Ruth Thomas

Director, Equity Action & Member of the Extended Leadership Group

Ruth leads work within the Food and Agriculture pathway at WBCSD on building equitable livelihoods with a focus on smallholder value chains. This involves scaling action with members from across the value on strengthening human rights due diligence, living incomes and wages, responsible procurement practices and the future of work in agriculture.

Ruth Thomas has 20 years’ experience in multi-stakeholder partnerships, sustainability strategy, stakeholder engagement and issues management across resource-intensive sectors. Prior to her role at WBCSD she was Director Global Agribusiness Alliance and Soft Commodities Forum, Programme Lead for SAI Platform’s Farm Sustainability Assessment (2016-2017) and Manager for the Environment Programme at the International Council on Mining and Metals (2011 – 2016). She has also held roles for British American Tobacco, WWF-UK and Shell International.

Ruth holds a a BSc in Agricultural and Environmental Science and an MSc Environmental Science from UCL. She has a Post-Graduate Certificate in Cross Sector Partnerships from the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership, is a trained Al Gore Climate Leader and trained Advanced Facilitator with the Environment Council. She is also alumni of WBCSD’s Leadership Program (2021).

Ruth is a dedicated yoga practitioner (qualified yoga teacher YTT 200, 2022) and keen pianist (Grade 8, 2023). She is also a Peloton enthusiast!