Ruth Levitt (1950-2016) began her working life with the NHS, and became an expert on the then new community health councils established in 1974 to provide a voice for patients. Ruth published a widely used textbook, The Reorganised National Health Service (1976), which went to six editions. Her next move was to an academic appointment in public policy at Bristol University. Then, inspired by the formation of the Social Democratic party, she moved into politics, working for David Owen and standing, unsuccessfully, for Nuneaton in the 1983 general election.

After a spell in social science publishing with Routledge, her interest turned towards art and she took a PhD at UCL on the 17th-century Dutch painter Albert Cuyp, learning Dutch on the way. Deciding to combine art with an interest in management, she took an MBA from the Open University. This led her into her next career - management consultancy for a range of arts organisations including the V&A and Ashmolean museums.

In later years she returned to research. As a visiting academic at King's College London she worked with Bill Solesbury on projects including the role of policy tsars. She also worked on Jewish history.