Damian Prestidge
With experience in sectors including investment banking, government, and retail, Edleen delivers practical insights into the value and meaning of diversity and inclusion and how cultures can change. Alongside the professional she recounts her personal experience of life from south London comprehensive to Cambridge University to the City to one of sport's most influential governing bodies.
Edleen John is an award-winning business leader and consultant on diversity, inclusion, and culture in organisations. With experience in sectors from retail to financial services to government, she delivers practical insights into how cultures can change, the value and meaning of diversity and inclusion, and the impact on training and employee experience. She previously served as the director, international relations, corporate affairs and co-partner for equality, diversity & inclusion at the FA, and is a diversity and inclusion consultant.
A British-born Sierra Leonean, Edleen grew up in London after a brief spell in Sierra Leone. She attended a south London comprehensive and went on to complete her Masters at Cambridge University. She shares first-hand experience of issues around socio-economic background as well as culture and race. Regularly cited as a role model leader, Edleen recounts her challenges as well as successes and achievements.
Professionally, Edleen started out at the investment bank Lehman Brothers in the debt capital markets division. After a period in insurance she returned to investment banks, but in HR functions at Nomura and Morgan Stanley, rising to Vice President at the latter, covering recruitment, diversity, and inclusion. She then joined KPMG, serving as Director and the Co-Head of Inclusion, Diversity and Social Equality and as the youngest and only Black director in the company’s people function.
In her role at the FA, Edleen was part of the association’s senior management. Alongside responsibility for international and corporate affairs, and responsibility for the organisation’s equality, diversity, and inclusion strategy, she also worked with all levels of the English game, on and off the pitch, and with other international governing bodies and government.
Edleen is a director of Tech Talent Charter, a non-profit organisation aiming to widen access to and improve the diversity of the UK’s tech sector. She holds non-exec, board and trustee roles at the Restless Development charity, DIAL (Diverse Inclusive Aspirational Leaders) Global, and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.
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