David Halpern

David Halpern CBE is President Emeritus of the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT). He was previously the team’s CEO (2014 to 2023), and its founding Director in 10 Downing Street (2010 to 2014).

David is also a member of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Council.

He served as the UK’s National What Works Advisor (2013-2022) and led efforts to improve the use of evidence across the UK government. He was the Founding and Research Director of the Institute for Government, and the Chief Analyst at the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit (2001 to 2007). Across roles, David has served prime ministers, across Labour, coalition and Conservative governments.

Before entering government, David held tenure at the University of Cambridge and posts at the University of Oxford and Harvard University.

He has written a range of books and monographs applying social and behavioural science policy, including:

• Mental Health and the Built Environment (1995)
• Options for Britain (1996, 2009)
• Social Capital (2005)
• The Hidden Wealth of Nations (2009)
• MINDSPACE (2010)
• Inside the Nudge Unit (2015, 2019)

Recent work includes:

• The Shrouded Economy (BIT, 2024)
• The Catalytic State: A Practical Theory of Government (King’s, Policy Institute, 2024)
• Global Evidence Report: A Blueprint for Better International Collaboration (Nesta/ESRC 2024)

David is a Visiting Professor at:

• Policy Institute, King’s College London
• Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London
• Judge Institute, Cambridge

He is a trustee of the Heywood Foundation, established in the memory of Cabinet Secretary, Lord Jeremy Heywood. In 2023, David was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours for his public service contribution to What Works.

Meet our other Smart Data Research UK programme board members.