI. I wish her an easy 
transition into retirement, good health and energy to enjoy a well-deserved new phase in life. 
Carlos Sere
Engaging 
Susan, You are one of the best communicators of 
agricultural issues and outcomes that I know in the 
industry. Your ability to capture audience attention 
and engagement of the circumstances and solutions 
related to ILRI, must mean the Institute has one of the 
best click-throughs and open-rates in CGIAR! I’m so glad 
we got to meet during my tenure on the BoT (2012-2018), 
I enjoyed connecting with you and hearing the approaches 
you and the team were taking to ensure ILRI was at the forefront of news 
and media channels. Thank you for your passion for ILRI and livestock in 
general, bringing your authentic style to communications, and ensuring 
our messages and stories got out, loud and clear. Congratulations on your 
retirement! I hope your next adventure is fun and makes your heart happy. 
Please stay in touch. 
Suzanne Petersen
Committed 
I have known Susan for nearly 3 decades and 
her commitment to international livestock research 
is truly impressive! She always came across as 
positive despite the ups and downs of funding and 
the changing priorities of donors. Susan was a 
constant as DGs (and Board members) came and 
went—morning, noon and night she always seemed to 
be there! Well done and thank you Susan!
Maggie Gill
Commited 
Many people have served a long time at ILRI, and made amazing 
contributions, though I know no one who’s contributed more to this institution 
and to its mandate than you, Susan. People know you, possibly better than 
they know ILRI itself. Your commitment is unmatched—as we heard from 
Hank and Carlos who have found you on more than one occasion burning the 
midnight oil at the offi ce. 
You may remember in my early days as DG, we held regular town halls, 
to help bridge the staff divide at the time. Very often you would meet me 
after those town halls, to give me feedback on what I had said and how I was 
communicating. This was so valuable and helped me feel less alone. 
For what you’ve contributed to me whilst I was here, in ways that you may not 
realize or perceive, I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart. 
To John—we thank you for sharing this wonderful woman, born in Detroit, 
educated in Berkley, and dedicated her life to Kenya, most of which was her 
life to ILRI. 
It is customary that when long service people who live in Kenya leave ILRI, I 
give them a pass to come back. You can keep your pass Susan, because you 
will always be welcome here, in our offi ces, in the hallways, and of course, at 
the bar, to share that glass of wine where—to quote a famous TV show jingle—
everyone will know your name. 
Cheers and fare-well always, dear Susan.
Jimmy Smith
There is no word 
There is no word that can fully capture all Susan is, and has been to so many of us 
for so many years. She is committed, to make her work, that of communications 
more broadly and of the science she translates so eloquently really make a 
difference to the less well-off. She does this with passion and excellence. And a 
measure of modesty and humility rarely found in one so brilliant. What a pleasure 
and privilege it has been—and I know will continue to be—to work with Susan in 
different ways over many years. Her patience with endless revisions of an op-ed, or 
a corporate presentation, ensuring that the end product is outstanding will forever 
remain with me. As will that same patience with my never-ending quest to fi nd out 
where I should and should not Put Capital Letters! Susan I suspect you have little 
idea how much you have inspired and encouraged me individually, but also many, 
many colleagues and ILRI as a whole. You have helped us all to elevate our sense of 
pride in the work that we do for people whose lives depend on livestock. 
Thank you, and remain part of us always.
Shirley Tarawali
Rare breed! 
Susan is the rare breed of a science communicator on a number of levels. First she has 
devoted to her self to one subject writing: passionately and eloquently about all live 
things livestock—the animals and breeds, disease, livestock keepers and pastoralists. 
Because of her deep knowledge on the subject she has been able to author and write for 
a number of publications as competently as many trained specialists. As she mentioned, 
communicators not only need to produce communication products but also need to 
engage. She has defended and promoted the livestock sector, constantly engaging in the 
debates with wit and compassion which allows her enter into a conversation with scientists, 
politicians and even plant based advocates. Based on her knowledge and commitment to 
livestock keepers she was nominated as an advisor to the World Farmer’s Organisation. 
Finally, Susan bring her own sense of style and panache to her communications. ILRI’s 
brand has been shaped essentially by her style and commitment. Her artwork is seen 
overall ILRI and her e-lettters and social media interactions are more infl uential than what 
is put out by ILRI or any other communicator Susan cannot be replaced but we hope to 
continue to learn from her as she moves on to a new stage of her life! 
Michael Victor
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
I’m not sure I can pick any particular memory, there are many, but with time they have become 
half forgotten. Instead, I’d rather share the warm feeling and the smile that comes to my face 
each time I think of her—her energy, her spirit, her collegiality and her indomitable promotion 
of ILRI, and livestock farmers generates a glow that lit up any meeting room, energized every 
communications campaign (or half forgotten memory for that matter). Susan is special. 
