Geoff took over as CEO of Nesta in 2011, and since then has moved it out of the public sector and significantly increased its work in investment, research and innovation programmes. 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. From 2004 to 2011 Geoff was the first Chief Executive of the Young Foundation. He was the first director and co-founder of the think-tank Demos; Chief Adviser to Gordon Brown MP; lecturer in telecommunications; investment executive; and reporter on BBC TV and radio. He is a visiting professor at LSE, UCL, Melbourne University and a regular lecturer at the China Executive Leadership Academy. He is an adviser to many governments around the world. He is also currently chair of the Studio Schools Trust and the Social Innovation Exchange. His most recent book is ‘The Locust and the Bee’, Princeton University Press, 2013. His next book, for Princeton University Press, focuses on the theory and practice of collective intelligence.
