Dr Susan Alberti AO
Susan Alberti was born in 1947 in Bairnsdale, Victoria. She is the co-founder and Managing Director of the DANSU Group based in Wheelers Hill in Melbourne’s east. Approximately forty years ago, Alberti and her first husband Angelo (now deceased) established the company as an industrial and commercial builder and developer of industrial estates and business parks.
DANSU Group successfully completed substantial commercial, industrial and property development projects, especially in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs, including Hallam, Dandenong, and surrounds.
Susan has supplemented her successful business career with a major contribution and commitment to fundraising and promotion of juvenile diabetes research. She is National President of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Australia. In 1994 she founded the Melbourne and Sydney annual “Walk for the Cure” around Albert Park Lake, a significant annual fundraiser which to date has raised more than $30 million toward the search for a cure for diabetes. It is now held in every state and in regional areas around Australia.
In 1995 Susan was invited to join the International Board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDFI) and in 2008 accepted an invitation to become JDRFI’s International Patron.
In 2004 Susan became a Board Member of the Western Bulldogs Football Club. For the past ten seasons Susan Alberti has been the Patron of the Western Bulldogs Football Club and founding Co-chair of the Western Bulldogs Forever Foundation.
Susan Alberti was a finalist in the Australian of the Year Award in 1997 and again in 2009.
In 1997 she received an AM (Member of the Order of Australia) for her contribution towards the cause of diabetes research. Alberti was awarded her AO (Officer of the Order of Australia) on January 26, 2007. This recognised her long and outstanding contribution to major medical research institutions, particularly as a philanthropist, fundraiser and advocate for juvenile diabetes care and research.