She will be missed as much as she is cherished. Ravi Prabhu
Passionate 
I have had the pleasure of working with Susan for 20 years. Susan made a vocation of 
communicating ILRI achievements in many forms. I don’t think in the history of ILRI there has 
been a greater and more passionate champion of ILRI and its mission. Susan and I have been 
great partners over the years. She has helped me communicate more clearly and emphatically 
about research. I have always tried to provide scientifi c caution to nuance the statements made. 
I have many fond memories of working with Susan. My enduring remembrance of her is how 
much empathy she has and how she could step into the perspectives of others from farmers, 
market agents, policy makers and scientists. John McDermott,
Interesting 
It has been wonderful working with Susan. I have always appreciated and admired her 
commitment to strengthen the meaning of our work by helping us tell the story better…oh, and 
also by getting the punctuation right. That commitment came out often in the questions she 
would ask in our staff meetings, challenging us to question and rethink our status quo. I will 
strangle her, though, if she cites one more time IFPRI’s 40% budget dedicated to comms as the 
example we should follow. She certainly has a gift with her superb eye for art to illustrate our 
work, and for stories we should know about in the Taking Stock she puts together—that I look 
forward to reading each time. We see that quest for meaning and context when she’s out of the 
offi ce, too, including the ever-evolving Shangri-La she and John have established as a home 
and as a refuge for stray cats and colleagues. I learned more about the history of ILRAD and 
ILRI at the get-togethers at her place—sort of a modern version of the literary salon—than 
from any documents, and those get-togethers will remain among my best memories of Nairobi. 
But of course the one memory I will never be able to shake is Susan demonstrating to us her 
high school synchronized swimming moves in a pool in Zanzibar. Nuff said! 
Tom Randolph
Multifaceted 
Thanks a million Susan for all your amazing work over the 20 years I have been 
associated with ILRI (just a blink in the eye compared to your record!).
I have always appreciated and admired your professionalism, amazing writing 
skills, deep and true passion for livestock development and livestock keepers, and 
more than all of those your kindness and friendship. Do you remember that night 
on the roof of some un identifi ed building in northern Mali with the mosque chants 
ringing out and the mosquitoes biting and Modibo, our driver, having fainted 
trying to cross the river? Or how I kept hovering somewhere in the background each 
time you broke your arms? (I swear I didn’t push you!) Good times, all the very best,
Delia Randolph
Kick-ass 
Susan stands out to me as a real 
supporter of women—she gets the 
ambivalence of being a woman, but 
will also be unwavering in her defense 
of women. We need more people like 
her—thanks for showing me that it is 
possible, Susan. Nicoline de Haan
Passionate
Susan, I learned so much from you in the 10 plus years we worked 
together. You were able to translate complicated science into 
understandable language. I respect your focus, dedication and Visionary 
Susan initiated a network 
commitment to communicating ILRI’s work. Your branding of ILRI 
refl ects historical context and contemporary relevance. Your care in of comms people from 
mentoring young staff  will always be remembered. You had your own Nairobi-based CGIAR 
timetable for deadlines (no comment). An absolute highlight in my centres. I have fond 
career to have worked with you. Don’t slow down. memories of our monthly 
meetings at About Thyme. 
You have so much more to share. 
Bruce Scott Susan Onyango
Amazing…
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Mungai
Amazing artist
I have never worked closely with Vivac
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Susan has livestock and livestock d a
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and lifestyles to any audience. M ir
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Thanks Susan, your fi ngerprints 
will be perceived in and on ILRI’s 
work for ages. 
Christian K. Tiambo
Communicative
Thanks to the excellent work of 
Susan, and the way she translated Insightful
comprehensible scientifi c messages 
Susan is and always 
in fascinating stories comprehensive 
 a force. Extremely 
for a non specialist, I remained up will be
passionate, diligent, yet, 
to date with the results and progress 
ously selfl ess. 
of livestock research in Africa. Well gener
Muthoni Njiru
done Susan and many thanks! 
Guido Gryseels
Dedicated
We fi rst met in DC at a CGIAR annual meeting. I was a fi lmmaker and 
my wife and I set up a hospitality suite in one of the conference hotels. 
