Nick Boles, Director, 2002-2007
Nick Boles is currently the Conservative PPC for Grantham and Stamford and has also served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of London. Nick was the founding Director of Policy Exchange. He read PPE at Oxford before going on to study at Harvard University in the US. Prior to helping found Policy Exchange Nick had set up his own DIY company and served as a local councillor for Westminster, where he was Chairman of the Housing Committee.
Nick Boles in the news at Policy Exchange
Anthony Browne, Director, 2007-2008
Anthony Browne is now Director of Policy for Boris Johnson. He also sits on the board of the London Development agency. Prior to joining Policy Exchange, Anthony had been economics correspondent for the BBC; economics correspondent, health editor and environment correspondent for the Observer; and environment editor, Europe correspondent, and chief political correspondent for the Times.
Anthony Browne in the news at Policy Exchange
Jamie Burn, Research Fellow, 2008
Jamie is currently working towards a PhD in Health Policy at Imperial College London. Jamie co-wrote two publications for the Health unit as part of an investigation into reforming the NHS. He has a first class degree in Philosophy from the University of Sheffield, and an MSc with distinction in Social Policy from the University of Edinburgh.
Publications • All Change Please • School Funding and Social Justice • Weighing In
Ben Caldecott, Head of Environment & Energy Unit, 2008-2009
Ben is now the lead on UK and EU climate change and energy policy at Climate Change Capital (CCC), a specialist investment banking group. Ben is developing CCC’s in-house policy think tank and also advises CCC’s funds and clients on the development of policy-driven markets.
Prior to joining Policy Exchange he held a research directorship at The Henry Jackson Society. Ben has also worked in Parliament and for a number of different HM Government departments and international organisations, including the United Nations Environment Programme and Foreign & Commonwealth Office. He read economics and specialised in China at Cambridge, London and Peking universities.
During his time at Policy Exchange, Ben co-authored or edited 10 publications and contributed to many others.
Publications • Warm Homes • Litterbugs • Knowledge is Power • A Wasted Opportunity • Green Skies Thinking • Delivering a 21st Century Infrastructure for Britain
Ben Caldecott in the news at Policy Exchange
Julian Chant, Arts & Culture and Education Research Fellow, 2007-2009
While at Policy Exchange Julian co-authored several education reports, including our upcoming report on university fees. Prior to joining Policy Exchange, he worked in both marketing and research roles in publishing and financial services. He has a degree in Economics from the University of New South Wales, Sydney.
Publications • You're Hired! • The Hard Truth About 'Soft' Subjects • Sink or Swim? • Educating Rita?
Julian Chant in the news at Policy Exchange
Rhodri Davies, Government and Philosophy Research Fellow, 2007-2009
While at Policy Exchange, Rhodri Davies worked on issues around Public Service Delivery, looking at the potential for transformation of UK public services and the role of the not-for-profit and private sectors.
Publications • Give and Let Give • Building Bridges • Value in Public Services
Rhodri Davies in the news at Policy Exchange
Sam Freedman, Head of Education Unit, 2006-2009
During his time at Policy Exchange Sam oversaw an extensive research programme on increasing choice and competition in the school system, and on increasing the supply of good teachers. He was previously Head of Research at the Independent Schools Council. He has a first class degree in history from Magdalen college, Oxford; a Masters degree in international history from Oxford and a Research Masters in Public Policy from Birkbeck. Sam now works for the Conservative party, serving as a Policy Advisor for Poverty and Opportunity.
Publications • Choice? What Choice? • Helping Schools Succeed: Lessons from Abroad • Helping Schools Succeed: a framework for English education • Slipping Through The Net: tackling incompetence in the teaching profession • More Good Teachers • School Funding and Social Justice • Rising Marks, Falling Standards
Sam Freedman in the news at Policy Exchange
Roger Gough, Head of Government & Constitution Unit, 2006-2009
After reading PPE at Magdalen College, Oxford, Roger worked as an international investment analyst for fifteen years. He lived in Japan from 1988 to 1991 and later specialised in the European banking industry. At the 1997 General Election he stood as Conservative candidate. Roger specializes in constitution, machinery of government and local government.
During his time with Policy Exchange, Roger contributed to five publications. Roger is now focussing on his work as a local councillor in Kent, where he is Cabinet Member for Corporate Support Services and Performance Management. He also works for the LGA Urban Commission.
Publications • Regime Change • Global Political Monitor 2007 • Paying for the Party • 2056: What future for Maggie's Children?
Roger Gough in the news at Policy Exchange
Dr Oliver Marc Hartwich, Chief Economist, 2005-2008
Oliver was born in 1975 and studied Business Administration and Economics at Bochum University (Germany). After graduating with a Master's Degree, he completed a PhD in Law at the universities of Bochum and Sydney (Australia) while working as a Researcher at the Institute of Commercial Law of Bonn University (Germany).
Having published his award-winning thesis with Herbert Utz Verlag (Munich) in March 2004, Oliver moved to London to support Lord Matthew Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay during the process of the Pensions Bill. During his time with Policy Exchange, Oliver oversaw research into economic competitiveness, housing and welfare and was the UK Representative for the German think tank the Institute for Free Enterprise. Oliver has now emigrated to Australia, where he is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies, Australia's largest independent think tank.
Publications • Unaffordable Housing • Bigger, Better, Faster, More • Better Homes, Greener Cities • Science vs Superstition • The Best Laid Plans • More Mirage than Miracle • Cities Limited • Towards better transport • Quelling the Pensions Storm • Success and the City • Paying for Success • Cities Unlimited • When Hassle Means Help
Dr Oliver Marc Hartwich in the news at Policy Exchange
Gavin Lockhart, Head of Crime and Justice Unit, 2006-2009
Gavin is now Criminal Justice and Health Policy Adviser for the Conservative Policy Unit.
