Dr Louise Ashley specialises in researching the implementation and development of diversity and inclusion programmes in large, multinational professional service firms, with a particular focus on gender, ethnicity and socio-economic background. Louise has published articles in leading academic journals including Human Relations and Work, and Employment and Society.
She has led teams appointed by the government's Social Mobility Commission (SMCPC) to understand non-educational barriers to the elite professions, including law, accountancy and investment banking.
She regularly takes part in speaking engagements to report her findings to a wider practitioner audience, and consults to private sector and third sector organizations. She also has expertise evaluating programmes aimed at improving access to the labour market for people from less privileged socio-economic backgrounds.
Dr Ashley is engaged with several third sector organisations in the area of social mobility. She sits on the advisory committee of social mobility charity UpReach. She is also a Fellow of the Bridge Group, a charitable policy association researching and promoting socio-economic diversity and equality in the UK. She is a working group member of the City of London Corporation Taskforce on Socioeconomic Diversity.
Dr Ashley’s research has been covered in national and international mainstream media, including but not limited to: BBC Radio 4, the New York Times, The Times, Financial Times and The Guardian, in trade press including Legal Week and The Lawyer, and in specialist publications including People Management and Management Today.