Onward’s mission is to develop bold and practical ideas to boost economic opportunity, build national resilience, and strengthen communities across all parts of the United Kingdom
Onward’s mission is to develop bold and practical ideas to boost economic opportunity, build national resilience, and strengthen communities across all parts of the United Kingdom
Our vision is to address the needs of the whole country: young and old, urban and rural, for all communities across the UK – particularly places that have too often felt neglected or ignored by Westminster.
We believe in an optimistic conservatism that is truly national – one that recognises the value of markets, supported by a streamlined state that is active not absent. We are unapologetic about standing up to vested interests, putting power closer to people, and supporting the hardworking and aspirational.
We do so by developing practical policies grounded in evidence. Our team has worked at high levels across Westminster and Whitehall. We know how to produce big ideas that resonate with policymakers, the media and the wider public. We work closely with policymakers of all parties to build coalitions of support. Most importantly, we engage ordinary people across the country and work with them to make our ideas a reality.
Our team brings experience from the highest levels of government, business and other think tanks to produce cutting edge research and events.
Sir Simon Clarke has served as Director of Onward since January 2025.
Eve is Head of Research. She leads Onward's research team, focusing on strategy and policy development.
Gavin is the Head of Onward's Rebuilding Our Economy programme focusing on stronger growth, higher productivity and increased national security.
Phoebe leads Onward's Renewing Our Social Contract programme, and also spearheads Onward's project, A New Deal for Parents.
Angus is Head of Events and Development, overseeing all of Onward's events and leading Onward's fundraising, partnerships and Business Network.
Caroline is Head of Reshaping the State, focusing on reform of public services, including health, welfare and local government.
Ellie is a Senior Researcher on Onward's Reshaping the State programme, focusing on prison and public services reform.
Laurence Fredricks is a Senior Researcher at Onward, focusing on housing and planning.
James Yucel is Onward's Head of Campaigns, managing Onward's media, press and communications.
Onward's Board of Directors ensure that our work in research and campaigns is bold while also being practical and possible.
Co-founder of Onward
Chairman of MacSteel and the former Chief Executive and Treasurer of the Conservative Party.
Chairman of the Meller Group
Director and Co-Founder of WPI Strategy
Michael Gove is Chairman of the Editorial Board, and Editor of The Spectator magazine.
Conservative MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston and Co-founder of Onward.
Chief Research Officer at Focal Data
Conservative MP for West Suffolk.
Former Member of Parliament and Anti-Corruption Tsar. Chair of Conservative Policy Forum. Founder & Director of Centre for Small-State Conservatives
Leader writer and columnist at The Times. Former Director of Onward.
Columnist at The Times.
Vice President for Global Government Relations, Harbour Energy.
Conservative MP for Weald of Kent
Martin Seiffarth is a former parliamentary researcher and public affairs analyst.
Zachary Spiro is an Onward Policy Fellow
We hold regular events online and in person with invited speakers to discuss society’s biggest problems and come up with workable solutions. The following people have spoken on an Onward platform.
Julian is Head of Research at Merlin Strategy.
Since Onward began in 2018 many people have helped achieve our goal to address the needs of the whole country, in all parts of the UK – particularly those places that feel neglected or ignored by Westminster.
Shivani was Deputy Head of Research at Onward. Shivani now works for Public First as an Economist.
Cesca was a Senior Researcher at Onward, afterwards working at No 10. Cesca now works for the Boston Consulting Group.
Ed led our Getting to Zero research programme.
Will Tanner is the Former Director of Onward, before going onto be Deputy Chief of Staff in Number 10 Downing…
Florence Conway was an intern at Onward.
Francois was a Senior Researcher on the Social Fabric and Future Politics programmes.
Guy Miscampbell was a Senior Research Fellow with Onward. He left to take up a role as Associate Director at…
Jack Kelly was Onward's Head of Communications from February - November 2022.
Jack Richardson was Onward's Head of Energy and Climate, before leaving to take up a role as Policy Advisor to…
James was Onward's Events and Campaigns Manager until December 2022.
James Blagden was the Head of Politics & Polling and led Onward’s Future Politics programme. He is now Associate Director…
Jenevieve was a Senior Researcher at Onward, and is now a Policy Fellow at the LSE.
Katie Fairclough was Finance Director at Onward, overseeing all of Onward's partnerships and fundraising.
Luke Stanley was a Senior Researcher at Onward and led the Social Fabric programme.
Maria Priestley was a Senior Research working on our Science Superpower research programme. She is now a Data & Technology…
Matt Burnett was the Head of the Science Superpower programme at Onward from March 2022-23, before going onto be Policy…
Ned Hammond was the Head of Onward's Energy and Environment research programme.
Phoebe was a Researcher on the Social Fabric programme, and now works as a Policy Researcher at HM Treasury.
Ted was a Policy Fellow focusing on our Net Zero research. He was previously a Senior Researcher at Onward.
Tim was Onward's Chief Economist.
Adam Hawksbee was the Deputy Director of Onward until 2024.
Alex Luke was a Senior Researcher at Onward, focusing on the Getting to Zero programme. He is now a Research…
Allan Nixon was Head of Science and Technology at Onward.
Anastasia was a Senior Researcher in the Science and Technology team. She is now a researcher at The Entrepreneurs Network.
Anna was a Senior Researcher in the Science and Technology team. She is now Head of Office to Lord Ara…
Bel was an Events and Development Manager at Onward. She is now Head of Partnerships and Development at Labour Together.
Cameron Smith was the Head of Communications at Onward.
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