Ali kennedy
Ali is a Chartered Accountant, executive director and non-executive chair with a career spanning finance, pensions, strategy, governance and organisational leadership. She is Finance Director at BAE Systems plc, a leading defence manufacturer; Chair of Trustees of a pension fund; and Chair of the Fiscal Policy Committee of the Confederation of British Industry; OECD business committee UK representative. She is also a trustee and Chair of the Audit Committee of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Her previous roles include senior finance leadership positions in the oil and gas industry, as well as Chair of the Audit Committee at Whiteley Village Trust and Abingdon & Witney College.
Her career has been shaped by a belief in the power of women’s leadership to transform organisations and societies. She combines financial and strategic expertise with a strong commitment to supporting women leaders to thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
Ali is particularly interested in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence, data and digital transformation, recognising that these technologies will help define the next generation of global leadership. She is committed to ensuring that women are not only included in these conversations but positioned at the forefront. Through the IWF global working group, she champions opportunities for members to engage with international experts, share best practice across forums and strengthen the organisation’s voice in global discussions on ethical technology, digital inclusion and the future of work.
She has always loved travel, cultural exchange and building relationships across borders. She sees IWF’s international network as one of its greatest strengths and works to deepen connections with sister forums, encourage UK participation in global programmes and create pathways for members to collaborate internationally.
Scottish by birth, Ali lives in London with her family and has four adult children and grandchildren. Outside her professional and board commitments, she is a keen marathon runner, parkrun volunteer and international running enthusiast.