Sue Vardon is a Social Worker with an honorary doctorate from the University of South Australia. She has been a Chief Executive Officer since 1985 - Community Services, Public Sector Reform and Correctional Services. In June 1995, Sue was named the Inaugural Telstra Businesswoman of the Year. In January 1997, Sue was appointed by the Commonwealth Government to the position of Chief Executive Officer, Centrelink.

Sue is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration, Australia. In November 2000, Sue was elected to be the National President of the Institute of Public Administration Australia. Sue is an Adjunct Professor, Institute of Governance, University of Canberra. In August 2001, Sue was appointed as a guarantor member of Mt Eliza Business School and as a member of the Mt Eliza Business Council.