Suzie Muirhead (née Pearce) was born in Whangarei and attended Pompallier College before coming to Dunedin where she completed her BPhEd (Hons) in 1996, followed by an MA (Applied) in Recreation and Leisure with Merit at Victoria University of Wellington in 1998.
Selected for the New Zealand hockey team in 1993, Suzie was appointed captain of the national team in 2004, and became the most capped women's player in history with 238 caps before her retirement in 2006. Initially an inside forward, she became internationally respected as a world class midfield playmaker, and she was the Black Stick's top goal scorer on record with 41 goals. She was also Hockey New Zealand's Player of the Year in 2002 and 2006, and Wellington Sportswoman of the Year in 1997 and 2000.
Suzie Muirhead played at three Commonwealth Games, two Olympic Games, two World Cups, four Champions Trophies, two Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, and two Champions Challenge Tournaments, gaining a Bronze Medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and a Gold Medal at the 2005 Champions Challenge Tournament. She was awarded an MNZM for her services to women's hockey in 2007. Mother of two girls, Suzie currently runs her own management consulting business.