Workshop Presenter

Background

Susan Carew the creator of Funny business OWN Empowerment and has 10 years experience as a market analyst researching customer opinion and satisfaction studies for a wide variety of clients.  Susan has taught marketing and market research at TAFE and has been invited to speak at universities

Susan has an in-depth experience of corporate settings having worked in approximately 400 companies across most industries.  This experience provided a depth of insight into issues that are prevalent within companies.

Susan was invited to become a business mentor for the Enterprise Institute of Australia (later the Institute of Company Directors) in Canberra for approximately 7 years. 

Susan's passion is peace and conflict studies.  She has conducted research into the areas of: peace, non-violence and laughter in relation to conflict resolution, anti-bullying and world peace.

Susan is a Rotary Scholar and was chosen from a world wide candidacy to study Peace and Conflict Studies at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.  This course of study combined both theoretical study provided by experts from across the globe and also practical field trips to develop conflict mapping, conflict resolution skills and sensitivities to conflict issues.  Susan was amongst professionals from Kashmir, DRC Congo, USA, Canada, Nigeria, Brazil, Timor Leste, iNDIA, and the Philippines.  The course was comprehensive and very informative.

Susan aka Peacefull/fool has entertained the public as a World Peace Clown in hospitals and public spaces since 2000. The purpose of clowning is to bring laughter, healing and joy to create a sense of unity between people. Clowning also facilitates personal development in respect of learning unconditional love and self confidence.

In 2002, Susan was invited by the American Clown Doctor, Dr. Patch Adams to clown with an international team of clowns in Russia. The clowns visited orphanages, hospitals, nursing homes, shopping centres and were a visible presence on the streets of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The purpose of clowning in this context was to create connection, joy and unity between people. The experience reinforced change through action. To create something you have to 'be' it or lead by example, as Gandhi stated: ‘To be the Change You Wish to See in the World ’.

Susan was invited to speak at the International Conference on Peace and Reconciliation (2003), at Melbourne University and to deliver papers on:

‘How Effective is Laughter and Comedy in Creating an Atmosphere of Positive Peace?’
‘To What Extent is Non-violence a Solution in Creating a Durable World Peace?’

Susan produced a values based peace, nonviolence and anti-bullying program entitled REAL HOPE for primary school children in Australia. This program is unique teaching and empowering non violent and peaceful behaviours.

Whilst in Thailand Susan conducted Healing and Humour (clown) workshops for Chulalongkorn Hospital (Thailand).  These workshops were the first in Thailand.  She later travelled to Vietnam and provided workshops for mental health professionals (Community Research, Training Center for Community Development, Hanoi)