Dame Christine Ryan DBE

Dame Christine Ryan is an internationally respected leader in education, governance, and quality assurance.  A former Chair of the Ofsted Board—England’s national regulator and inspectorate for education and social care—she brings a distinctive combination of strategic insight, global perspective, and a deep passion for learning.

Dame Christine has held senior roles across the public, private, and charitable sectors, including Chief Inspector, CEO, Trustee, and Non-Executive Director. She also served as a non-executive board member for Ofqual, the regulator for examinations and qualifications in England. Her leadership demonstrates clear expertise in business strategy, organisational design, culture change, and operational delivery.

She has pioneered quality assurance schemes for teachers, schools, colleges, and early years settings—across state, independent, and faith-based institutions in the UK and in Europe, the Caribbean, West Asia, East Asia, and Asia Pacific regions. As the architect of education frameworks tailored to online and international provision, she brings a proven ability to adapt standards to diverse cultural contexts.

A qualified biological and physical scientist, Dame Christine is a published author and media adviser, with contributions to science and education including an award-winning television series. She is also a long-standing champion of equity and social mobility, combining deep technical expertise with a lifelong commitment to raising standards and improving outcomes for learners around the world.