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{{EngvarB|date=December 2017}}
'''Heather Rabbatts''' [[Member of the Order of the British Empire|CBE]] (born [[6 December]] [[1955]]) is a Jamaican-born British lawyer, businesswoman and broadcaster, who rose to prominence as Chief Executive of the [[London Borough of Lambeth]], advertised as the "worst job in local government".
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
'''Dame Heather Victoria Rabbatts''', [[Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire|DBE]] (born 6 December 1955) is a Jamaican-born British solicitor, businesswoman, and broadcaster, who rose to prominence as Chief executive of the [[London Borough of Lambeth]], the youngest council chief in the UK. She served as a [[Football Association]] director from 2011 to 2017 and was the first ethnic minority person to do so. She was also the only woman on its board.<ref name="independent_080815">{{cite news|last1=Mott|first1=Sue|title=The 50 most influential women in sport: The full list|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/the-50-most-influential-women-in-sport-the-full-list-10446935.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220509/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/the-50-most-influential-women-in-sport-the-full-list-10446935.html |archive-date=9 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|accessdate=12 August 2017|work=The Independent|date=8 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="telegraph_061417">{{cite news|last1=Rumsby|first1=Ben|title=FA's first black female director quits over 'lack of progress' for ethnic minority coaches|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/06/14/fas-first-black-female-director-quits-lack-progress-ethnic-minority/|accessdate=12 August 2017|work=The Telegraph|date=14 June 2017}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
Rabbatts was born in [[Kingston, Jamaica]] in 1955 and moved to England at the age of three. She was educated at the [[London School of Economics]] and became a [[barrister]] in [[1981]]. From 1987, she worked in [[local government]], until 1989 when she became Deputy Chief Executive of [[London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham|Hammersmith and Fulham]]. She then became [[Chief Executive]] of [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]] before being appointed to the post of Chief Executive of Lambeth in [[1995]]. Under her charge, Lambeth did not entirely shed its image of a poorly-run [[Local Government in the United Kingdom|council]] but was seen as more forward-thinking, dynamic and youthful. There were significant improvements in housing, education and [[council tax]] collection.
Rabbatts was born in [[Kingston, Jamaica]] in 1955 and moved to England, when she was three years old. She left school with five O-levels and attended evening classes to study for A-levels. She attended the [[London School of Economics]] and became a [[barrister]]<ref>{{cite book|title=The Public Sector: Managing The Unmanageable|year=2013|author=Stevenson, Alexander|publisher=Kogan Page Limited |isbn=978-0-7494-6777-7}}</ref> in 1981.


==Career==
Upon leaving Lambeth, in March 2000, Rabbatts became Chief Executive of [[iMPOWER]], a [[public sector]] consultancy, which she founded. She subsequently became co-chair of iMPOWER and moved on to be [[Managing Director]] of [[Channel 4]]’s education programmes and business, [[4Learning]].


===Local government===
⚫
Rabbatts was a [[Governor]] of the [[BBC]] from 1999 to 2001, resigning upon her appointment to Channel 4. She is a Governor at the London School of Economics, an Associate of The [[King's Fund]] on the [[Board of directors]] at the [[British Council]] and was awarded the CBE in the 2000 [[New Year Honours]] list.
From 1987, she worked in local government, becoming deputy chief executive of [[London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham|Hammersmith and Fulham]] in 1989. She became chief executive of [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]] before being appointed to the post of chief executive of Lambeth<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/18bldNZFPpg52GXVksdVS60/heather-rabbatts-cbe|title=Woman's Hour Power List, Woman's Hour – Heather Rabbatts CBE – BBC Radio 4|publisher=BBC|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> in 1995.


There were significant improvements in housing, education, and [[council tax]] collection. She made her name as the youngest council chief in the country. On leaving Lambeth, in March 2000, Rabbatts became Chief executive of [[iMPOWER]], a [[public sector]] consultancy, which she both founded and was co-chair.
On [[3 May]] [[2006]] Rabbatts was appointed as the new Executive Deputy Chair of [[Millwall F.C.]], and on [[27 October]] [[2006]] she was appointed as Executive Chairwoman of Millwall Holdings plc, taking over from [[Peter de Savary]].


