Moving the conversation on social mobility out of the boardroom and into the mainstream, the Lady Mayor Dame Susan Langley will set out her ambition to connect people with opportunity and “unsquare” the Square Mile: ensuring nobody has to fit in a certain box to thrive in the UK’s financial capital. Joined by an expert panel, she’ll ask how we can change people’s view of the City and break down barriers that might hold people back from fulfilling their potential.

This lecture was recorded by Lady Mayor Alderwoman Dame Susan Langley on the 13th of April 2026 at Bernard’s Inn Hall, London

Alderwoman Dame Susan Langley became Lady Mayor of London 7th November 2025. She is the 697th Lord Mayor, the third woman to hold the office, and the first to be styled “Lady Mayor”.

Dame Susan Langley is Chair of Gallagher UK, and the Senior Independent Director for UKAR (Northern Rock Asset Management and Bradford and Bingley). Previously she was the Lead Non-Executive Director for the Home Office, a Trustee for Macmillan Cancer, CEO Financial & Professional Services at the Department for International Trade (DIT), Executive Director North America and Market Development for Lloyd's of London, Director of Lloyd’s Asia and Chairman of Lloyd’s Japan. Prior to this, Susan held various Insurance Board positions. She joined the Insurance Market from PriceWaterhouseCoopers where she was a Principal Consultant working with a range of FTSE 100 companies.

A founding member of the Government Women's Business Council, she is a past recipient of the Insurance Institute of London (IIL) President’s Award, the FS Women in the City Achievement Award, Women to Watch, Leading Women in Reinsurance and top 20 inspirational City Women. Born in the East End, she is passionate about social mobility and involved in a number of charitable and mentoring roles. In 2015 she received an OBE for services to women in business and in 2023, a DBE for public service to the financial services industry. Dame Susan graduated (BSc Hons) from Southampton University and married Gary in 2003. She is a Liveryman of the Insurers and Drapers and a Freeman of the Goldsmiths. Dame Susan is the Alderwoman for the City of London Aldgate Ward and served as Aldermanic Sheriff of the City of London 2023/2024.

The transcript of the lecture is available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/lady-mayor-26

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"Unsquaring” the Square Mile: Connecting People with Opportunity - Susan Langley

Gresham College Lectures

"Unsquaring” the Square Mile: Connecting People with Opportunity - Susan Langley