GDST Alumna of the Year

We are delighted to announce that Croydon High’s incredible alumna Susie Ma has been selected as a finalist for the GDST Alumna of the Year Award!

Susie Ma is an award-winning entrepreneur and philanthropist. She is the Founder and CEO of Tropic Skincare and a dedicated philanthropist with a keen focus on creating a healthier, greener and more empowered world. Tropic Skincare has been recognised at numerous stages so far including ‘Fastest Growing Skincare Brand in the UK’ in the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 league table for five years running. Most recently, JP Morgan has ranked Tropic Skincare the 14 best female-powered company in the UK.

Its commitment to sustainability and disrupting the industry has also been widely recognised including Best Carbon Neutral Brand’ in the Marie Claire’s Sustainability Awards. In 2021, Tropic Skincare was awarded 100/100 on ‘The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation Index’, a high accolade highlighting their commitment to meaningful change.

Susie Ma is an inspiration to many: in 2018 she secured a place on Forbes 30 Under 30 list, specifically for her work in the Retail and E-commerce category. Susie’s personal philanthropic pursuits are deeply embedded into the ethos at Tropic Skincare. With her leadership, Tropic frequently raises funds for brilliant causes including the Trussell Trust, United World Schools, Beam and Eden Reforestation Projects. This year alone, Tropic has funded a year’s worth of education for 4,000 children in rural Asia, who’d otherwise not receive one. Tropic Skincare also funded and opened a new forest with Forestry England in Hampshire, free for the public to visit.

Susie has even taken part in three Strive Challenges, pushing herself to the limit physically and mentally to raise funds for Big Change, an education charity focused on enabling young people in the UK to thrive.

We are really proud of Susie and all she has achieved!

You can vote for Susie to win Alumna of the Year here on the GDST website. Voting closes Sunday 3 July.