Susan brought her fi rst fi lms for ILRI with her for everyone to watch 
and we had a spirited discussion about how to honour the language of 
the people in the fi lm and still make sure viewers could understand 
it. I had opted for subtitles but Susan argued that even subtitles took 
away from listening to the authentic voices of the speakers. That was in Glamorous-yet-hard-bitten-in-a-
996. Later, I visited as she was implementing the new branding for Hollywood-news-houndy-sort-of-way
~1
 
the Institute. I thought it then and still do, that it was fantastic. Hard to Sitting in her offi ce catching up on institutional news on occasional visits to
ithout her. and I left ILRAD. 
imagine ILRI w ILRI. Rocking on the chair that her husband made before Cyndie 
David Mowbray Reading her idiosyncratic newsletters to the Ag world. 
Samuel James Black
Dedicated 
I will remember Susan for many days to come. I worked 
with Susan when preparing for the storytelling session 
for the 2019 IPM. Her input, feedback and patience all 
through the practice session, and her smile during the 
session encouraged me to keep going. But even greater than 
that, is the mindset shift( for me) that was created from 
that opportunity. Most people want to see you succeed 
than fail. Therefore, make the most of the opportunities that 
come along for they allow you to envision/ imagine what 
could be. Thank you Susan. Best wishes. 
Anita Mutua
Passionate
Susan is so brilliant, so insightful, so fun, so wonderful. I’ve had the 
pleasure of knowing her for about 30 years, almost my entire career. 
I’ve always cherished working with Susan. She is such a talented 
writer, story teller, communicator. Her energy is boundless. She is 
an underappreciated “great” in our world of communications and 
agriculture. I’ve also so appreciated all of the many times we’ve dined 
together under the stars whether at an Italian restaurant in Nairobi or 
at her masterpiece of a house. Many hours of stories and laughter. 
Congratulations on a such a storied career and life!! I know you will have 
such fun in this next chapter!! Love you Susan! Can’t wait to see you the 
next time I’m in Nairobi!!!! And please come back to DC!!!! 
Ellen Wilson
Creative 
Susan did an interview of me a couple 
of years ago, and it was one of the most Ardent!
enjoyable such experiences I’ve had! She A great and warm team player! Among 
was prepared, asked great questions, and many precious opportunities I got to 
did an excellent job in refl ecting our interact with Susan, working with her in the 
interview. A thorough professional who GLAD project since 2016 has been awesome! 
will be greatly missed at ILRI! She would always reach out to me to check her 
Elsa A. Murano staff  time and to get other budgetary info. 
Susan is very good and passionate 
at what she does. 
Simon Turere
Mentor 
Susan, thank you for the many wonderful 
experiences of working with you and 
learning from you. I’ll always treasure 
learning to create photo fi lms and that 
fi rst outing to capture stories of Maasai 
livestock keepers in Kitengela after the 
‘Duckrabbit’ training that you organized! 
Your willingness to listen and readiness 
to ‘push’ your team into new experiences 
helped me learn and do my work in new 
and more fulfi lling ways. May your 
‘retirement’ be happy and adventure-fi lled!
Paul Karaimu
Beacon Multipotentialite 
Susan you are a beacon, your Where to start... overall - using a livestock metaphor - 
inner light shines brightly, you Susan takes to everything like a duck to water. Every new 
bring in and nurture increasingly 
more light and you generously share app or tool has an immense fascination for Susan and she 
your light with others, showing us eagerly dives into the deepest end and somehow surfaces 
all the way ahead. swimming and encouraging all around to get in as well... 
Keep the light shining! Such enthusiasm helped drive us all forward. I’ve chosen 
Eric Ouma as my favourite picture her old twitter profi le as it used 
to frequently pop up on my screens. Peter Ballantyne
Caring 
You’re just a lovely person—intelligent, comm
h i
u tt
m ed
a ,
n  
itarian— Amazing
and a great professional whos
s e
m  
iling face an I fi rst met Susan in 1987 which I was a new ILRAD employee. She 
d kind and humorous chats s
p t
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m d
i  
nently am was a private consultant. A friend took me to her house and we 
ong the good memories of my
e  
a v
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t s
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 t
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frica. visited. Our dear friend Sidney Wesley planned to move to Hawaii 
You made me feel like a specia
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t  f
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k d
 p  
art of y and we encouraged Susan to apply for the job. The rest is history. She 
our gift was to make everyone
t  
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a e
t l
  
way...) and has done such an amazing job over these many years putting ILRAD 
 inspired me. I wish you conti
g n
o u
od ed
 h  
ealth and and then ILRI’s best stories forward to inform the world of the 
 fulfi llment and hope you’ll b
c e
o  a
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t l
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 your g cutting-edge research and global outreach programs ILRI provides. 
reat blog, Taking Stock, but 
t a
h b
a o
t v
 e
y  a
o l
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enjoy r I wish Susan, a very happy retirement with lots of fun and friends. 
etirement and that we can cor
B re
i s
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s  
 from H Knowing Susan she will take up another amazing mantle to wear! 
ighland Mexico! 
