Kate Barker

Dr Kate Barker is a globally recognised Award-winning Keynote Speaker and winner of the prestigious International Association of Top Professionals 2023. She is a Chief Futurist, Future of Work Expert, External Advisor to McKinsey & Company, and Adjunct Expert Faculty at Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan Management & HULT.
Dr Kate is a well-recognised global authority in leadership and diversity, equity and inclusion. Her career spans three decades, working to advance Boards, Fortune 500 companies and Governments around the world by applying leading strategies from her insights.
Recently ranked:
- Top Global Power Leader 2024
- Global 10 Top Women in Tech 2022 & 2024
- Most Admired Women Leader 2024
- Global No. 1 Voice on Future of Work 2023
- Global Top 10 Executive Coaches.
She has earned successful partnerships with Boards, C-Suite executives, international royalty and government leaders and the highest level in furthering some of the most significant industry trends to impact organisations. This includes designing the UAE Gender Balance Pledge, launched by the UAE Gender Balance Council in 2022 to promote gender equality in the workplace.
She has garnered respect in a multitude of roles:
- Chief HR Futurist, NEOM $500B Futurist-City, Saudi Arabia.
- Strategic Advisor to His Highness & Prime Minister UAE
- Global Consulting Partner, EY New York & PWC Singapore, Asia
Dr Kate is a globally recognised Keynote Speaker and publishes regularly at Executive Leaders Summits & Roundtables globally. She has led real-world DEI results with clients such as Microsoft, SAP, Amazon, Deloitte, Aramco, GE, Novo Nordisk, Singtel and Google.
With a strong academic background including a DBA on Leadership, MBA and a Masters in Organisational Psychology, Dr Kate has invested 14-years in academia, to bring credible evidence-based leading-edge insights to her clients.
As a proud champion of DEI, Dr Kate is a Board Director for 30% Club, a global campaign aimed at increasing gender diversity. It advocates for action by companies to improve gender balance through collaboration and inclusive policies.
A seven-time marathoner, Kate loves to cook, dance and sing… despite her complete lack of talent at all three.