Offering in-depth analysis and review of policies and reform, from his own experiences in politics, Lord Adonis has led complex change in a number of areas from transport and travel, health and local government to education and infrastructure. Having faced numerous challenges in passing policies, his insight into policy-making and the management of change is second to none.
Highlights of Adonis' illustrious career include his preparation of the HS2 rail line plan, as well as the development of the Academies programme where he would lead the opening of 400 'independent state schools'. Adonis graduated from Oxford University, quickly becoming a journalist for the Financial Times and The Observer before he was brought in as an advisor to the Number 10 Policy Unit in 1998. There he would advise on constitutional and educational policy, as well as test the introduction of tuition fees at UK universities.
Under Blair's Labour Government, Adonis would later assume the responsibility as the Head of the Policy Unit in 2001, becoming a life peer later in 2005 when he was appointed as the Minister of State for Education. Gordon Brown, when he would assume office would appoint Adonis as the Minister of State for Transport, before he would be promoted to Secretary of State for Transport in 2009. In 2015, Adonis became the Chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission where his expertise on infrastructure challenges would be utilised by the British government.
In addition to his wide spread of work in the Infrastructure Commission, the government and indeed the cabinet, Adonis is a board member at Policy Network. He has written several books, including 5 Days in May: The Coalition and Beyond, Education, Education, Education: Reforming England's Schools and A Class Act, aimed at exploding the myth that Britain is becoming a classless society. He has penned a number of articles and co-authored further bestselling books.
An expert in several areas from class and political history, to education and transport, Lord Adonis offers an unparalleled exploration of British politics, that is ideally suited to events with business, institution and corporate themes.