Mike Listman Wishing you the best. Linda L Logan
Bright
Great trip to Il Ngwesi camp 
on Tomas’ 10th birthday. Always 
a friendly welcoming face on our 
returns to ILRI over the years. So 
many best wishes for retirement. 
Cynthia Baldwin 
and Sam Black
Commited 
I was very fortunate to be a staff member for several years on the ILRAD/
ILRI campus in Nairobi and to interact regularly with Susan. Her 
commitment, intellectual rigour and interpersonal skills were impeccable 
and her professionalism was superb. For the years when I was “out-posted”, 
Susan’s communications and support were invaluable and her enthusiasm 
unmatched. In sum, her contributions to establishing and projecting ILRI’s 
culture, programs and outputs were outstanding. A very hard act to follow!! 
Informative! 
So often, messages from Susan liven up an otherwise long and 
turgid inbox - and they are usually so forward looking. Thanks for 
doing your job so well - and very best wishes for your ‘next phase’. 
Richard Golding
Communicator-extraordinaire
Retirement is not end of work, it is end of employment. Enjoy the 
abundance of your own time and savor all you enjoy to do. 
All the best Susan! Mwai Ndegwa
Creative
Susan, you have been an inspiration for me and Super-
many others. Your energy, your outside-of-the-box engaged
thinking and readiness to challenge the status 
Always open to ideas 
quo are truly inspiring. I wish you all the best as 
and full of energy. 
you transition to (hopefully) less ILRI work and 
Eric Fevre
more new challenges. Silvia Alonso
Caring
Thanks for your immense contributions to ILRI over the years. I 
remember your visit to Mozambique in 2009 I think with Steve Mann 
for a photographing session. We visited villages around the country 
and the pictures of the families we spent time with stayed with me 
forever. You taught me to listen and communicate with clarity. You 
demonstrated care and encouragement to us and our partners. 
Enjoy the next chapter of your life. All the best with your endevours. 
Siboniso Moyo
A real diamond Best
Neil Diamond wrote a song for the Monkees Sending you my 
that best describes Susan. Okay slightly very best, Susan! 
tweaked for her and with apologies to Micky Derek Baker
Dolenz. 
I thought Comms was only good in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me
Time was out to get me
That’s the way it seemed
Useless waffl e haunted all my dreams
Then I saw her prose, now I’m a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I’m in awe, I’m a reliever
I couldn’t spare her if I tried
I thought Comms was more or less a givin’ thing
Seems the more I gave the less I got
What’s the use in typing?
All you get is slapped
When I needed Susan I got crap
Then I saw her prose, now I’m a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I’m in awe, I’m a reliever
I couldn’t spare her if I tried
Time was out to get me Icon
Now that’s the way it seemed Susan, you are the ICON 
Useless Waffl e haunted all my dreams of ILRI. You are the one who Phenomenal 
comes to mind as the true It’s always been an absolute 
symbol of ILRI. pleasure working and 
Oh then I saw her prose, now I’m a believer
interacting with you. All 
Not a trace… Thank you for many years 
of service to humanity. the very best (and keep 
blogging)! An Notenbaert
Tony Simons
Tadelle Dessie 
Energetic 
Susan is the face of ILRI Eclectic
communications. She is an 
Susan was already at ILRI when 
asset to ILRI, willing to help 
I fi rst started—and there long after 
and guide others in matters 
I left, forever enthusiastic, creative 
communication. and innovative. It was hard to fi nd her 
Terry Muindi gloomy and fed up. I wish her all the very 
best in the future, I know she will never 
be bored and never sit and wonder 
how to fi ll her time. She is an 
inspirational lady. 
Dannie Romney
Passionate
Susan your talent to illuminate 
the world of livestock helped keep 
the discussion textured, inclusive, 
and beautifully described—
both in words and images. 
Robynne Anderson
Encyclopaedic 
Susan has the most amazing memory of ILRI - she knows everyone who has worked for 
ILRI/ILRAD/ILCA and what they did. She is the embodiment of institutional memory. 
I have known and worked with Susan for the past 14 years. In my early days in Delhi I 
pointed out that nearly all the images used by ILRI were from Africa and she readily took 
up the challenge. I knew she had been listening to me when one year the ILRI calendar had Enthusi
more pictures from Asia than from Africa - many of then taken by Stevie Mann when as
I t
 w i
il c
l m  
iss your b
Susan and he spent more than two weeks on an extended tour of India taking photographs, logs. 
