Bio

I have specialised in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) for over 20 years and lead Charlotte Sweeney Associates (CSA), a consultancy specialising in DE&I strategies and their sustainable implementation, which has been recognised in the Top 10 DE&I Professional Consultancies in the World by The Economist. I'm also listed as HR’s Most Influential Thinkers in the UK in 2022. CSA's clients include many well-known global companies from many diverse sectors and I have gained much of my global experience leading DE&I in-house for several companies in both Retail and Investment Banking. Having worked extensively in the UK, Europe, USA, Japan, and wider Asia I have a great understanding of creating meaningful global strategies that are relevant and tailored for local implementation. I work and influence at the C-Suite level in the private sector as well as advised Senior Leaders and Ministers within Governments. In 2014, I authored an independent review for the UK Government Secretary of State Sir Vince Cable on Women on Boards and Executive Search Firms, which shaped the ongoing expectations and requirements of Search Firms. I am the author of numerous industry reports and the co-author of the Financial Times published book ‘Inclusive Leadership – the definitive guide to developing and executing an impactful Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, locally and globally’, which was shortlisted for Management Book of the Year by The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) in 2018. I have held several Non-Executive Director roles, including 4 years as a Deputy Chair of an NHS Acute Trust with responsibility of over £500m annual spend. I have won multiple sector awards and received recognition for my work from academic institutes such as Harvard and Cambridge University, as well as being one of the first to gain Chartered Management Consultant status by the MCA. I am also a Fellow of the CIPD, RSA, PSA, CMI and College of St George’s Society of Leadership Fellows based at Windsor Castle. I was recognised in the UK New Year’s Honours 2017 list with an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Women and Equalities. When I'm not working, I like to spend my time either reading, with family and friends or walking my dog ... ideally by the sea.