Available to book

Governance pioneer & diversity leader

Heather Rabbatts

Diversity and Inclusion

Effective Leadership

Digital Transformation

Transform leadership diversity with Dame Heather Rabbatts, speaker and governance pioneer. Heather works with organisations to advance inclusion and institutional reform, delivering groundbreaking expertise as the first woman on the FA board and BBC's 100 Women honoree.

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Trusted by Barclays, FA, BBC

Heather Rabbatts

London, United Kingdom

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London, United Kingdom

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Contact PepTalk for fees

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loading@getapeptalk.com

Give us a call

+44 203 835 2929

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No upfront fee

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Heather Rabbatts's biography

Legal

Broadcaster

Women in Business

Football

Soccer

At a glance

Youngest council chief in the UK
First woman and ethnic minority FA director
Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Dame Heather Rabbatts is a Jamaican-born British solicitor, businesswoman, and broadcaster. She gained prominence as the Chief Executive of the London Borough of Lambeth, the youngest council chief in the UK. Heather served as a Football Association director from 2011 to 2017, becoming the first woman and ethnic minority person in such a position. She was also the only woman on the board during her tenure. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Heather moved to England at three. She left school with five O-levels and attended evening classes to study for A-levels. She then studied at the London School of Economics and became a barrister in 1981. After working in local government, Heather became the Chief Executive of the London Borough of Lambeth in 1995, making significant improvements in housing, education, and council tax collection. She was also the founder and co-chair of iMPOWER, a public sector consultancy. In addition to her work in local government, Heather held various directorships and oversight roles, including serving as a Governor at the London School of Economics, an Associate of The King's Fund, and a member of the board of directors at the British Council. She was also a Trustee of Malaria No More UK and later became the Chair of Trustees. In 2010, she was assessed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4. Heather was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2016. She was also listed as one of BBC's 100 Women in November 2016.

Why we recommend booking Dame Heather

Book Dame Heather Rabbatts as a speaker to inspire your team with her groundbreaking achievements as the first woman and ethnic minority director at the Football Association. Her diverse experience in law, local government, and business leadership offers invaluable insights into overcoming barriers and driving systemic change. Elevate your event with her compelling resilience, innovation, and leadership story.

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Trusted by Barclays, FA, BBC

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What topics does Heather Rabbatts specialise in?

Heather Rabbatts specialises in discussing local government, sports administration, public sector consultancy and more.

What is Heather Rabbatts's speaking style like?

Heather delivers with authority and clarity, drawing on deep leadership experience. Her style is inclusive and impactful, fostering positive change and inspiring confidence in diverse professional and public sector settings.

How can I book Heather Rabbatts for my next event?

Email heather.rabbatts@getapeptalk.com or call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience. As speaker agents, PepTalk can secure Heather Rabbatts for commercial and corporate events, conference keynotes, leadership talks, celebrity brand endorsements & partnerships, personal appearances, and motivational speaking engagements. We can assist with enquiries about Heather Rabbatts's speaking fees, availability, and booking process for private business functions, industry conferences, and team events. Please note, for media interviews, autographs, charity appearances, or personal matters, we recommend contacting Heather Rabbatts directly.

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