You have been a r
many of which still appear in ILRI material. Susan has also taught me a lot about how to eal 
contributor to the
communicate. We have worked together on so many brochures, stories, blogs and of course  visibi
o l
f i
 t
I y
L  
RI worldwide
on the 700+ page impact book. She is always full of good ideas which she describes with so . You
i  a
rr r
e e
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laceable. 
much enthusiasm. Her enthusiasm and energy remind me of someone who is starting out Michel Dione
on their career, not someone who is retiring. It is often said that no-one is irreplaceable in 
an organization, but in Susan’s case I can’t imagine anyone replacing her. Thank you 
Susan, for the irreplaceable things that you have done for ILRI and for me. Iain Wright
Dedicated
Susan once shared these three words Passionate Inspiring
that I always had on my desk, which helped When a new staff  member would 
Susan is very open minded. She 
to organize work: gather, order, present. Her be introduced at Friday morning 
blogs and stories are always so beautifully written, teas in the mid 2000’s, Susan would also appreciates all people, gives her 
full attention when interacting with you, 
they serve as examples for all of us in CGIAR and systematically ask them:” what 
beyond. But Susan is not only a great writer, she is a is your passion?”. I thought the and is ready to give everybody—no matter 
what their “level” is in the organization 
fan of life in all its aspects and she is fun too. question a little quirky at the time, 
I enjoyed every meeting, every social event where but experience has taught me that an opportunity to excel. It is rare to 
n was absolutely right. To make fi nd somebody with the heart and 
Susan was present, she suddenly made every Susa
hat Susan has. 
group smarter by starting good conversations. a true diff erence in this world—which enthusiasm t
A bientôt Susan!! is really about touching people’s lives I will miss you! 
Geneviève Renard in one way or another—sustained Julie Ojango
inspiration, determination and pursuit 
of excellence are all required. Susan 
has been a true example of what being 
passionate means all these years. 
Wishing you a post-employment period 
as fulfi lling and exciting as the fi rst 
part of your career Susan! 
Brigitte Laude
Open-minded
son. She has 
Susan is amazing per
ce and still 
so so much experien
ious, open-
remains humble, cur
ven g. She is so 
Dri minded and forthcomin
ng interest in our 
Susan is one of those people elegant in showi
work, creating a space to discuss 
who you could just have random 
it, and communicating it to the 
conversations with, while discussing 
ut, get distracted but then world. Susan and John are the 
some outp
 right back to the topic seamlessly! most impressive hosts in a most 
come
nks Susan for all your tireless work impressive dream house! 
Tha
ion to put livestock on Alessandra Galie
and dedicat
the global development map! 
Rupsha Banerjee
Loquacious, but not garrulous
I have so very many memories of Susan. Her fi rst days at ILRI, fi nding 
her feet, he warmth and enthusiasm at all times, he wedding day, what 
fun that was, her endless positivity, he devotion to the livestock cause 
regardless, her loveliness. 
Generous 
Susan, Thank you for always being so open and 
generous with me and my family. I love yours and 
John’s company, your beautiful dinners, and have 
missed it so much this past year. You are a brilliant 
and beautiful soul and I hope to see more of you 
in “retirement”! Michelle Geis Wallace
Passionate!
I always loved working with you 
Susan. I have fond memories 
of our trip to Maputo for the 
AGM in 2008. 
Liz Ogutu
Enthus
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I have such fond memories of our very fi rst 
meeting-was for comms people from CGIAR 
in 1989-in effect my fi rst day on the job at the 
Crawford Fund in Australia, with so many 
acronyms to learn and people to meet. But what 
luck-to fi nd such a friendly, committed person 
who I would go on to work with for over 30 
years-it’s always been a delight Susan and all 
the best for the years ahead! You will be greatly 
missed at ILRI! 
Cathy Reade
Leader, mentor 
Susan has been a leader and a mentor to many of us in the communications 
team. Those who she took under her wing fl ourished and became masters 
of their trades. Her willingness to trust and respect empowered us to take 
responsibility and grow personally and professionally. When we made 
mistakes she was there to help fi x it, without blaming. No matter if it was 
three o’clock in the morning the day before the deadline. Susan’s creativity 
Enthusiastic and highest commitment to quality writing and visuals raised the bar for all 
of us who continue to work with her. It is her tireless drive for excellence that 
I really appreciate her early and 
created ILRI’s trusted brand and shaped its visual identity. But above all her 
long-standing support for the 
gift to us are her stories. Her body of work put a human face on what would 
rangelands work at ILRI. 
otherwise be abstract research. Susan manages to square that circle: To tell 
She helped me to appreciate the 
stories that allow us to relate to people and animals alike all the while clearly 
importance of the historical as 
and simply communicating the science. And like everything else, she does 
well as current work. 
that elegantly, with style and true empathy for her subject. 
