Hilary Cottam

Dr Hilary Cottam OBE is a social entrepreneur, thinker and international policy advisor. Her work uniquely combines new thinking with practice: she has created new services to support ageing, family life and health. Her acclaimed book Radical Help (published in 2018) was hailed as ‘mind-shifting’ by David Brooks in the New York Times and referenced by Andrew Marr in The New Statesman. It has been translated internationally and is widely credited with shifting national narratives and practice around welfare systems.

Her current research and practice centres on the future of work and on new care economies. Hilary is an Honorary Professor at the Institute of Innovation and Public Purpose at UCL. She was named UK Designer of the Year in 2005 for pioneering the field of social design. She has also been given the 'most creative person' status by Fast Company in recognition of the global impact of her work and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

Her previous speaking engagements include TED, regular appearances at the World Economic Forum in Davos and international literature festivals. Regular engagements also include mainstream media appearances, academic conferences, lectures and corporate events.