Prior to setting up Artwise with Penny Roberts in 1996, Susie Allen was the Curator of the Painting Collection at the Royal College of Art and also ran the Fine Art Project Office for the College. During that period she also curated many exhibitions and published many catalogues with the students, ran one of the first professional practice programmes in the country and raised funds of over £2 million for students and various RCA projects.

One of her most successful fundraising events was establishing the Absolut Secret artists' original postcard project with Jaime Pitache. This project was covered by media all over the world and raised over £1/4 million for College students; it continues to this day. She has also taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate level in colleges and universities throughout the UK, and served as a juror on several art prizes and competitions and on many academic examination boards. Susie has been Chairperson of the Royal Academy of Art's Contemporary Patrons' Group since its inception in March 2005.

As an independent curator Susie selected and curated: The British Art Show in Vienna in 1984 for the British Embassy and the Contemporary Art Society (CAS); Exhibition Road: Painters from the Royal College of Art, the centenary exhibition for the RCA; American Passion: Paintings from the Summer's Collection; and 3 Ways, a touring exhibition for the British Council. She has also run contemporary art projects for the National Art Collection Fund, the CAS, Virgin Atlantic Airways in NY and the UK, Glasgow Museums, Pallant House Gallery, Wedgwood, Deloitte & Touche, Midland Bank, Absolut Vodka UK and USA, and TI Group.