Speakers

Professor Joseph Stiglitz
Winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences

Prof Joseph Stiglitz is a professor at Columbia University in New York and Chair of Columbia University's Committee on Global Thought. He holds a part-time appointment at the University of Manchester as Chair of the Management Board and Director of Graduate Summer Programs at the Brooks World Poverty Institute.

In 2001, he was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his analyses of markets with asymmetric information. He was a lead author of the 1995 Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

Prof Stiglitz was a member of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) (1993-95), during the Clinton administration, and served as CEA chairperson (1995-97). He then became Chief Economist and Senior Vice-President of the World Bank (1997-2000). In 2008, French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, appointed him to chair a Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Economic Progress, which released its final report in September 2009. In 2009, he was appointed by the President of the United Nations General Assembly as chair of the Commission of Experts on Reform of the International Financial and Monetary System, which also released its report in September 2009.

Sir Ian Blair QPM
Former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police

Sir Ian Warwick Blair QPM is a former senior British Police Officer who previously held the position of Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service (2005-08). Sir Ian was responsible for the policing of Greater London, with the exception of the City of London, which is the responsibility of a separate force.

Several months into his tenure, he was heavily involved in an investigation into the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes by armed police who mistakenly believed he was a suicide bomber.

On 2 October 2008, Sir Ian announced he would resign as Metropolitan Police Commissioner, with effect from 1 December 2008. He blamed a lack of support from London mayor Boris Johnson, saying "without the mayor's backing I do not think I can continue". Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, and Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, paid tribute to Sir Ian’s service.

Professor Peter Spencer
Professor of Economics and Finance and Economic Adviser, Ernst & Young ITEM Club

Peter Spencer is Professor of Economics and Finance at the University of York and an Economic Adviser to the Ernst & Young ITEM Forecasting Club. He started his career as an economic adviser at HM Treasury in 1975, developing the monetary sector of the forecasting model, before joining the economic forecasting team. He left the Treasury in 1986 to join Credit Suisse First Boston and spent 10 years working in the City, finally as Group Chief Economist at Dresdner Kleinwort Benson. He moved into the academic world in 1996 accepting a part-time Chair at Birkbeck College, London. Prof Spencer publishes in leading business and economics journals and has written two books on monetary policy and financial regulation, published by Oxford University Press.

The ITEM Club is an independent economic forecasting group, which is distinctive in that it uses the same economic model for its UK forecasts as the UK Government’s Treasury uses for its policy analysis and Budget forecasts. Thus, ITEM can test whether Government claims are consistent and credible.

Matthew Taylor
Chief Executive of the RSA

Matthew Taylor became Chief Executive of the RSA in November 2006. Prior to this, he was Chief Adviser on Political Strategy to the Prime Minister.

Mr Taylor was appointed to the Labour Party in 1994 to establish Labour’s rebuttal operation. His activities before the Labour Party included being a county councillor, a parliamentary candidate, a university research fellow and the director of a unit monitoring policy in the health service. Until December 1998, Mr Taylor was Assistant General Secretary for the Labour Party. During the 1997 General Election, he was Labour’s Director of Policy and a member of the Party’s central election strategy team. He was the Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research (1999-2003), a centre left think tank.

Mr Taylor is a frequent media commentator on policy and political issues, and has written for publications including The Guardian, The Observer, New Statesman and Prospect.

René Carayol
Leadership Advisor

René Carayol is one of the world's leading advisors on inspirational leadership and culture. He is a regular broadcaster and his presenting credits include 'Pay off your mortgage in two years' and 'mind of a millionaire'. He is author of Corporate Voodoo and has worked with leaders including Bill Clinton, Kofi Annan and Sir Richard Branson. René has provided leadership support to organisations including the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, the Home Office, and McKinsey and Co, drawing on his own experience on the boards of Marks & Spencer, Pepsi, IPC Media and the Inland Revenue.