While at Policy Exchange, Gavin Lockhart was responsible for all crime and justice research. After graduating in 2002 with a first-class degree, Gavin worked as a management consultant before joining Policy Exchange in August 2006.
Publications • Fitting the Bill • Measure for measure • Gun and Knife Crime in Great Britain • Unlocking the Prison Estate • Footing the Bill • All Change Please • Out of Sight, Out of Mind • Going Ballistic • You're Hired! • Getting to the Point • Inside Out
Gavin Lockhart in the news at Policy Exchange
James Mackenzie Smith, Research Fellow, 2009
James is now an Investment Researcher for Record Currency Management. During his time at Policy Exchange, James worked on our forthcoming publication on public sector pensions and supported the work of the Economics team. He holds a degree in Engineering, Economics and Management from Balliol College Oxford.
Publications • Will the Splurge work? • Public Sector Pensions
Jonathan McClory, Research Fellow, 2006-2009
Jonathan is now a researcher at the Institute for Government.
He graduated from the University of Michigan with a dual degree in economics and politics. In 2006 he completed a MSc in Public Policy at University College London. Jonathan has previously worked at the American Consulate in Hamburg, Germany and for the BBC at Television Centre in London.
Jonathan worked for the Crime and Justice Unit, specialising in policing and violent crime.
Publications • Fitting the Bill • Gun and Knife Crime in Great Britain • Unlocking the Prison Estate • Footing the Bill • Going Ballistic • Getting to the Point
Jonathan McClory in the news at Policy Exchange
Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens, Research Fellow, 2008
Alex is now a researcher at the Centre for Social Cohesion. During his stay at Policy Exchange, Alexander researched for publications providing policy recommendations on creating a robust defence against the threat of terrorism in the UK and abroad.
Previously he worked for the political and cultural monthly magazine Standpoint. He has also worked at the Stanford University based think tank, the Hoover Institution for War, Revolution and Peace, and the Washington DC based think tank, Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD).
He holds an MA in International Relations from Brunel University, and a BA in Classics from King's College London.
Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens in the news at Policy Exchange
Daisy Meyland-Smith, Research Fellow, 2008 - 2009
Daisy is now a Briefing Officer at CCHQ.
Publications • A Guide to School Choice Reforms
Daisy Meyland-Smith in the news at Policy Exchange
Louisa Mitchell, Head of Family and Philanthropy Unit, 2006-2008
During her time at Policy Exchange, Louisa oversaw research on family and philanthropy. Prior to this she wrote for the Financial Times, ran two charities and was an investment banker in London, New York and Hong Kong. She read Chinese at Cambridge University.
Publications • Give and Let Give • Little Britons • Building Bridges
Jesse Norman, Executive Director, 2005
Jesse is the Conservative PPC for Hereford and South Herefordshire and is heavily involved in local campaigning. Jesse was a director at Barclays before leaving the City in 1997 to teach at University College London. He was educated at Oxford University (BA) and UCL (MPhil, PhD), where he holds an honorary fellowship in philosophy.
Publications • Compassionate Conservatism • Living for the City: A New Agenda for Green Cities • Compassionate Economics
Jesse Norman in the news at Policy Exchange
James O'Shaughnessy, Deputy Director, 2004-2007
James left Policy Exchange in September 2007 to rejoin the Conservative Party as Director of Policy and Research. James read PPE at St Hugh's College, Oxford. After graduating he taught at the Mathieson Music School, Calcutta, and then worked in advertising and new media. James joined Conservative Central Office in 2001 where he was special adviser to Shadow Education Secretary Damien Green. After leaving CCO James was Head of Research at LLM Communications before joining Policy Exchange in 2004, first as Research Director and then as Deputy Director.
Publications • More Good School Places • The Leadership Effect
James O'Shaughnessy in the news at Policy Exchange
Carol Storey, Health and Social Care Research Fellow, 2009
Carol has been involved in freelance research since leaving Policy Exchange including, most notably, work on alcohol following on from her research for our publication Hitting the Bottle. In addition to Hitting the Bottle, Carol also worked on a project looking at choice in primary care.
Publications • Hitting the Bottle • Which Doctor?
Thomas Sweetman, Research Fellow, 2008
Thomas is now Senior Policy Officer for Climate Change Mitigation and Energy at the Greater London Authority. During his time at Policy Exchange, Thomas co-wrote four reports for the environment and energy unit and wrote several opinion pieces for the media, including the Guardian.
Publications • Is Britain Ready For Carbon Capture and Storage? • Green Dreams • Six Thousand Feet Under • The Root of the Matter • Warm Homes • Litterbugs
Thomas Sweetman in the news at Policy Exchange
Ben Ullmann, Crime and Justice Research Fellow , 2007-2009
Ben has gone on to become Public Affairs Officer and Legacy Heritage Fellow at the Jewish Leadership Council.
While at Policy Exchange, Ben was responsible for the Crime and Justice Unit’s work on crime reduction, prison reform and the justice system. He co-authored and project managed five major reports for Policy Exchange. He has a joint honours degree in Mathematics and Philosophy from the University of Bristol where he also served a year as President of the Students’ Union.
Publications • Gun and Knife Crime in Great Britain • Unlocking the Prison Estate • Out of Sight, Out of Mind • You're Hired! • Inside Out • Less Crime, Lower Costs • Lasting Change or Passing Fad?
Ben Ullmann in the news at Policy Exchange
