Dame Julia Cleverdon DCVO, CBE is a passionate and practical campaigner who has gained an international reputation for ‘connecting the unconnected’, inspiring individuals and organisations to work together for the common good in the most challenged communities.
During her tenure as Chief Executive of Business in the Community from 1991 to 2007, Julia worked closely with the President HRH The Prince of Wales in building a movement of 850 member companies. Julia later served as Special Adviser to The Prince’s Charities and focused efforts on disadvantaged communities.
Julia chairs Transform – an alliance of Teach First, Police Now, Unlocked, Think Ahead and Frontline to collaborate on the many common issues facing public service leadership, and inspire a whole new generation to take up critical community impact professional roles.
Julia co-founded Step Up To Serve (#iwill), which aims to make meaningful social action a part of life for young people across the UK. As Chair of Teach First from 2007 to 2014, and now Vice Patron, Julia has pioneered efforts to address educational disadvantage. She serves on the National Citizen Service, Careers and Enterprise Company and Youth Futures Foundation boards, is Deputy Chair of the Fair Education Alliance, and Chair of the National Literacy Trust.
