Lesley is Head of Design Skills and Director, UK Design Alliance, at the Design Council. She develops and manages the organisation’s education and professional development work which includes projects, publications, policy and research for design education and training at all levels, in collaboration with a wide range of education and industry partners. Lesley’s role explores ways of helping current and future designers and design managers to develop effective and relevant design skills. Currently, Lesley is working with Creative & Cultural Skills and is leading the UK Design Skills Alliance – a partnership of sector bodies set up to support the development of professional skills in the design industry.

Lesley started her professional life as an interior designer, specialising in design management and working on commercial architectural design projects. She then worked in higher education for several years, leading the MA Design Leadership programme at Middlesex University and teaching professional practice on several undergraduate design courses. Lesley has honorary degrees from London Guildhall University and the Arts Institute Bournemouth and is a fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts.