I'm an academic, writer, sometime bureaucrat, CEO and social entrepreneur, curious about how the world works and how to improve it.

I’m currently a Professor at University College London.

My recent books have explored imagination, collective intelligence, the future of capitalism and how science and innovation connect to politics and governance. They’ve been translated into over 20 languages. The most recent is ‘When Science Meets Power’ (from 2023/24). ‘Another World is Possible’ comes out in paperback in October 2025.

Books

‘‘‘Packed with wisdom and analytical prowess’ Nature

‘Fizzes with ideas … very exciting’ Washington Post

‘A manifesto for creativity, and for thinking big’ New Statesman

‘Fascinating and important’ Financial Times

Recent Thoughts

Substack

I recently created a Substack where I share ideas I’m working on.  Add your email to subscribe and be kept in touch.

Talks

Head over to the videos page for a selection of interviews, podcasts and keynotes.

Many thanks to Chris Roche for helping to design this website