Speaker

Suzanne Townsen

Suzanne Townsen was most recently the Chief Diversity Officer for KPMG LLP. A role she has held since 2015. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Townsen was the East Region Advisory Leader and New York City Advisory Office Leader, while concurrently leading KPMG’s Women’s Advisory Board – a Board of 20 plus partners that focuses on the retention, development and advancement of KPMG’s women, recommending and executing programs and initiatives. Ms. Townsen began her career with KPMG in the Orange County Office in 1986, was admitted into the partnership in 2000 and concurrently appointed as Partner in Charge for Assurance Learning and Development. In 2003 Ms. Townsen transitioned into the Risk Consulting practice, focusing on assisting clients and Boards with architecting programs to meet governance, regulatory and business requirements. Ms. Townsen has also served as the Advisory Office Leader for New York City, the East Region Advisory Leader, Global Lead Partner for a Fortune 100 insurance company and National Managing Partner for Human Resources. Ms. Townsen has 31 years of audit, risk management, HR and inclusion and diversity experience. Ms. Townsen is currently leading the Advisory Practice for KPMG in Phoenix, AZ.

 

Ms. Townsen was an adjunct professor in Fordham University’s School of Education, teaching current issues and trends in the workplace to students in the master’s program in Human Resources Education. She is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and previously was a member of the AICPA’s EDMAX Committee, which addresses current issues in learning and development facing the public accounting profession. She has been recognized by Diversity Inc. as A Woman Worth Watching and is an honoree of the YWCA Tribute to Women in Industry. Ms. Townsen is a frequent speaker on women’s initiatives and is passionate about helping other women, believing strongly that we have an obligation to pay it forward.