Tan Sri Dato' Seri Sanusi Bin Junid was born on 10 July 1943 in Yan, Kedah. He had his early education in Yan Malay School from 1949 until 1953 and went on for his secondary school education in Ibrahim School, Sungai Petani, from 1954 until 1956. In 1957 he joined the Malay College of Kuala Kangsar (MCKK). He then continued his studies at the Institute of Bankers London, City of London College and the Institute of Export, London in 1969. He went on with his studies at London University where he obtained his 'Certificate of Foreign Trade and Foreign Exchange'. He also studied at the Berlitz School of Language, Germany.

Dato' Seri Sanusi Junid began his career as a trainee officer at the Chartered Bank in Seremban in 1963. In 1971, he was appointed as the General Secretary of Shamelin Cooperative and Senior Loans Manager of Chartered Bank, Kuala Lumpur. He was also appointed to the board of some government concerns among which was his appointment in 1973, as a Member The National Youth Deliberation Council, a Board Member of FELDA, Member of the National Deliberation Council on Industrial Training and Member of the National Advisory Board for the Protection of Consumers. In 1974, he was appointed as a Member of the National Monetory Council. Among other posts he had held was as the Director of the National Savings Bank in 1975 and as the Manager of Shamelin Bank. He was also a Member of the Bumiputera Investment Committee, Member of the National Action Council and in 1981, a Member of the National Planning committee.

His leadership talent earned him several important posts in the Cabinet. He served as the Deputy Minister of Land and Regional Development from 1978 to 1980 and the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs from 1980 to 1981. In 1981, he was appointed as the Minister for National and Rural Development and served in that capacity until 1986. He went on to became the Minister of Agriculture. He was appointed as the seventh Menteri Besar of Kedah and served from June 6 1996 until November 1999.

His involvement in politics began in Seremban in 1963 when he joined UMNO as an ordinary member. A year later, he was appointed as the UMNO Youth Secretary for Seremban branch. He went on to be appointed as UMNO Treasurer for the East Seremban Division in 1966 and he became the UMNO Information Chief and Chairman of the same Division in 1967. In 1969, he was appointed as the Information Chief for the Alliance Party Club, London. In 1974 he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Jerai, Kedah and in 1975 he was appointed as the Jerai UMNO Division Deputy Chief. In 1978, he became Kedah UMNO Information Chief.

In 1981, he was appointed as the Chairman of Malaysian UMNO Information Committee, Chairman of Malaysian UMNO Information Bureau and a Member of UMNO Supreme Council. In 1982, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Jerlun/Langkawi and remained a Member of UMNO Supreme Council. In 1984, he was appointed as the Malaysian UMNO General Secretary and in 1986 he was appointed as the Jerlun/Langkawi Division Chief. He was elected as one of UMNO's Vice Presidents in 1990 and in the year 2000 won a seat in the Kedah State Legislative Council, representing Jerlun constituency.

Outside of his official duties, Dato' Seri Sanusi Junid was a man active both in the corporate sector and the professional field. In 1975, he was appointed as Chairman of Insan Diranto Co. Ltd. In 1977, he served as Chairman of Tugu Insurance and Chairman of Obanto Management Consultancy Pte. Ltd. In 1978, he was appointed as a Senate Member of Mara University of Technology. In 1982, he was appointed as an Advisory Committee Member of Kobena and appointed tot the Senate of the University of Malaya. In 1983 Dato' Seri Sanusi Junid became the Chairman of the National Day Celebration Committee and a Member of the Malaysian Trades Council. He was appointed as the President of the International Islamic University in 2001. Among some of the posts that he had once held was the Vice President of ABIM, The Secretary General of the Malaysian association of Youth Clubs (MAYC).

Beliau juga aktif dalam bidang korporat dan juga profesional selain daripada tugas-tugas rasminya.

Dato' Seri Sanusi Bin Junid also wrote "Empat Penggal di Parlimen Keempat" (Four Terms in the Fourth Parliament) which was published in 1978. In 1980 he wrote "Kepimpinan Melayu Baru: Harapan dan Cabaran" (New Malay Leadership: Hope and Challenges) and "Biar Rugi Beribu Juta Untuk Menebus Maruah" (Let's Not Mind Losing A Thousand Million In Order To Regain Our Dignity) published in 1984. He also wrote "Semoga Tempayan Tidak Pecah" (May The Big Jar Not Break) which was published in 1985 and in 1986 he wrote "Di Hempas Badai Di Lambung Ombak" (Smashed by the Wind Thrown round by the Waves) which was followed by "Antara Dua Ramadhan" (Between Two Ramadans) in 1988, "Antara Fakta dan UMNO" (The Facts and UMNO) in 1990, "Jihad Membasmi Kemiskinan" (The Jihad to Eradicate Poverty) in 1990 and "Buang Yang Keruh, Ambil Yang Jernih" (Let Bygones Be Bygones" which was also written in 1990.

In recognition of his sterling services to the State and Nation, he was honoured with D.S.S.M., S.S.S.A., D.G.S.M., THE Setia Mahkota Kedah (S.M.K.), Dato' Setia Di Raja Kedah (D.S.SD.K.), Panglima Setia Mahkota (P.S.M.) and Seri Setia Di Raja Kedah (S.S.D.K.).