Justine Greening

Biography

Justine Greening is a former UK Cabinet Minister who led three major departments: Education, International Development, and Transport. She also served as Treasury Minister and Minister for Women and Equalities. She speaks on social mobility, economics, and politics.

Before politics, Justine built a successful career in finance and industry. She studied Business Economics and Accounting, then worked at PwC, GSK, and Centrica. Justine later earned an MBA from London Business School.

She began her Ministerial career as Economic Secretary to the Treasury. Justine played a key role in delivering the 2010 emergency budget during a challenging economic period. She quickly moved to the Department for Transport. There, she delivered the transport strategy that supported the London 2012 Olympics with then Mayor Boris Johnson.

Next, she joined the Department for International Development. Justine led the UK’s response to the Ebola outbreak and the Syrian refugee crisis. She helped shape the Sustainable Development Goals. She represented the UK on the World Bank Board and chaired the UN Security Council. The UN appointed her to the High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment.

Education was always her passion. As Secretary of State for Education, she became the first comprehensive-educated leader of the department. She focused on skills, social mobility, and opportunity. She launched the first Social Mobility Action Plan, reinforcing that background should not determine future success.

After leaving Cabinet, Justine launched the Social Mobility Pledge. Since leaving Parliament, she has campaigned for social mobility and purpose-led business. She founded the Purpose Coalition, which works with businesses, universities, and local authorities. It drives practical improvements in opportunity and measures real impact. She brings leaders together to embed purpose into their strategy and operations.

Today, Justine is a respected commentator and keynote speaker on leadership, education and equality of opportunity, in relation to AI. She shows how purpose can shape stronger organisations and fairer economies. Justine also speaks on geopolitics and geoeconomics, drawing on her international development experience. She appears regularly across major media, including Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Any Questions, Question Time, and BBC Context.