Member of the House of Lords, UK

Baroness Sandip Verma is an influential and experienced business leader. Since entering the House of Lords of the Parliament of the U.K. in 2006, she has held several key ministerial appointments, and has played an active and advisory role in policy formation and development. Between 2012 and 2016, she served first as Minister for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, and then as Minister for the Department of International Development. Besides, she has also served as the Lords spokesperson for the Cabinet Office, International Development and the Government Equalities Office, as well as the Departments of Education, Health and Welfare and Pensions. She is currently the Chairman of the Lords European External Affairs Committee and Member of the Lords EU Select Committee.

She has significant experience of the need for and development of good governance within both large and small organisations. A strong and committed advocate of diversity and inclusion, she is involved in influential initiatives to create a more inclusive working environment and society.

The Department of International Developmentunderwent a series of reform plans under Baroness Verma’s leadership. She took a lifespan approach to policy development and, through consultations, initiated the design of policy papers to tackle global violence against women and girls, focusing on using men and boys as agents of change.

As Minister for the Department for Energy and Climate Change, Baroness Vermaworked on long-term business planning and budgets. She introduced modernisation plans, and developed strong relationships with unions.

Before entering the House of Lords, Baroness Verma had a successful career in the SME sector. In the 1980s, she and her husband founded a wholesale business of high-fashion women’s wear.In 2000, she created Domiciliary Care Services, which works with local authorities and supports adults within their domestic setting. Besides serving as Chairman of Domiciliary Care Services, Baroness Verma is an independent Non-Executive Director of the REA (Renewable Energy Association), Global Chairman of World Wide Generation (WWG), Advisor on the Amity University International Board, and Advisor on the Board of Sir John Cass Foundation.

In 2013, she created Powerful Women to address the imbalance of gender representation across the energy sector in middle and senior management positions. Powerful Women has worked with a range of energy companies and associated businesses, and has developed a tool kit in partnership with entities such as EY and the Energy Institute. Baroness Verma has also helped launch the Sellafield Women’s Network and supported the setting up of the UK Women in Nuclear Chapter. She received the inaugural Women in Nuclear Award for her work to increase the presence of women in senior roles in the nuclear sector.

Baroness Verma received the Pravasi Bharat Samman from the President of India in 2011, for building and strengthening business ties between UK and India. She holds honorary doctorates from Wolverhampton University (UK) and Amity University (India) for building business ties between UK and India, and an honorary fellowship from the Institute of Directors (India) for work on corporate social responsibility.