Polly Ericksen
Ben Hack
Vivacious
Susan is one of the most active, “full of life” persons that I 
know. Always ready to share, to engage and to give herself 
fully to whatever she is doing. Her writing styles are 
amazing and she could not have picked a better profession 
than communication as it is a natural gift that she has been 
bestowed with. We will miss her! 
Stella Yinza Kiwango
Dynamic and awesome
I have long admired Susan since I joined ILRI as 
a postdoctoral scientist. Today, I attribute my 
communications role at ILRI to Susan. She Impressive
brought me in to work on the Impact Book with 
John McIntire and Delia Randolph and since then Your legacy of creating 
joined the bioscience directorate to its enhance objectives and exciting stories 
visibility. I thank you for this! Susan has on the role and importance of 
breath and depth of institutional knowledge livestock is truly unique 
and pays attention to details, asks we follow the and will go on forever. 
style guide, reinforces English 101 and expects Appolinaire Djikeng
that we adhere to the high quality of information 
being shared with the wider audience which is inspiring. 
Susan, I am going to miss you and I hope I am as awesome 
as you are when I grow up :) 
Ekta Patel
Storyteller
“Life is about cherishing the past, facing the present, and moving 
ahead towards new milestones in your future!” The good thing is that 
you are not disappearing. Before joining ILRI as a board member and 
long before I became a staff  member, I was fascinated by your instinct 
for great stories. All my colleagues in the animal health industry 
were fascinated by how you were promoting livestock. With your 
communication and advocacy, you were promoting ILRI’s reputation 
and this over many decades. 
Dieter Schillinger
Dedicated 
It is impressive that Susan has been with 
Warm ILRI for decades - ever since I started 
I greatly cherish the warm Generous working for ILRI. I truly respect your 
connection I have with Susan, credited So, really, what is it about Susan? professionalism, dedication and your amazing 
a lot by her personality, unparalleled contribution to ILRI over the years. You 
● A deep level of generosity rare in a 
energy, and commitment. It’s a joy to see such have inspired us a lot in our profession and 
human being
a true selfl essness changemaker, the sense also in person. Wishing you all the best. 
of unity she brings to teams wanting to make a ● Unrivalled loyalty to people, Thanh Nguyen
difference. I have fond memories of the most animals and even institutions!
wonderful dinners and holidays shared, 
● Incredible insistence on the highest 
the long midnight talks. 
quality words, ideas, stories, Admired 
 Love and miss you Susan! 
images, textiles, colours. Insistence My dear Susan, this is to show my admiration 
Diana van Dorresteijn
poured out, day (and night) after to you for your several decades of work for ILRI. 
day (and night) after day (and You are truly an encyclopedia of the work, 
night), to show the world the story history, and people at ILRI. You together with 
of poverty and livestock. your comms team (Peter B, then Michael V, Chi 
N…) helped me understand and know how to 
● Ridiculously consistent and practice communication in research. Impressive 
prolifi c productivity that will not to see mountains of editing works you did, 
be matched by the elephant-sized including the ILRI Impact Book. Animal and 
shoes she leaves behind Human Health/Food Safety and Zoonosis is 
probably one of the programs that have worked 
● A discomforting ability to tell the 
truth to power, and do it over, and the most with you, also thanks to your synergy 
over, and over again with Delia. You are a lovely, committed and 
kind colleague and friend. I wish you all the 
● Unstoppable curiosity about the best for the next chapters of life. 
world and everyone and everything Hung Nguyen
in it
● A smile and laugh that makes you 
feel like you are fi nally home Excellent 
Susan was a very important person in ensuring 
● And a friend without parallel!
Robin Reid excellent visibility for ILRI. She must have had 
crazy working hours to support demanding 
clients, and with high expectations. Best wishes 
for a happy retirement!. 
Ben Lukuyu
Dynamic Humble warrior
Some of us have come to Susan is truly an extraordinary person. 
assume Susan will always be She is the “humble warrior,” deeply 
here sharing timely information, committed to alleviating hunger and 
bringing the frontiers of thoughts on advocating for the poor people of Africa, 
livestock’s complexities to our inboxes, but always behind the scenes, always 
enthusiastically supporting our shaky crediting others. She is passionate, 
attempts at communicating science and conveys that passion with gifted 
:-) We will miss you Susan. language. One memory among many: 
Dolapo Enahoro her wonderful, wonderful kindness in 
the aftermath of Jeff  Haskins’ death. 
I feel so lucky to be in Susan’s orbit. 
Passionate 
Susan, I will thank you all 
my life for teaching me how 
En to communicate science to the 
thu public. You opened my eyes on 
I s
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Superstar n , 
t and
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k t my career. Grateful forever! 
e
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Susan, ILRI won’t be the same without you!  M g
a u
r e Enjoy life! A big hug. 
i s
a .
