Geoff Mulgan

Since 2004 Geoff Mulgan has been Director of the Young Foundation. The foundation has inspired dozens of new organisations and initiatives including the Open University and Which, patient-led healthcare and schools for social entrepreneurs, as well as producing pioneering research on changing patterns of community and social life.

Between 1997 and 2004 Geoff had various roles in the UK government including Director of the Government's Strategy Unit and head of policy in the Prime Minister's office. He was closely involved in the design and implementation of dozens of new organisations and programmes in social policy, welfare, health, education and technology.

Before that he was the founder and director of the think-tank Demos, described by the Economist as the UK's most influential think-tank; chief adviser to The Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown; a consultant and lecturer in telecommunications; and an investment executive. He began his career in local government in London where he pioneered policies to support creative industries that have been emulated all over the world. He has been a reporter for BBC TV and radio and a columnist for national newspapers including the Guardian and Independent. Geoff is a World Economic Forum Global Leader of Tomorrow, and was ranked in 2004 as one of the UK's 100 leading public intellectuals. He has lectured in over 30 countries. He is a visiting professor at LSE, UCL and Melbourne University, and a visiting fellow at the Australia New Zealand School of Government. He is a board member of the Work Foundation and the Design Council, chair of Involve (a charity bringing together practitioners in democracy and public engagement) and member of the International Steering Committee of the Program of Innovations and Excellence in Chinese Local Governance (IECLG).

Recent books he has published include: "Porcupines in Winter" and Social Silicon Valleys: on social innovation, what it is, why it matters and how it can be accelerated. Good and Bad Power: the ideals and betrayals of government was published in June 2006.