Journalist becomes new Rotary North East District Governor

Sue Campbell, who became the first female president of Darlington Rotary in 2019, succeeded Joy Palmer Cooper as District Governor of Rotary North East at a handover ceremony in Newcastle.

Sue started her career as a journalist on the Skyrack Express, in West Yorkshire, and went on to work for the Lincolnshire Echo, Darlington and Stockton Times, and Middlesbrough Evening Gazette, while also spending time as a fashion magazine editor in Hong Kong.

She later spent 18 years at Darlington College, becoming Head of Journalism, before being appointed as a director of the college, managing external relations.

Sue was proud to become the first female president in 96 years of Darlington Rotary, and is “deeply honoured” to now become District Governor of a region covering 49 Rotary clubs.

“One of my aims as District Governor is to try and dispel the old-fashioned image of Rotary. Many people still think it’s a club for older men, a sort of secret society, who meet for dinner or lunch and pat each other on the back,” she said.

“That could not be further from the truth, and I want the emphasis of Rotary to be about communications and telling people how brilliant our groups and members are at contributing to bettering the lives of people in their communities.

“Rotary has changed hugely and now has as many women as men, with members who are old, young, rich, poor, working, retired and unemployed. It’s a great place to network, help your community and meet amazing people.”

Sue has also served as Darlington Rotary’s Chair of Public Relations and Marketing, and Chair of Rotary North East’s Communications and Public Image Committee.