Chris Humphries has a long and distinguished record in the world of vocational training and skills. A highly experienced manager and chief executive, he was chair of the UK government’s Skills Task Force for three years from 1998, also chairing several charitable NGOs with a particular focus on tertiary and higher education.
Most recently he was chair of the University of West London for nine years until 2018. As a chief executive, Chris was director general of the British Chambers of Commerce from 1998 to 2001, and director general of the UK’s City & Guilds, the UK’s largest vocational qualifications awarding body, from 2001 to 2007.
His final executive role was as the founding chief executive of the Commission for Employment and Skills, advising four UK governments on policy and practise between 2007 and 2010. He joined the WorldSkills movement as the chair of WorldSkills UK, and, as chair, led the 2006 successful bid for WorldSkills London 2011. As an Honorary Member, he was subsequently involved in the development of the Vision 2025 strategic plan.
Elected to the Board of WorldSkills International at WorldSkills Kazan 2019, Chris was appointed Acting President and Chair of the Board by the WSI Board upon the tragic death of Jos de Goey in March 2020. Chris’s appointment as President and Chair of the Board was unanimously supported and formally ratified by the General Assembly in October 2020.
Born in Australia, Chris moved to London in 1974, where he lives with his wife and two daughters. In 1998 he was awarded the CBE for services to training and enterprise.