Farrah Qureshi is the Managing Director of the Global Diversity Practice. She is recognised as one of the leading Global Learning and Development designers, deliverers and coaches of World-class Diversity learning and consultancy solutions. She has delivered successful outcomes with clients across a range of occupational groups, industries and sectors, again both nationally and internationally. Farrah has 22 years’ experience in Organisational Development and Strategy, Leadership and Management development. Her career spans the University of Leeds, local Government, not for profit sector as well as the private sector. Over the past 12 years Farrah, has been involved in developing and heading both European and now a Global Diversity Practice. Prior to her current position Farrah was the Managing Director of Diversity at Norman Broadbent’s Global Diversity Practice. Farrah worked for Focus Consultancy as their Director of Training and Consultancy, the University of Leeds as their Director for Public Sector training and then as the Head of Consultancy Solutions. She was also Principal Organisational Development Consultant for Leeds City Council.

Farrah has successfully delivered, designed, managed and resourced a variety of leading edge diversity learning and consultancy interventions for a variety of clients spanning an impressive portfolio of corporate and public sector clients, nationally and globally, including: ABB, Shell, Olympic Delivery Authority 2012, Learning and Skills Council Ministry of Defence, London Underground, Department of International Development, Immigration and Nationality Department, European Union, UN, IMF, CGIAR, Government of Tanzania, Department of Education and Skills, Newcastle City Council, DEFRA, The British Library, Commission for Social Care Inspection, Healthcare Commission, DWP, Equal Opportunities Commission, London Development Agency, Scottish Executive. Her many public sector clients include Police forces, The National Health Service and many leading universities including the LSE, Warwick Business School. Farrah’s private sector clients include Microsoft, Aviva, Shell, Coca Cola Enterprises, Standard Chartered Bank, JP Morgan, British Airways, Lloyds of London, Fujitsu, KPMG, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Sara Lee, Nike, John Lewis, Asda-Walmart, DHL, RBOS, Lloyds TSB, Grattan, Empire Stores, Disney, Barclays, Sara Lee, Nuvo Nordisk, IBM, Dell Hewlett Packard, Esso-Exxon, Yorkshire Building Society, St Gobain, Kellogg, Securicor.

Farrah is a regular keynote speaker at conferences on issues of diversity and leadership globally. Farrah has worked in and delivered to over 55 countries worldwide. She was the 2009 Rosa Parks Symposium Keynote speaker and has also spoken to the European Union on International Best Practice-Diversity learning to a Diversity Network comprising of many organisation including the World Bank, CGIAR and IMF, at Erasmus University Business School on Women in Leadership. She has recently pioneered the first diversity learning module delivered to MBA students at Warwick Business School. She also speaks regularly at Opportunity Now conferences. Farrah set up a Global Diversity Network Think-tank to provide thought and practice leadership for global diversity issues. Participants include Barclays, Nike, Credit Suisse British Council, DFID etc.

She has spoken to the European Union on International Best Practice-Diversity learning and at Erasmus University Business School on Women in Leadership. She has recently pioneered the first diversity learning module delivered to MBA students at Warwick Business School. She also speaks regularly at Opportunity Now conferences. Farrah has recently set up a Global Diversity Network Think-tank to provide thought and practice leadership for global diversity issues. Participants include Barclays, Nike, Credit Suisse British Council, and DFID. Farrah regularly holds industry specific national and regional master classes discussing relevant Diversity issues for particular sectors. Recent master classes include Finance, Transport, Retail and Legal.

Post 9/11 and 7/7 Farrah hosted a series of seminars to promote dialogue and understanding of “Islam phobia in the Workplace”

Farrah holds a BA (Hons) in Organisation Studies and an MA in Policy Studies. Farrah is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. She is also the author of ‘Understanding Diversity - An Organisational Guide which was her first book. Farrah has also contributed to ‘Understanding Dignity at work Issues - A Training Guide’.

Her innovations have included Diversity Toolkits, HR Capacity Building, Coaching for Diversity Advisers, Diversity Theatre, Global diversity, Behavioural Skill Models, Diversity Performance indicators, Cost Benefit analysis, Diversity Outcome Mapping, Diversity Coaching and Marketing for inclusion, Diversity Competency Development Best Practice Research amongst many other products and solutions. Farrah is currently working with world renowned Guru on Cross-cultural awareness - Richard Lewis to ensure diversity is integrated into his widely celebrated work.

Farrah has been the recipient of numerous awards including Grattan Award winner for her work in Diversity. She was award winner of UK Asian Women of Achievement 2004/7 (nominated by Aviva), Young Muslim Achievers Award 2006, 2005 Opportunity Now Award for London Underground in 2005. The Aviva Respect at work Toolkit developed jointly with Aviva, Diverse Culture and Norman Broadbent Global Diversity Practice and launched in 25 countries won the UN World Diversity Award 2008 and was runner up in the UK Training Journal Awards. Her work with the Department for International Development was short-listed for the CIPD People Management Awards. Farrah has also been included in the AsianPower100 publication 2008 and positioned in the top “Twenty Asian leaders to look out for in 2009″.