She is a senior research fellow of UK in a Changing Europe, and was previously the programme director at the Institute for Government (IfG) directing the organisation's work on better policy making and Brexit.

She has written a number of reports on civil service and the implications of Brexit for Whitehall and Westminster.

[3][4][5] Rutter studied philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) at Somerville College Oxford and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1975.

Her roles included Performance Manager for Retail Iberia Business Unit, Integration Manager for Central and Eastern Europe, and Communications and Engagement Director for the Strategic Accounts team in London.

From 2004 until 2009, Rutter was Director of Strategy and Sustainable Development at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.