Future Leaders Award Finalists

Claire Warnes

Director, KPMG

I was delighted to have been nominated for the inaugural Women in the City Future Leaders Award and so I feel very honoured to be one of the Award's finalists.

Initiatives like Women in the City and KPMG´s own women´s network (KNOW) are having a real impact in raising the profile of senior women who lead by example. I am keen to play my part, on behalf of KPMG and Women in the City, in ensuring that diversity of thought, approach and talent is valued and recognised in all organisations.

Claire joined KPMG in 2001 and has been a Director since 2008. She is a leading adviser in KPMG´s Public Sector practice, working with clients on designing, developing and implementing change. She has extensive experience in healthcare, professional regulation, higher and further education, defence and criminal justice.

Currently Claire is on a two year strategic secondment as the Executive Assistant to the Joint Chairman of KPMG Europe LLP. Based in Frankfurt, but with weekly visits to London, she has the opportunity to work with the European Board and Executive of KPMG, providing her with a fantastic breadth of experience.

Prior to joining KPMG, Claire spent 8 years working in the public sector, first for the European Commission, then as the European Officer for the University of Wales, Newport and lastly as an advisor at the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

She holds a BSc Econ (Hons) in European Studies and French from Cardiff University and an MBA from the University of Wales. She is a Fellow of the University of Worcester, having led a KPMG feasibility study for the University´s expansion.

A keen sportswoman, Claire was a Welsh International 400m runner at junior and senior levels and now enjoys mountain biking, trekking and skiing in her spare time.