Ever heard about a company being spun out of 10 Downing Street? Or the idea that some of our institutions should take a more revolutionary approach?

Listen to our latest unsung hero, Simon, who is trailblazing how behavioural science can improve policy-making and help our democracy to thrive.

Navjot Sawhney, Founder & CEO of the Washing Machine Project, shares their policy ideas for bridging innovation and humanitarianism.

This includes:

• Increasing funds for innovative international development projects
• Increasing R&D tax credits for startups and small businesses (not just for big businesses)

Emma and Natalie, Co-Founders of Dear Bump, talk about their ideas for innovating policy to help pregnant women in the workplace.

Check out their website here.

Dan Etenberg, Founder & CEO of LIA Aerospace, discusses why green policies in space are becoming increasingly important.

Gemma Guilera, Co-Founder & Director of Moving Beans, suggests city councils, waste facility managers, and big industries come together to build a common budget - overseen by an executive body - to be responsible for driving sustainability forward.

Promisingly, she says as long as we breathe we can solve issues!

In addition, Nawful Raj, Founder of Yū Pods, believes we need to reduce consumption, eliminate the use of non-recyclable and micro-plastics, and fund more non-tech-based companies (to solve environmental issues).

Check out Moving Beans here and Yū Pods here.

Abisola Oladapo, Co-Founder & CEO of Agnes Health, says we need to share best practices around maternal health and adapt it, so pregnant women around the world can improve their physical and mental health.

Tinesh Chhaya, Founder & CEO of Decipher Cyber, discusses why:

1. Governments and parents should prioritise e-safety policies and adopt good practices to help young people
2. Companies should add the role of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to the C-Suite

Follow Tinesh on LinkedIn and/or check out Decipher Cyber here.

Today's guest is Esther O'Callaghan OBE, Co-Founder & CEO of hundo Ltd, an innovative careers platform connecting Gen Z talent to leading employers.

In this episode, Esther explains why you need paid work to lift yourself out of poverty and how you can’t do that without access to opportunities - which is why hundo is helping young people to access employment and learning opportunities.

In fact, they’ve raised $2 million to help them scale-up their impact and utilise the 'metaverse". 

Listen to their story and follow Esther on LinkedIn and/or Twitter.

Today's guest is Kabiné Komara, former Prime Minister of Guinea, Adviser and Author.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why climate change and access to jobs are two of our biggest shared global issues
• Good governance is one of the biggest challenges facing Africa
• We need to better manage and share resources, especially water
• Conflicts over water in Nigeria and Syria led to deaths, demonstrations and mass migration
• Water sharing between countries brings about peace!
• Budgets need to reflect the priority and size of problems
• Seeing young people around the world coming together to find solutions is a source of hope, but it needs to be sustained and protected

Kabiné Komara was introduced to the podcast by Sundeep Waslekar, who was interviewed in an earlier episode.

Today's guests are local councillors Humaira Ali and Graham Howe, representing Southwark and Wokingham in the UK.

In this episode, Humaira and Graham explore what a council is, what councils do, and how we can improve the system through policy innovation - including whether or not we even need political parties in the first place.

Follow Humaira on Twitter and connect with Graham on LinkedIn.

Terminology:

• Ward - the administrative area of a borough that elects (and is represented by) a councillor (or councillors)
• Statutory instrument - delegated legislative power
• Canvassing - directly engaging with local residents
• Politicking - partisan or politically-driven activity