Shahbaz Sarwar

Shahbaz Sarwar is a global Operations Excellence and Transformation leader with over 15 years of experience delivering large-scale business transformation, operational excellence, process optimisation, and organisational change across the international education and assessment sector.

As Operations Excellence Lead for Global Operations at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, he leads Global Operations-wide improvement programmes, process transformation, and capability development, helping build customer-focused, digitally enabled, and high-performing operations. Combining strategic leadership with hands-on execution, he leverages Lean Six Sigma, data-driven decision-making, and AI to deliver measurable business outcomes.

Previously, Shahbaz held senior leadership roles at the British Council, where he led global policy, governance, process quality, and operational improvement programmes across Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. His experience includes designing and implementing Target and Future Operating Models, re-engineering end-to-end processes, strengthening governance, and leading cross-functional teams through complex organisational change.

A certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, Practitioner Chartered Quality Professional (CQI/IRCA PCQI), and Lean Manufacturing Leadership practitioner, Shahbaz is recognised for translating strategy into execution. He partners with leaders to simplify complexity, embed a culture of continuous improvement, and build resilient organisations where people, processes, and technology deliver lasting value.