Leaders want to create impact. But how do you lead for impact when the problems you are trying to solve are global, systemic, and often invisible until something goes wrong? Ruth Boumphrey, Chief Executive of Lloyd’s Register Foundation, explains how the Foundation is working to make the world safer by shaping the necessary evidence and standards that help knowledge translate into action at scale.
Ruth reflects on the Foundation’s unusual model as a charity that owns a business, and how that independence allows it to take a long-term view. She describes the shift in strategy under her leadership: a stronger focus on maritime systems, safer and more sustainable infrastructure, and the skills needed to support both, alongside a growing commitment to locally led decision-making.
Looking ahead, she discusses the importance of better safety data, the role of leadership in creating safer organisations, and why difficult conversations matter in high-risk environments. From the World Risk Poll to community-led safety programmes, Ruth makes the case that progress starts by seeing problems clearly and building systems designed to keep people safe.
Supported by Norman Broadbent
Ruth Boumphrey