Ruby McGregor-Smith

Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE is a pioneering business leader and champion of inclusive leadership who specialises in unlocking diverse talent and transforming workplace cultures. As President of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and President of the British Chamber of Commerce, she combines exceptional strategic insight with a powerful track record of driving measurable change. Ruby made history as the first Asian woman to lead a FTSE 250 company, serving as Chief Executive of MITIE Group PLC where she grew revenues from £500 million to £2.2 billion, and authored the landmark 2017 McGregor-Smith Review on Race in the Workplace, which revealed £24 billion in lost economic value from poor diversity practices. She equips audiences with practical strategies to overcome prejudice, lead authentically, and build inclusive cultures that attract top talent, translating her lived boardroom experience into commercially grounded wisdom that drives both cultural change and business performance.

When Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE authored her landmark 2017 review on race in the workplace, she revealed a stark truth: poor diversity practices were costing the UK economy £24 billion annually. That government-commissioned report, now widely regarded as a defining moment in the national conversation about workplace equity, emerged from decades of Ruby's lived experience navigating boardrooms as the first Asian woman to lead a FTSE 250 company. Today, as President of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and President of the British Chamber of Commerce, she channels that same rigour into transforming how organisations approach leadership, inclusion, and talent development. Her work sits at the intersection of commercial strategy and social impact, demonstrating that diverse, inclusive cultures are not aspirational luxuries but fundamental drivers of business performance.

Ruby's credentials reflect exceptional corporate leadership combined with sustained public service impact. As Chief Executive of MITIE Group PLC from 2007 to 2016, she led the UK's largest facilities management business, growing revenues from £500 million to £2.2 billion whilst employing over 65,000 people. Recognised by the Financial Times as a top 50 female world business leader, she has built an extensive portfolio spanning Chair roles at Mind Gym plc, the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education, and the Air Operators Association, alongside board positions with Mace Group, the Department for Education, and Everyman Media Group plc. A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Ruby received the profession's most prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award in 2015. Her government contributions extend beyond the McGregor-Smith Review to include chairing the Women's Business Council from 2012 to 2016 and serving as UK Government In-Work Progression Commissioner. As a member of the House of Lords, she continues to shape policy on employment, skills, and economic opportunity whilst championing apprenticeships and technical education as pathways to social mobility.

Ruby equips audiences with practical strategies to overcome prejudice, unlock untapped talent, and lead authentically in complex organisations. She translates her boardroom experience into actionable insights on building inclusive cultures, implementing flexible working practices, and creating environments where diverse teams thrive. Whether addressing executive teams grappling with cultural transformation, HR professionals navigating employment reform, or aspiring leaders seeking to break barriers, Ruby delivers commercially grounded wisdom that connects diversity to measurable business outcomes. Her presentations move organisations beyond tokenism towards genuine equity, demonstrating how inclusive leadership fuels innovation, attracts top talent, and strengthens resilience. Audiences leave with clarity on how to turn diversity from compliance exercise into competitive advantage, equipped with the tools to create workplaces where everyone can contribute their full potential.