Next Challenges

Cat Drew is the Chief Design Officer at Design Council where she brings together architecture and the built environment, public sector design and business innovation to support people live healthier, happier and safer lives. Previously, Cat has held leadership positions at FutureGov and Uscreates, was a co-founder of the UK Government’s Policy Lab, and combines 10 years of experience in Government with an MA in Graphic Design. She speaks widely about the value of design and co-presents BBC Radio 4 The Fix. She is a member of The Point People.

John Bird, MBE is a British social entrepreneur and life peer. He is the co-founder of The Big Issue a magazine that is edited by professional journalists and sold by street vendors who are homeless or vulnerably-housed, published on four continents it is the worlds most widely circulated street newspaper. In 2001 He founded Big Issue Invest, a provider of finance for businesses, charities and NGOs with the aim of creating positive social change. It is the social investment arm of The Big Issue Group. A social investment fund, that has invested more than £30 million in hundreds of social enterprises making a positive impact in communities across the UK. In 1995 he was awarded an MBE for his work in homelessness. He was nominated for life peerage in October 2015 as a non-party-political "people's peer" where he is an independent crossbencher member of the House of Lords.