Caroline Ashley

Caroline Ashley is the director of SteelWatch, and a highly regarded sustainability speaker known for her powerful blend of expertise in social change, environmental sustainability, and systems thinking. With a career rooted in socio-economics, she brings a deep understanding of how systemic transformation can be harnessed to address the climate crisis and reshape global economies. Caroline is frequently hired as a speaker for her ability to inspire audiences with her belief that large-scale change is not only necessary, but entirely possible. Her unique ability to connect the dots between policy, practice, and people makes her a compelling voice in the sustainability arena.

Caroline’s career began with a strong academic foundation, earning a B.A. in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford and an MA in Social Change and Development from Johns Hopkins. She started her professional journey working in policy and development, including roles with the UK Parliament and US Congress. Her early work with Practical Action in the early 1990s demonstrated her commitment to participatory approaches and gender-inclusive development, particularly in energy access projects across the Global South. Over the following decades, she built a multifaceted career, moving between INGOs, government policy, consultancy, and impact investing – always with a focus on achieving meaningful and lasting change.

In recent years, Caroline has taken on prominent leadership roles in organisations focused on system change and sustainability. As Global Director of System Change Programmes at Forum for the Future, she led strategic initiatives tackling complex environmental and social issues. In her current role as Director at SteelWatch sees her championing accountability and transformation within one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries.

Caroline is hired as a speaker not only for her vast experience but for the clarity and conviction with which she communicates urgent messages about climate and systemic change. Audiences value her ability to translate complexity into action, offer visionary leadership, and spark meaningful dialogue on the transformations needed for a just and sustainable future.