Honorary graduates 2010-11

Dame Julia Cleverdon (LLD)

Monday 12 July 2010, 2:30pm

Dame Julia Cleverdon is principally known for the formidable reputation she has acquired as a renowned leader and challenging speaker on business leadership, corporate responsibility and women’s development. She has been acclaimed for achieving real innovation and behaviour change in the boardrooms of the UK and internationally while Chief Executive of Business in the Community from April 1992 to March 2008.

Under her leadership the business-led organisation grew from £2 million to £24 million turnover with 400 staff and encompassed 800 member companies committed to improving their positive impact on society. Inspiring business to collaborate together to tackle community need, stem climate change, promote diversity and harness the engagement of employees in education were the hallmarks of Julia’s achievement.

Her energies in promoting responsible business practice and the significant impact and track record of her work continues in her two new roles – as a Vice President of Business in the Community, and as a Special Adviser to the Prince’s Charities on responsible business practice. She was listed by The Times as one of the 50 most influential women in Britain. She was appointed CBE in 1996 and CVO in 2002 and a DCVO in 2008.

She began her working life in 1972 in industrial relations at British Leyland, after graduating with a History degree from Newnham College, Cambridge. She joined the Industrial Society and was seconded to Anglo American in South Africa and then developed and led the Education and Inner City Division from 1981–1988. Julia was married to the late John Garnett CBE and has two daughters.