Who We Are.

Daylight is led by Susan Sawbridge, a strategist with 25 years of experience across the visitor economy, sport, culture and major events. Her career spans international education, tourism, business events and national event leadership.

Sooz has worked with local authorities, governments, rights holders, sporting federations and global partners, giving her a deep understanding of how decisions are made, how systems work, and what it takes to deliver outcomes that create value for people and place. During her five years heading the New Zealand Government’s major events function, she led government involvement in some of the world’s largest events, from the FIFA Women’s World Cup to the America’s Cup, and guided the sector through the challenges of COVID‑19.

Passionate about equity and community, Sooz serves as Chair of Women in Sport Aotearoa. She is a Director on the Super Rugby Pacific Governance Board. She was a founding member, and later the Chair, of the International Association of Event Hosts, strengthening global connections for the world’s leading event hosts.

Our Associates.

Whether working locally or internationally, Daylight builds partnerships based on trust, clarity and shared purpose, always focused on creating lasting value for people and place.

Daylight assembles the right mix of expertise through a trusted network of collaborators, ensuring every piece of work is grounded in insight, partnership and practical action. This model means every project gets a tailored team. It brings together diverse perspectives, deep sector knowledge and practical experience, ensuring that advice is grounded, strategic and ready for implementation.

  • Duncan Croft

    Chapter & Verse Communications
    Strategic communications and External Relations

  • Karen Weir

    Eventyr Consulting
    Event feasibility, bidding, strategy and planning/operations

  • Stephen McLean

    McLean Events
    Event Development and Strategy Professional

  • Martin Sawbridge

    Found Design
    Design specialist: human-centred design, workshop design and facilitation, design thinking and visual design

  • Mike Armstrong

    Armstrong Sport
    Sport, Public Policy, and Social Impact Specialist

  • Stuart Turner

    Purple Moon
    Strategy, Project Management, Event Bids and Organisational Change

  • Scott Hamilton

    Rautaki
    Financial analysis, mergers and acquisitions, investment management, and business development.

  • Anna Hayward

    Business events specialist

Why Daylight?

Natural daylight helps you see what’s around you: it’s open, honest and revealing. That’s the essence of Daylight’s work - uncovering what matters and showing a clear way forward.

To “daylight” a stream is to bring it back into view after it has been built over. Restoring it improves the environment, strengthens community wellbeing and, over time, creates economic value. Daylight takes the same approach with strategies, projects and places: revealing strengths, identifying gaps and shaping solutions that endure and bring broad benefits.