“I feel honoured to have been asked to be one of Dermalogica’s mentors for the winner of this inaugural Dermalogica Rising Star Patron Award. I am so passionate about opportunities to continually upskill and learn and have had incredible mentors that have guided me personally so it’s a privilege for me to be able to pay it forward.”
Committed, driven and relentless in her bid to protect, promote and regulate Britain’s beauty industry, meet Lesley Blair MBE, CEO of BABTAC & CIBTAC (British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology & Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology). Lesley joined the BABTAC & CIBTAC Council in 2012, having been a CIBTAC Examiner for over 20 years previous to that.
Since becoming Chief Executive and Chair of BABTAC & CIBTAC she has worked tirelessly to ensure the values and objectives of both these prominent not for profit organisations continue to be maintained. From leading the call for self-regulation in the UK and ensuring students are informed on how to recognise the importance of world-class fit for purpose qualifications to supporting and promoting responsible therapists and businesses in the sector.
Holding qualifications from CIBTAC, ITEC, IHBC and City and Guilds including Level 4 Advanced modalities Lesley continues to upskill in beauty and aesthetics in order to stay abreast of developments in an ever-evolving industry. She also holds both teaching, assessor and expert witness qualifications.
Forever passionate about the industry, as well as her responsibilities, Lesley sits on the Clinical Advisory Group and the Cosmetics Informed and Empowered Public Sub-Group, part of the Scottish Government’s Interventions Expert Group. She was also appointed onto the JCCP Register & Stakeholder Group & JCCP Stakeholder Council Steering Group and contributed to the development of the advanced qualifications NOS (Level 4 – 6). She is a trustee for the Beauty Backed Trust and in her own capacity sit on the board of BBCA on behalf of Cancer Research UK.
Through the pandemic she worked tirelessly on government taskforces and inclusively with colleagues, industry bodies, competitors and media alike. As a direct result BABTAC were appointed to sit on the first recognised Sector Body for Personal Care Services within government. Lesley also earned an MBE for her services to the Beauty Industry in 2022.