Julia Middleton

Julia Middleton is the founder and Chief Executive of Common Purpose Charitable Trust and as such is passionate about helping develop people's leadership skills and abilities. She campaigns to encourage leaders from all backgrounds to make an active and tangible contribution to their communities and to wider society.

In the autumn of 1988, Julia formed Common Purpose, a leadership development organisation that gives leaders the inspiration, the knowledge and the connections they need to produce real change. Common Purpose now operates across the UK and worldwide in France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, South Africa, Sweden and Turkey. Since 1989, more than 35,000 leaders have completed one or more Common Purpose courses.

Julia has helped in the founding of: Demos (an independent think tank), Impetus Trust (developing venture philanthropy in the UK), The Media Standards Trust (fostering high standards in the news media), Alfanar (developing venture philanthropy in the Arab world) and is on the International advisory council for Fundação Dom Cabral (a non-profit business institution in Brazil).

Julia was born in London and educated at French Lycées around the world. She worked for the Industrial Society after receiving an economics degree from the London School of Economics.

Recent experience:

• Julia was the driving force behind development of Common Purpose world-wide.
• She is the author of Beyond Authority, Leadership in a Changing World. 
• Julia is asked to speak around the world on leadership and diversity issues.

Read Julia's leadership blog or follow Julia on Twitter.