About Nesta

Nesta is a research and innovation foundation. We apply our deep expertise in applied methods to design, test and scale solutions to some of the biggest challenges of our time, working across the innovation lifecycle.

Last year the government published its 10-year health plan for England with the aim of ending the obesity epidemic and shifting from treating sickness to prioritising prevention. As the new Prime Minister’s government takes shape, what does this mean for delivery of the plan?

Join Nesta’s healthy life mission at this year’s Labour Party Conference to explore the future of the 10-year plan under Andy Burnham. Our expert panel will be chaired by Ravi Gurumurthy, chief executive at Nesta and includes Jim Dickson MP, co-chair of Dietary Health APPG and Lauren Bowes Byatt, director of Nesta’s healthy life team. They will discuss the steps a new government should take to prevent ill health, reduce UK obesity rates and improve the health of the nation.

This event will take place on Sunday 27 September in Nesta’s pod in the Liverpool Experience Campus (secure zone) from 16:00-17:00 BST. Add to your calendar.

Speakers

Ravi

Ravi Gurumurthy

Ravi Gurumurthy is group chief executive officer, joining Nesta as chief executive in December 2019. Ravi is the chief executive of Nesta, the UK’s innovation foundation. Nesta’s mission is to design, test and scale solutions to society's biggest challenges, from sustainability and health to educational inequality. Ravi also leads the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), often known as the ‘Nudge Unit’. BIT has grown from a small team in No 10 Downing Street to a 250-person global social purpose consultancy and a subsidiary of Nesta. Prior to joining Nesta, Ravi co-founded and led the Airbel Innovation Lab at the International Rescue Committee. He was responsible for designing new products and services for people affected by crises in over 40 countries. Ravi worked in the UK government from 1999 to 2013. He was an adviser and speechwriter to Foreign Secretary David Miliband, leading the creation of Every Child Matters and the Children Act 2004, and the world’s first legally binding climate legislation. Ravi has held a number of non-executive roles, and is currently NED for NHS England, and lead NED for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.

Lauren Bowes Byatt headshot

Lauren Bowes Byatt

Lauren is a director within the healthy life mission. She oversees the mission's work on designing, implementing and advocating for policies that can help tackle obesity across the UK. She was responsible for planning and implementation of key Covid-19 policy moments, from national lockdowns to delivering the government’s roadmaps. During this time, she was also deployed to NHS England’s Covid-19 vaccination programme. Prior to this, Lauren held different policy and analytical roles across the Home Office, Cabinet Office and Ministry of Justice. Lauren joined Nesta from the Cabinet Office, where she worked in the Covid-19 task force. She was responsible for planning and implementation of key Covid-19 policy moments, from national lockdowns to delivering the government’s roadmaps. During this time, she was also deployed to NHS England's Covid-19 vaccination programme. Prior to this, Lauren held policy, strategy and analytical roles within the Home Office, Cabinet Office and Ministry of Justice.

Jim dickson

Jim Dickson MP

Jim Dickson is the Labour MP for Dartford.