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Nesta is an innovation foundation. For us, innovation means turning bold ideas into reality and changing lives for the better. We use our expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are big challenges facing society.

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Partner event

Mission-driven government: what does it really mean?

5 Mar 2024 18:00 – 20:00

Online and in person

This event took place on Tuesday 5 March. You can watch the recording below.

Keir Starmer has pledged to lead a “mission-driven” government and to end “sticking plaster politics”, but what does this mean?

The Labour leader has described missions as a whole new way of doing government, but how could this work in practice? While there is a growing acceptance government is not currently set up to tackle complex challenges, are missions more than a rallying cry for long-termism? Nesta and the Institute for Government explored what a mission-led government could look like - and where it is already happening.

Why you should watch the recording

Our expert panel explored practical questions, challenges and opportunities around mission-driven government. You can watch the recording to hear about what missions mean for organising government, how being mission-led change the way ministers and civil servants work and whether the centre of government is set up to deliver missions.

Event recording

The opinions expressed in this event recording are those of the speakers. For more information, view our full statement on external contributors.

Emma Norris

Emma is the Deputy Director at the Institute for Government, where she has oversight of the organisation’s research programme and leads work on strategy, audience and impact, and resourcing. She helped build the Institute’s partnerships function. Emma has extensive experience of public policy, Whitehall and Westminster. At the Institute, she has led work on policy making and implementation, public engagement, net zero and is the IfG’s expert on public inquiries, leading our work on the Covid-19 inquiry. Prior to joining the Institute, she was a director in the RSA’s public policy team, working on a range of issues including public service reform, social exclusion and governance. Emma has also worked as a research fellow at IPPR on social policy, and she is a former president of Oxford University Student Union. She is a commentator both in print and broadcast, for outlets including the Today programme, Newsnight, BBC News, Sky News and is a regular on the Institute’s podcast, Inside Briefing. She has written for a range of publications including The Guardian, The Times, Prospect and Civil Service World.

Cllr Georgia Gould

Georgia was appointed Leader of Camden Council in May 2017 and has served as a Councillor for Kentish Town Ward since 2010. As Leader she has made tackling injustice and inequality of wealth, income and influence the focus of the Council’s work, making citizen power and participation a priority. Camden was the first local authority to hold a Climate Emergency Citizens Assembly in 2019. Georgia has a particular interest in youth politics and published a book called “Wasted: How Misunderstanding Young Britain Threatens Our Future”. It draws on two years spent travelling around the UK interviewing young people. Georgia is also Chair of London Councils, Member of London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP) Board, Chair of Euston Strategic Board, Co-chair of Skills for London Taskforce and a Governor of William Ellis School.

Lara Sampson

Lara is a digital transformation and product management expert, supporting institutions that provide essential products and services. Prior to joining Public Digital, she led the product development of Universal Credit, taking it from its inception in 2013 through to 6 million customers in 2021, including withstanding a 500% increase in demand during the early stages of the pandemic. At Public Digital, Lara works alongside large-scale, complex organisations, helping them to implement long-term programmes of change and transformation. She has led the Public Digital team supporting the Farming and Countryside Programme (DEFRA) for over two years, advising and coaching senior leadership and their teams on cultural transformation. She has been instrumental in helping to embed outcome-based, iterative ways of working, looking at how services are designed, delivered and run for farming subsidies. Other clients Lara has supported include the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Home Office, the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC), Arts Council, Unicef UK and NHS England. Before becoming a civil servant, Lara worked in the private sector on digital strategy and delivery for clients such as TXU Energy and TV Licensing.