Heather has held challenging positions in both the private and public sector. She made headlines when she took over at Lambeth, seen as the worst council in London, and again at Millwall FC. In each case she succeeded in regenerating embattled organisations. She’s since served on Crossrail’s board and become the first female Director at the FA. Heather sets out how to tackle resistance to change, push boundaries and increase the number of women leaders.
View / Submit‘Heather was refreshing and different. Feedback has been very good.’ Barclays
Heather Rabbatts qualified as a Barrister and then became the youngest CEO of a local Authority, in the London Borough of Lambeth where she led an organisational turnaround together with working with partners transforming the South Bank, including The London Eye.
Over the last twenty years Heather has developed a new career across media and sports. She became the first woman and person of colour on the Board of the Football Association and has long championed anti racism and inclusion across the game. Heather was part of the founding group of Kick Racism out of the Football, advising UEFA on women’s leadership and trying to build pathways for Black coaches with the Leagues.
She has founded the Women’s Sports Group with a core value of driving equity across Women’s Sports. They have worked with DAZN on the European Women’s Champions League, an LA based Women’s Soccer Team, Angel City, and were the advisors on the first WSL landmark media rights deal and many more clients across the spectrum of the sports ecology.
Alongside her sports focus she is Chair of 42, a talent management and TV/Film production company and was involved in producing the film Silent Twins with Letitia Wright. She has now formed a film company, 48 Films with two other producers and is developing a range of both film and TV titles.
Heather chairs Soho Theatre the home of comedy. She also chairs a new film studio Garden City in West London.
Heather has been a non-executive director on many Boards and is a member of Associated British Foods, the owners of multiple businesses around the world including Primark.
Her speaking engagements have been across multiple sectors and often focus on leadership and cultural change.
Heather is a regular speaker on radio and TV on football and women sport.