  
Alexandr Mario Herrero
I will miss your welcoming smile, warm a Barreiros Jorge
words, and general positivity! I will always 
appreciate that you were one of the fi rst 
people to make me feel welcome at ILRI when 
I joined all those years ago. You have made a 
huge contribution to ILRI and probably know 
more about what ILRI has done over the years Thoughtful (both meanings of the word) 
than any other person! Wishing you the best 
Conversations with Susan are always diverse, engaging, interesting and 
moving forward and hope to keep in touch,  X.
thoughtful. She is also quick to compliment, and I want to believe they’re true 
Karen Marshall
as they really bolster one’s confi dence.  Jane Poole
Expressive
Memories of the delights of working with innovative ideas were instrumental. Creating 
Susan from a social scientist entering the a new “Knowledge Into Action” program. So 
biophysical scientist realm for the fi rst much of this inspired by, and supported by 
time (as famously quoted by Robin Reid Susan and her team—couldn’t have done 
at an annual meeting—”this is not soft it without her! Or Robin. Or Phil. Outside 
science, it is the hardest science”): Starting work memories: So many fun BBQs, parties 
in the early ‘90’s: New at ILRI. No-one is and safaris! I’m remembering the one with 
more welcoming and more informative Russ’s beer tap/cooler (designed by Chris 
than Susan—history, context, info on the Hinson, if I recall correctly? The Hinsonater, 
differing expectations of colleagues (wow!), wasn’t it?) Susan and John’s welcoming 
how to get things done, etc. Working hard backyard, almost a safari in of itself. And 
at ILRI. Nope, I’m not working into the wee John creating such a wonderful deck that 
hours and sleeping under my desk like we enjoyed for so many years! Cooking 
Susan. Gotta up the game! And make sure club with special friends and a skeptical 
she goes home at night…. Surviving at ILRI. John who turned into quite the chef—great 
Lots of institutional change needed. Told Thanksgiving fried turkey laughs and 
that ‘it must be nice to leave early’ as I rushed memories!!! And very special, almost surreal, 
out the door to breastfeed my infant. Said memories of coming out of the ICU and 
“F… Off” as I rushed out the door. Reassured being sent home to sleep while Susan spent 
later by Sue Mac and others that I wasn’t the night at the hospital keeping an eye on 
out of line, he was! Getting deeper into ILRI Frank so I didn’t have to. I learned then the 
and more importantly, our incredible global true power of friendship! Susan’s numerous 
challenges. How best to share our science and endless contributions to making this 
results, really think about communication world a better place are immeasurable and 
from the research and project design stage will be hard for those of us that were so 
and not at the end (‘here’s the fi ndings, privileged to work with her to adequately 
you share them!) Developing a livelihoods capture. Perhaps more revealing is the love we 
and poverty program—it was clear it was all have for her and so many fond memories 
needed; not so clear how to catalyse and associated with her. And they aren’t over! 
operationalize this; Susan’s advice and Patti Kristjanson
Round up chat testimonials for Susan
29 April 2021
Meron Mulatu: Hard to express Susan’s Okeyo Mwai: Susan highlighted my fi rst Alessandra Galie: Susan is such a special Siboniso Moyo: Thank you Susan for 
contribution in any form. work on genetic profi ling the architecture person to me, both as a friend and as a spending time with us in Mozambique 
of indigenous African cattle, especially the colleague. Thanks Susan. doing a photo shoot in 2008. The villages 
Cathy Reade/Crawford Oz: Watching this, in Ankole cattle, and it is only fi tting that she we visited across the country left a lasting 
the Vercoe room, I can’t help thinking that John has been give the Cattle book that summarizes Jane Chege: Well done Susan. Wishing you memory in me. Thanks for your passion in 
would have also had best wishes to send that work. true happiness and good health. communicating (listening, questioning). 
Diana van Dorresteijn: People who inspire, Alan Duncan: Yep—we love you Susan :-) DTadesse: a very inspiring picture deserves to Ann Mureithi: Susan is blessed! Superb at 
cajole, care and connect from the heart are to be Susan what she does. I have always admired her work, 
cherished a lot. Wonderful video! Warm hugs Getachew Dinede: It is a great culture to especially her writing skill Best wishes 
to all of you from the Netherlands, missing give credit for one’s contribution. Great Kindu Tegegne: Thank you, Susan, for your Susan in your future endeavours! Don’t act 
you across the seas and Susan (and John) in organization, ILRI. great contribution to ILRI and livestock keepers your age now you’re “retiring”... Act the inner 
particular a lot! in our continent and beyond. young person at heart you always have been! 
