Sarah Luxford

Connecting leaders, talent & communities across digital, data & tech I Executive Search Partner I Co-Founder TLAWomenLeadingTech I Board Member

United Kingdom

About

I bring people together - candidates, leaders, communities and networks - to create clarity, opportunity and shared purpose. For over 20 years, I’ve worked in executive search, partnering with startups, scale-ups, global brands, and national public bodies to build leadership teams that can deliver meaningful, measurable impact. My early career in the private sector provided great foundations that give me an entrepreneurial and innovation-led perspective on public sector hiring - understanding what high performing teams look like, how to attract rare talent and how to build leadership for the future. As Partner in GatenbySanderson's Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT) Practice, I lead appointments for: • Digital Non-Executives • C-suite & Senior Leadership Teams • Directors & and Head of Profession across Central Government, Regulation, Health, Education, Charity, Housing and Local Government. I'm at my best convening people - Commissioners, Boards, Digital Innovators and the digitally curious alike - listening first, challenging thoughtfully and helping shape leadership that serves society. That same instinct runs through everything I build beyond search Beyond executive search. I Co-Founded TLA Women in Tech driving practical, scalable action on gender equity, and co-founded Croydon Tech City, helping transform South London into one of the UK's fastest growing tech clusters of its time. I've served on the Croydon SME Commission, represented the UK as a UN Women Delegate and am a Board Member of Tech London Advocates & Global Tech Advocates. This work has been recognised as a Top 5 Women in UK Tech (Computer Weekly) and in the UK Tech Hall of Fame. Whether you are looking to appoint a Digital NED, build or strengthen your senior team, grow your DDaT capability, build community in the tech ecosystem - or simply navigating your next purposeful career move - I’d love to hear from you. Contact me at [email protected]

Experience

  • Fellow at The RSA (The royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce)
    Feb 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 6 mos

  • Partner - Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT) at GatenbySanderson
    Jan 2021 - Present · 5 yrs 7 mos

    I find and place the leaders who drive digital transformation across UK public services - appointing Digital NEDs, C-suite, Executive and Heads of profession across central government, regulation, health, education, charity, housing and local government. I bring each role to life, telling the story behind the opportunity and guiding candidates with care and coaching throughout. Beyond search, I founded and curate our Digital Collaborative community, where leaders and the digitally curious connect, learn and share ideas that move the sector forward. Contact me through [email protected]

  • TLA WomenLeadingTech Co-Founder at Tech London Advocates Women in Tech
    Sep 2013 - Present · 12 yrs 11 mos

    Co-founded one of the first Tech London Advocates working groups - now among the largest with 6k+ advocates. I've helped grow this from an idea into a platform for accelerating diversity, inclusion and leadership across the tech sector. I program and convene policy roundtables, learning programmes, networking event and thought leadership - turning dialogue into action on gender balance and equity - and creating the connections that move women into and through senior tech roles.

  • Board Member at Tech London Advocates & Global Tech Advocates
    Jan 2017 - Present · 9 yrs 7 mos

    Board and founding member of TLA & GTA, the network founded by Russ Shaw that connects more than 40k tech leaders, investors and experts across 42 working groups. As a Board Member I help steer a diverse and inclusive network of start-ups, scaleups, corporates, policymakers and academics to drive the exchange of knowledge, ideas and experiencs for the good of the global tech sector.

  • Co-Founder at Croydon Tech City
    Apr 2012 - Present · 14 yrs 4 mos

    Co-Founder of Croydon Tech City, which became the capitals fastest growing tech cluster, alongside Nigel Dias and Jonny Rose. Croydon Tech City inspires and champions tech business, skills and opportunities in south London. www.croydontechcity.com @CroydonTechCity