Kristin Ruby

Private Sector Development Lead

Background

I’m Forum's Private Sector Development Lead. My work is focused on building relationships with businesses to engage in 1:1 partnerships and cross-sector or multi-stakeholder collaborations to accelerate systems change for a just and regenerative transition to a more sustainable world.

To be honest, I’ve struggled with my career success to date being directly linked to helping my clients drive unlimited growth, extraction and consumption. And so I decided it was time to be the change I wanted to see and went back to school. In February 2023, I achieved a post-graduate certification in Business Sustainability Management from CISL (Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership).

And now, I've begun my sustainability career journey here at Forum! I couldn’t be more excited to bring together my values, personal interests, skills and talents to help this organisation and our partners make the largest impact possible for people, planet and prosperity for all citizens.

I bring more than 20 years of experience as a change agent, global business relationship manager, and commercial leader with an extensive career that includes delivering award-winning solutions in digital business transformation, product/service innovation, digital marketing and brand advertising, new business model development, data-driven creative and media strategy, and team operations for clients in the technology, FMCG, healthcare, travel, retail and financial services sectors.

Dream project

My dream programme would be to bring together a multi-stakeholder partnership with large B2B and B2C Technology companies (hardware, network, component, software/SaaS, electronics and mobile) their suppliers (mainly plastics and rare minerals) working together with relevant NGOs to help shift their business models away from rapid, planned obsolescence. Instead, it would be ground-breaking to get them working together to build and sustain a thriving circular and economy.

What floats my boat outside work

Born in the USA and now London-based for more than a decade, I have dual British and American citizenship. I’m a home cook, foodie, wine-lover, yoga practitioner, avid reader, auntie of 10 and cultural explorer – all together with my amazing Portuguese husband. The very best is when I can combine food and wine with an outdoor adventure with friends – but maybe not all at the same time. Most recently this involved an intense climb up Table Mountain in Cape Town. Visits to vineyards, tidal pools and gardens followed, of course!

I’m an active member of Purpose Disruptors – reinventing the purpose of the Advertising & Marketing industry. I also continue to support several local south London charities close to my heart: the Trussell Trust (Lambeth Partnership of Foodbanks), the Borough Food Cooperative (reducing food waste), and The Robes Project (homeless advocacy and shelter) which is supported by my church, Southwark Cathedral.

Contact Kristin

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