===Directorships and oversight===
==Sources==
⚫
Rabbatts was a Governor of the [[BBC]] from 1999 to 2001, but resigned upon her appointment to Channel 4 where she was managing director of [[Channel 4]]'s education programmes and business, [[4Learning]]. She is a Governor at the [[London School of Economics]], an Associate of The [[King's Fund]] and on the board of directors at the [[British Council]].<ref name=":0" />
* [http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article1919078.ece ''The Independent'': "A Jamaican-born tigress of the business world is daring to make her mark in a Lions' Den of football", 22 October 2006.]

In 2010, Rabbatts became a Trustee of Malaria No More UK and later took over as the Chair of Trustees.

In February 2013, she was assessed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by [[Woman's Hour]] on [[BBC Radio 4]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qlvb/features/power-list-100|title=Woman's Hour – The Power List 2013|work=BBC Radio 4|accessdate=30 December 2015}}</ref>

===Football===
On 3 May 2006, Rabbatts was appointed as the new Executive Deputy Chair of [[Millwall F.C.]], and, on 27 October 2006, she was appointed as Executive Chairwoman of Millwall Holdings plc, taking over from [[Peter de Savary]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/heather-rabbatts-pushing-back-the-boundaries--thats-what-really-excites-me-421114.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220509/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/heather-rabbatts-pushing-back-the-boundaries--thats-what-really-excites-me-421114.html |archive-date=9 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Heather Rabbatts: 'Pushing back the boundaries – that's what really excites me'|work=The Independent|date=21 October 2006 |accessdate=30 December 2015}}</ref>

On 22 December 2011, Rabbatts became the first woman to be appointed as a director of [[The Football Association]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/dec/22/football-association-heather-rabbatts-director Football Association names Heather Rabbatts as first female director], ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 22 December 2011.</ref>

In October 2013, she criticised the make-up of the Football Association's commission to improve the national team as being "all-white, all-male";<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24592596|title=FA commission: Heather Rabbatts criticises all-white group|date=2013-10-19|access-date=2019-10-05|language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Rio Ferdinand]] was subsequently added to the commission.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/20/rio-ferdinand-roy-hodgson-relationship-fa-commission|title=Rio Ferdinand and Roy Hodgson renew tricky relationship on FA commission|last=Gibson|first=Owen|date=2013-10-20|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-10-05|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

On 1 June 2015, she resigned from [[FIFA]]'s anti-discrimination taskforce following [[Sepp Blatter]]'s re-election as president.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/01/heather-rabbatts-resigns-fifa|title=Fifa crisis: FA's Heather Rabbatts resigns from FIFA over 'disastrous' events|work=The Guardian|date=June 2015 |accessdate=30 December 2015}}</ref>

On 14 June 2017 it was announced that she would step down from the board of the FA<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40271702 |title=Heather Rabbats resigns from FA Board| work=BBC News|accessdate=14 June 2017}}</ref>

===Media===
On 24 July 2011, she was the guest on ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'' on [[BBC Radio 4]]; her chosen favourite song, book, and luxury item were [[Corinne Bailey Rae]]'s version of "[[Que Sera, Sera]]", [[Jane Austen]]'s ''[[Pride and Prejudice]]'', and a solar powered digital photo album, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/castaway/d7984e93|title=Desert Island Discs: Heather Rabbatts.|access-date=29 July 2011|archive-date=7 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007053725/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/castaway/d7984e93#b012qn4z|url-status=dead}}Retrieved 29 July 2011.</ref>

In April 2014, she was a judge in the BBC Woman's Hour power list 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Woman's Hour Power List 2014 – the panel|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qlvb/features/power-list-panel-2014|publisher=BBC Radio 4|accessdate=30 December 2015}}</ref>

==Honours==
Rabbatts was appointed [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the [[2000 New Year Honours]] and [[Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (DBE) in the [[2016 New Year Honours]] for services to football and equality.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=61450|supp=y|page=N8|date=30 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New Year's Honours 2016|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-years-honours-2016|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|accessdate=30 December 2015|date=30 December 2015}}</ref> In November 2016, she was listed as one of [[100 Women (BBC)|BBC's 100 Women]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-38012048|title=BBC 100 Women 2016: Who is on the list?|date=21 November 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=28 July 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.londonspeakerbureau.co.uk/heather_rabbatts.aspx Heather Rabbatts speaker profile]


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[[Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics]]
[[Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics]]
[[Category:British television executives]]
[[Category:British television executives]]
[[Category:Women television executives]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Business speakers]]
[[Category:People from Kingston, Jamaica]]
[[Category:Jamaican emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Women association football executives]]
[[Category:Sportspeople awarded damehoods]]

