Ruth has been Chief Executive of Spirit of 2012 since 2019. Previously she was Spirit’s Director of Policy and Impact and has worked with the Trust since inception. Ruth left a career in the civil service to help set the charity up in 2013 and leads Spirit’s team to deliver a diverse programme of grant funded projects with a strong focus on measuring and sharing the social impact of our work. Ruth is committed to providing opportunities for young people and outside work she is Chair of a Multi Academy Trust that includes 10 schools across Norfolk, Suffolk and Peterborough.

“Spirit uses events, like Glasgow 2014, Hull 2017 and the Centenary of Women’s Suffrage, as catalysts for social change – building on the way events bring people together and foster connection, pride, hope and optimism. I am passionate about the power of sport, arts and culture, and volunteering to improve wellbeing and really change lives both for communities and individuals.”