President of the British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, Was the First Female CEO of Lloyd’s of London, Former Global Chief Underwriting Officer Zurich Insurance Group & Co-Authored ‘Ugly Sweaty Men Become CEOs All the Time. Ugly Sweaty Women Don’t’

Dame Inga Beale DBE is a groundbreaking British businesswoman and the first female CEO of Lloyd’s of London in its 328-year history. Renowned for driving transformation in the global insurance and reinsurance industry, she has championed innovation, workplace equality, and LGBT+ inclusion at the highest levels of business. Throughout her career, she has held senior executive roles across major institutions and remains a respected voice on leadership, diversity, and economic change. Today, as an international keynote and after-dinner speaker, Dame Inga inspires audiences worldwide with her story of resilience, progress, and visionary business leadership.

Inga’s career began in the early 1980s at Prudential Assurance before she moved into underwriting with GE Insurance Solutions. By 2001, she had risen to senior management, marking the start of her reputation as a transformative leader. In 2006, she successfully revived Swiss reinsurer Converium, later joining Zurich Insurance Group in 2009 as Global Chief Underwriting Officer. Her ability to deliver change in challenging environments earned her recognition as one of the industry’s most capable executives.

In 2013, Inga reached a historic milestone when she was appointed the first female CEO of Lloyd’s of London, where she introduced cultural reforms, drove digitisation, and promoted diversity across the 300-year-old institution. Her leadership helped modernise one of the world’s most established financial markets.

After stepping down in 2018, Inga broadened her impact through influential board roles. She currently serves as a non-executive director at Clyde & Co LLP, NN Group, and Crawford & Company. In February 2022, she became President of The British Swiss Chamber of Commerce, strengthening business ties between the UK and Switzerland.

Her contributions have been widely celebrated: in 2015, she topped the OUTstanding & Financial Times Leading LGBT Executives list, and in 2017, she was awarded DBE for services to the economy.

Inga co-authored the book ‘Ugly Sweaty Men Become CEOs All the Time. Ugly Sweaty Women Don’t’ with Martin Firrell, a reflective work exploring gender, power, and inequality in the workplace. She has contributed articles to respected outlets including the Financial Times, The Economist, and BBC News, and often appears on global broadcasts, podcasts, and panel discussions to speak on leadership, inclusion, and economic matters.

Why Hire Dame Inga Beale?

Booking Dame Inga Beale offers audiences the opportunity to hear from a pioneering leader who has transformed industries while championing inclusion and authenticity in business. She has led major organisations through cultural and digital reforms, reshaping traditional institutions for the modern era. Her unique journey from underwriting to boardroom success provides audiences with valuable lessons on resilience, decision-making, and leading through change.

Inga is a highly engaging speaker whose personal story resonates across corporate, financial, and entrepreneurial audiences. She has delivered impactful talks at international platforms, including the World Economic Forum, and is regularly invited to share her insights with global business communities. Known for her ability to combine inspiration with practical guidance, she offers compelling perspectives on diversity, economic challenges, and future markets. Dame Inga Beale leaves audiences motivated, informed, and equipped to embrace change with confidence.

To book Dame Inga to speak at your event, call SpeakOut on +44 (0) 20 8914 8966. Alternatively, complete our contact form to begin your enquiry.