Emily Maru: Susan thank you for all the Full of life 
Eunice Machuka: Hilarious is missing (from mentorship and support over the years. Much Julius Osaso: Happy retirement Susan, ever so 
some of Susan’s articles of Taking stock)! love... easy to talk to and to bring out the message— Iain Wright: Thank you Susan for helping 
even brought in Al Jazeera to Film in the Labs me raise the profi le of ILRI in Asia when I 
Cathy Reade/Crawford Oz: Wouldn’t miss it. Terry Muindi: you are a wonderful person for a story—Amazing fi rst joined ILRI as Regional Rep for Asia. 
Been 32 years of collaboration! Susan. All the best! The photos you took with Stevie Mann are still 
SKiwango: Thanks Susan, for everything! 
being used.
Zoe Campbell: Susan caught me early when Jaindra Tripathi: Excellent painting by local You are a star!
I joined last year as a postdoc. We had coffee artist! Dieter Schillinger: When I worked still in 
and she was so excited about blog posts that now Geoff Alenga: Susan thanks for making me 
the international animal health industry, 
she has me writing 5-6 a year. They are in my Pacem Kotchofa: happy retirement time Susan! feel and know I had something of value to 
you were seen as the best comm/advocacy 
KRAs. Pretty sure I wouldn’t have done that on unfortunately we didn’t interact a lot but I did bring to ILRI when I was very new
model globally. All the companies would have 
my own. Happy retirement Susan. enjoy the couple of time we linked up. all the 
employed you immediately. But you were 
best Nicoline de Haan: Susan—we are not done 
Kristina Roesel: Susan helped me promote my yet—we need you for the gender narrative married with Africa (and John for sure).
fi rst book as a co-editor (with Delia) at ILRI in Christine Mosoti: congratulations, Susan, discussion— you are a vital part of the project!
Karl Rich: many thanks Susan for all of your 
2014. Thanks to her and the team’s effort I felt what a Stellar career. Enjoy a restful 
like a VIP for an afternoon ;-) retirement. GWamwere-Njoroge: My real personal contributions!
interaction with Susan was during ILRI’s last 
Annabel Slater: Thanks all. What an epic and 
Ram Pratim Deka: Wish you very good heath, Raphael Mrode: Best wishes Susan. You are IPM at Addis Ababa, when she helped me put 
emotional session. Shows ILRI is a great place 
peace and happiness, Susan! Sweet memories very supportive my personal story into shape....and encouraged 
with heart and good people
of our close association will linger in my mind me to share in that particular meeting........
for the years to come! Loyce Mbwaya: Thank you Susan, you are Thank you so much Susan....You made what Nehemiah Kimani: really kind words for 
really inspiring! When I started New staff I thought was just my small story to become Susan... nice video
Diana van Dorresteijn: Always putting people announcements blog, you assigned Paul as a real inspirational piece even to my own 
fi rst, why Susan is so loved! our editor to work with us. All the best! children...…….. Grace Miceka: We love you Susan.
Kristina Roesel: we love you too, Susan Iain Wright: I have learned so much from Vivian Atakos: Always admired Susan’s TMuindi: I don’t feel like leaving today’s 
Susan about communicating to different writing. And media engagement skills are top session... what a lovely tribute to Susan and 
Caroline Karwitha: Thank you for sharing the people. notch fantastic farewell message from Lindsay...
Infocenter with students. Creative, refl ective. 
Well done Susan.
Friends and colleagues 
who contributed fi nancially to Susan’s gift s:
Helen Altshul Li Lin Foo
Gail Amare Linda Logan
Robynne Anderson Karen Marshall
David Aronson Terry Muindi
Derek Baker Maria Mulindi
Peter Ballantyne Ann Mureithi
Rupsha Banerjee Anita Mutua
Burness Okeyo Mwai
Nicoline de Haan Hung Nguyen
Alan Duncan Liz Ogutu
Dolapo Enahoro Robert Oisebe
Mireille Ferrari Maria Omer
Alessandra Galiè and Ben Hack Amos Omore
Margaret Gill Andreas Palau
Ilona Gluecks Jane Poole
Richard Golding Tom and Delia Randolph
Jian-Lin Han Catherine Reade 
Olivier Hannotte Kristina Roesel
Godfrey Jabulani Manyawu Nadine Sanginga
Elizabeth Jessie Ian Scoones
Ericksen Joanna Bruce Scott
Paul Karaimu Shirley Tarawali
Steve Kemp William Thorpe
Theodore knight-jones Niels Tuefel
Patricia Kristjanson Michael Victor 
Rusell Kruska Iain Wright
T H A N K  Y O U
Susan!