Sarah Ratty FRSA

Sarah Ratty FRSA is a pioneering sustainable designer, entrepreneur and keynote speaker whose career has helped shape the development of ethical fashion and environmentally responsible design. Founder of Conscious Earthwear and Ciel, she brings decades of experience in sustainability, circular thinking and human-centred innovation to conversations about artificial intelligence. Sarah is particularly compelling as an AI speaker because she explores where technology can genuinely strengthen sustainable systems, while questioning where human judgement, creativity, care and intuition must remain central.

Sarah’s career began with recognition as FW Magazine’s Student Designer of the Year in 1987. Her work subsequently appeared in exhibitions at the V&A and Barbican, while her designs reached international retailers including Harrods, Browns, Nordstrom and Anthropologie and were worn by figures including Cate Blanchett and Cher. In 2003, she founded Ciel and later became Co-Founder and Chair of the Ethical Fashion Forum. Through the Soil Association Textile Advisory Committee, Sarah contributed to work surrounding the development of Global Organic Textile Standards, while also working with organisations including Pesticide Action Network and the Environmental Justice Foundation.

Sarah’s influence has extended from fashion into global sustainability leadership. Her work featured prominently in the V&A’s Fashioned from Nature exhibition, while her collections have appeared at London and Paris Fashion Weeks and in publications including Vogue, i-D and Time. Her accolades include the UKFE Export Award presented by HRH Princess Anne and the British Chamber Award for Sustainable Business in London and the South East. More recently, she founded the Conscious Fashion Show at Soho House in 2023 and delivered a 2024 WEBIT Future Forum keynote and workshop exploring AI, sustainability and nature.

Sarah is hired as a speaker for her ability to connect sustainability, human creativity and emerging technology through decades of practical experience. Having appeared at the United Nations, COP26 and Tate Modern, she brings established international speaking credentials to conversations about responsible innovation. Her perspective on AI focuses on how organisations can use technology to enhance sustainable systems without losing the distinctly human capabilities that drive meaningful change, including intuition, storytelling, pattern recognition and care. This makes Sarah a valuable voice for audiences exploring ethical AI, sustainability and the future of human-centred innovation.