Jill Ridley-Smith

Jill Ridley-Smith has a wealth of experience in the business and consulting fields, having held positions in various companies since 1994. Jill began their career as a Consultant at L.E.K. Consulting, where they developed a skill set that included strategic planning, presenting, financial valuation modelling, design and execution of projects, and management of internal teams. Jill then moved on to Management Development Associate at GlaxoSmithKline, where they gained experience in UK pharmaceutical sales and corporate consumer marketing. In 2000, Jill became an Associate Partner at HgCapital, where they were a lead investor and portfolio manager. Jill was also actively involved in strategic planning, performance management and organisational change to drive value.

In 2013, Jill began their roles as Non Executive Director and Business Advisor at Pearson Ham and Non Executive Director at Smartzer. Jill provided strategic advice and supported the CEOs of both companies, leveraging their experience to contribute to strategic thinking, financial planning and organisational development. In 2014, they became a Member of the Board of Governors at Nottingham Trent University, where they contributed to the development, consultation and monitoring of the new five-year strategic plan. Jill also provided strategic advice in the set-up of the University’s Enterprise Fund and now sits on the Investment Committee for this fund.

In 2015, Jill became a Non Executive Director and Audit & Risk Committee Member at Digital Catapult, where their focus was strategic planning and c-suite recruitment, commercial development and ESG and sustainability. In 2018, they joined Skarbek Associates as an Advisory Board Member and Nottingham Trent University as an Enterprise Advisory Board Member and Enterprise Investment Panel Member.

Since 2012, Jill has also been self-employed as a business consultant. In this role, they provide tailored consulting services in ESG/Sustainability focusing on \"Setting the Sustainability Scene\" information seminars, \"Setting your Sustainability Ambition\" strategic planning services and \"Embedding your Sustainability Strategy\" implementation, policies and procedures. Jill is also a Youth Business International (YBI) qualified advanced mentor, providing advice, support and guidance to CEOs of scale-up businesses.

Jill Ridley-Smith obtained a BSc in Economics from the University of Bristol between 1991 and 1994. Jill then went on to complete an MBA in Strategy from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management between 1998 and 1999. In 2021, they attended the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford for the Leading Sustainable Corporations program. In October 2021, they obtained the FSA Credential Level II Candidate from SASB Standards and is currently a candidate for the FSA Credential from SASB Standards, which they are expected to obtain in February 2022.