David Halpern Keynote Speaker

Founding Director of the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT)
Authored several influential books
Recognized with a CBE for Public Service in the New Year’s Honours of January 2022

David Halpern's Biography

David Halpern CBE is President Emeritus at the Behavioural Insights Team having previously been the team’s CEO from launch of the company (2010-2023) and President & Founding Director (2023-2024).

Prior to BIT, David was the first Research Director of the Institute for Government and between 2001 and 2007 was the Chief Analyst at the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. David was also appointed as the What Works National Advisor in July 2013, a position he held until 2022 through which he led efforts to improve the use of evidence across the UK government.

Before entering government, David held tenure at Cambridge and posts at Oxford and Harvard. He has written several books and papers on areas relating to behavioural insights and well-being, including Social Capital (2005), the Hidden Wealth of Nations (2010), Online Harms and Manipulation (2019) and co-author of the MINDSPACE report. In 2015, David wrote a book about the team entitled Inside the Nudge Unit: How Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference.

David was awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours in January 2023 for Public Service in his role as What Works National Adviser.

Behavioural science and decision-making

Public policy, evidence and government innovation

Behaviour change and organisational performance

Wellbeing, social capital and modern society

The power of “nudging” in business and public services

He is one of the world’s leading experts in behavioural science and public policy, recognised for pioneering the application of behavioural insights in government and organisations.
He translates complex behavioural research into practical strategies that improve decision-making, public outcomes and organisational performance.
He brings exceptional credibility as the founding leader of the Behavioural Insights Team, widely known as the world’s first “Nudge Unit”.
He is a thoughtful and highly engaging speaker whose work combines rigorous evidence, psychology and real-world policy experience at the highest levels of government.
His insights equip organisations and leaders to better understand human behaviour, design more effective interventions and drive meaningful, evidence-based change.