Claire is the director of Richmond Baxter Ltd, a specialist business consultancy offering support to organisations that want to change and grow without losing sight of their social mission.

She is a specialist in public policy and how this impacts business development, strategic planning and campaigning. She has helped design and evaluate services targeted at vulnerable groups including the homeless, unemployed young people, refugees and the financially excluded.

Her clients include national charities, government departments, social enterprises, councils and health services. Claire is also independent chair of a panel tasked with promoting quality student accommodation and is trustee of contemporary art gallery.

Prior to setting up her own business, Claire worked in the local government, education and voluntary sectors for 25 years. She was director of policy and communications for a large unitary authority where she was responsible for leading several transformation reviews and developing partnership approaches to emerging issues, including the economic downturn.

Claire has a postgraduate qualification in Research Methods, a masters in Public Policy and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and the RSA.