Suzanne Blackwell | |
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 Blackwell in October 2024 | |
| Awards | Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | University of Auckland |
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| Doctoral advisor | Fred Seymour |
Suzanne Joy Yerex Blackwell MNZM is a New Zealand clinical psychologist, and holds an honorary position at the University of Auckland. In 2024 Blackwell was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to clinical and forensic psychology and the law.
Blackwell completed a PhD titled Child sexual abuse on trial at the University of Auckland in 2007. [1] She is an honorary academic at the university. [2] Blackwell is a clinical psychologist who works in the areas of child sexual abuse and professional ethics. [3] Blackwell has appeared as an expert witness at a number of court trials, including that of Peter Ellis, where she was a witness for the Crown. [4] [5] [6]
Blackwell has researched how a juror's misconceptions about sexual abuse might affect their decision-making in court, and has provided expert evidence to courts on counter-intuitive behaviour in complainants, such as why complainants might delay taking action, retract their complaints, or might stay in contact with abusers. [3]
Blackwell has chaired conduct committees for the New Zealand Board of Psychologists. [3] She co-founded the Family Court Psychologists’ Specialist Report Writers Association. [3] Blackwell was an editor and author of the 2018 Psychology and the Law in Aotearoa New Zealand. [3]
In 2011 Blackwell was awarded the Ballin Award by the New Zealand Psychological Society for her contribution to clinical psychology. [7] In the 2024 King's Birthday Honours Blackwell was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to clinical and forensic psychology and the law. [3]
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