ICE Associate Consultant
Ruth Winden
Ruth Winden has been an ICE Associate for more than 10 years, contributing her expertise to entrepreneurship, leadership and professional development programmes as a learning facilitator, coach and mentor.
As an international career management coach, Ruth has worked with individual and organisational clients all over the world to make strategic, well-informed, courageous career transitions. Her lifelong passion is encouraging, equipping and inspiring the next generation of research leaders in Higher Education.
Therefore, after two decades of leading her own career consultancy, Ruth joined the University of Leeds as their first “Careers with Research Consultant” in 2020. Here, Ruth leads on the design and implementation of strategic career initiatives under the UK’s Researcher Development Concordat. She facilitates the career development of 1200 postdocs and now leads on career development for mid-career academics and research professionals. She also works with research leaders and senior academics to create culture change.
Ruth is currently co-chair of Researchers14, the Researcher Developer network and advocacy group of Russell Group universities. As an expert in group-based career coaching, she is a regular conference speaker, from the Career Thought Leaders’ Symposium in Lisbon in 2024 to the Prosper Community of Practice Panel in 2025. Ruth is a Mentor for the University of Leeds and the UKRI’s Future Leader Fellows Development Network.
As a lifelong learner and networker, Ruth gets much inspiration from her global careers community: she is a Fellow of the UK’s Career Development Institute and a long-standing Associate and former Board Member of the US based Careers Think Tank, Career Thought Leaders. Her favourite place on earth is the Grand Canyon, but for now, the Peak District must do.