Latest revision as of 10:18, 22 July 2024

Dame Heather Victoria Rabbatts, DBE (born 6 December 1955) is a Jamaican-born British solicitor, businesswoman, and broadcaster, who rose to prominence as Chief executive of the London Borough of Lambeth, the youngest council chief in the UK. She served as a Football Association director from 2011 to 2017 and was the first ethnic minority person to do so. She was also the only woman on its board.[1][2]

Early life and education

[edit]

Rabbatts was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1955 and moved to England, when she was three years old. She left school with five O-levels and attended evening classes to study for A-levels. She attended the London School of Economics and became a barrister[3] in 1981.

Career

[edit]

Local government

[edit]

From 1987, she worked in local government, becoming deputy chief executive of Hammersmith and Fulham in 1989. She became chief executive of Merton before being appointed to the post of chief executive of Lambeth[4] in 1995.

There were significant improvements in housing, education, and council tax collection. She made her name as the youngest council chief in the country. On leaving Lambeth, in March 2000, Rabbatts became Chief executive of iMPOWER, a public sector consultancy, which she both founded and was co-chair.

Directorships and oversight

[edit]

Rabbatts was a Governor of the BBC from 1999 to 2001, but resigned upon her appointment to Channel 4 where she was managing director of Channel 4's education programmes and business, 4Learning. She is a Governor at the London School of Economics, an Associate of The King's Fund and on the board of directors at the British Council.[4]

In 2010, Rabbatts became a Trustee of Malaria No More UK and later took over as the Chair of Trustees.

In February 2013, she was assessed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4.[5]

Football

[edit]

On 3 May 2006, Rabbatts was appointed as the new Executive Deputy Chair of Millwall F.C., and, on 27 October 2006, she was appointed as Executive Chairwoman of Millwall Holdings plc, taking over from Peter de Savary.[6]

On 22 December 2011, Rabbatts became the first woman to be appointed as a director of The Football Association.[7]

In October 2013, she criticised the make-up of the Football Association's commission to improve the national team as being "all-white, all-male";[8] Rio Ferdinand was subsequently added to the commission.[9]

On 1 June 2015, she resigned from FIFA's anti-discrimination taskforce following Sepp Blatter's re-election as president.[10]

On 14 June 2017 it was announced that she would step down from the board of the FA[11]

Media

[edit]

On 24 July 2011, she was the guest on Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4; her chosen favourite song, book, and luxury item were Corinne Bailey Rae's version of "Que Sera, Sera", Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and a solar powered digital photo album, respectively.[12]

In April 2014, she was a judge in the BBC Woman's Hour power list 2014.[13]

Honours

[edit]

Rabbatts was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to football and equality.[14][15] In November 2016, she was listed as one of BBC's 100 Women.[16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mott, Sue (8 August 2015). "The 50 most influential women in sport: The full list". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  2. ^ Rumsby, Ben (14 June 2017). "FA's first black female director quits over 'lack of progress' for ethnic minority coaches". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  3. ^ Stevenson, Alexander (2013). The Public Sector: Managing The Unmanageable. Kogan Page Limited. ISBN 978-0-7494-6777-7.
  4. ^ a b "Woman's Hour Power List, Woman's Hour – Heather Rabbatts CBE – BBC Radio 4". BBC. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Woman's Hour – The Power List 2013". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Heather Rabbatts: 'Pushing back the boundaries – that's what really excites me'". The Independent. 21 October 2006. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  7. ^ Football Association names Heather Rabbatts as first female director, The Guardian. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  8. ^ "FA commission: Heather Rabbatts criticises all-white group". 19 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  9. ^ Gibson, Owen (20 October 2013). "Rio Ferdinand and Roy Hodgson renew tricky relationship on FA commission". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Fifa crisis: FA's Heather Rabbatts resigns from FIFA over 'disastrous' events". The Guardian. June 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  11. ^ "Heather Rabbats resigns from FA Board". BBC News. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Desert Island Discs: Heather Rabbatts". Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  13. ^ "Woman's Hour Power List 2014 – the panel". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  14. ^ "No. 61450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2015. p. N8.
  15. ^ "New Year's Honours 2016". Government of the United Kingdom. 30 December 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  16. ^ "BBC 100 Women 2016: Who is on the list?". BBC News. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
[edit]
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