Independent & Non-Partisan, working for the whole UK
We seek to build a new democratic process, not decide the answers to the big questions the country faces.
We are drawn from a wide range of backgrounds and political inclinations, yet we all share a determination to help the United Kingdom thrive.
Our Founding Team
Catherine Day
Co-Founder & Lead
Former senior UK civil servant with twenty-five years’ experience across the Cabinet Office, No.10 and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, advising successive Prime Ministers on national strategy, security and institutional reform.
Why I am involved in NSP
As a mother, I don’t want to pass a broken system on to the next generation. After growing up in Northern Ireland and serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, I’ve seen what happens when states fail: ordinary people pay the price.
I trained as a biological anthropologist, and have spent my career exploring how societies survive and thrive. After twenty-five years inside government, I believe we can’t rely on the systems we inherited. The UK urgently needs new ways to think, decide and act together – before events decide for us.
Sir Matthew Rycroft
Former Permanent Secretary at the Home Office and the Department for International Development, and former UK Ambassador to the United Nations. Matthew brings extensive experience of public leadership, diplomacy and institutional transformation.
Why I am involved in NSP
Having seen around the world how easily echo chambers can create polarisation, I’m convinced that our democracy needs constant nurturing and renewal, in order for it to succeed for everyone in it.
I’m now focused on creating a new framework for informed debate, thoughtful trade-offs and genuine understanding – helping people step outside their bubble and reconnect with other people across society. That mission is what led me to co-found the National Strategy Project.
Tim Robinson
Chair and former CEO of international technology and life sciences companies, and Lead Non-Executive Director at the Home Office. Tim brings deep experience of innovation, business leadership and organisational growth.
Why I am involved in NSP
Having spent the last 20 years trying to improve our system of Government from within as a Non-Executive, it is clear that we need an external catalyst to drive change: to give people an informed voice, a strategic path for our nations’ future and a vehicle for improving delivery of public services and infrastructure
NSP is the only entity in the UK set up with the strategic vision and practical plan to effect such change, a world-first. I’m keen to bring my experience of effective delivery to making NSP succeed. In particular, I want to help ensure we answer the crucial “so what?” question: turning the insight from public dialogue into clear, actionable ideas for improving how the government, the private sector, the charitable sector and civil society work together across the UK.
Malcolm Bacchus
President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 2024/5. Served as CFO of several listed and private companies. Junior Warden of the Chartered Accountants’ Livery Company, and an officer of a heritage and conservation group and various educational charities.
Why I am involved in NSP
I grew up in a time when democracy felt a lot more comfortable, when people disagreed politely and mostly seemed to get along. Today’s polarisation is making us all more unhappy and antagonistic. Meanwhile, no one is addressing the big long-term challenges facing us.
This approach won’t be easy, but we have to try. The only way we’ll ever achieve a national consensus is through rational debate. We have to take pride in building for the country’s future as previous generations did.
Professor Jim Fishkin
Pioneer of global democratic innovation, founder of Director of Stanford University’s Deliberative Democracy Lab and creator of Deliberative Polling®, one of the world’s leading democratic innovations. Publications include Can Deliberation Cure The Ills of Democracy?
Why I am involved in NSP
If you want to repair democracy, you need to create a more deliberative society. When people deliberate on polarised and contentious issues, they come out with greater mutual respect, feel their opinions are worth listening to, pay more attention to public affairs, and have higher voting rates. The effect is a surprise, but it’s pretty dramatic.
The National Strategy Project allows us to spread the benefits of deliberation. We’re able to gather a whole country in “one room”, using a platform that moderates and balances the discussion. If we scale this to tens or hundreds of thousands of people, it could cool the temperature, reduce rancour, and help create more informed, engaged citizens.
Ian Fletcher
Former CEO of the UK’s Intellectual Property Office and headed departments in four of the five governments for which he worked in a civil service career. Subsequently founded a successful tech start-up.
Why I am involved in NSP
Our Core Team
Estelle Ciesla – Stanford Deliberative Democracy Lab, specialising in the design and delivery of large-scale deliberative processes.
Sarah Castell – Democratic participation specialist and former Chief Executive of leading UK participation charity, Involve.
Nick Kind – Fundraising, strategic partnerships and operational advisory.
Harriet Hoffler – Strategic Engagement, Partnerships & Events
Lisa Hendry– Independent Consultant. Programme delivery.
Vijay Luthra – CEO of public sector consultancy Ceva. Public service reform and systems transformation.
Simon Garnett – Founder of Conversations That Count. Communications and engagement.
Hector Macdonald – Strategic communications and narrative.
Dave Allen – Brand & communications.
Antonia Adair – Strategic corporate communications.
David Durant – Civic technologist. Technology workstream manager.
“I believe fundamentally in the power of dialogue and people to generate change from the bottom up. That’s where movements begin.
The National Strategy Project is built around that magic – we’re creating the space for every voice to participate, and for all of us to shape what comes next together.”
Harriet Hoffler
“I have a really vivid memory of taking my kids to the London Paralympics. Everyone was so welcoming. Surrounded by people of every age, colour and background, I felt super-proud to be British. That’s what we should be about!
The NSP is one of the few initiatives that might restore some agency, optimism and cohesion.”
Nick Kind
“I love that the NSP is helping the UK have the most difficult – and most important – conversations we can have as a society:
What do we want for our country?”
Simon Garnett
“The people of the UK deserve a chance to be heard through peaceful and civil conversations.
Everyone should have the opportunity to help decide the future of this country.”
Estelle Ciesla
“The last ten years have shown how ill-equipped our elected leaders are to meet the challenges of the modern world. We need a better way to unleash this country’s immense potential, and I believe the NSP could be the answer.
The people of the UK deserve a chance to be heard through peaceful and civil conversations.“
Hector Macdonald
“We ask governments to solve generational challenges with tools built for the electoral cycle. Everyone inside the system knows it.
The NSP is a serious attempt to fix it, by giving the public a genuine say in the country’s long-term direction. As a former public servant and a recovering politician, I could hardly say no“
Vijay Luthra
““I care about the future of this country and the people in it. We can’t keep tackling big challenges in the same way – it isn’t working.
The NSP gives us a chance to listen to what people really want and build something that protects the future for all of us and I want to be part of that journey.“
Lisa Hendry
Our Collaborators & Supporters
We are delighted to be supported by a growing network of distinguished advisers, collaborators and champions from across academia, business, philanthropy, technology, media and public life:
Organisations:
Stanford University’s Deliberative Democracy Lab: Providing methodology, tools and seconded staff (Estelle Cielsa, above)
University of Cambridge, Department of Politics: Supporting with research and UK-specific implementation of Stanford’s approach
YouGov: Providing pro bono assistance with recruitment of initial representative samples of the population
The People Speak: Facilitating in-person and online discussions, and expertise around dialogue all over the UK
Anthropy: Providing a platform for launch and exposure
Bird & Bird: Providing legal services and support
Apolitical: Logistics, meeting spaces and event support
Individuals:
Robyn Scott: Founder and CEO of Apolitical, a global platform supporting public servants and institutional innovation.[insert logos from Harriet]
Audrey Tang: Taiwan’s Cyber Ambassador-at-large, pioneer of the use of technology in democracy, and storied campaigner
Professor Jude Browne: Head of the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge
Gillian Tett: Columnist and member of the editorial board for the Financial Times. She also serves as Provost of King’s College, Cambridge.
Our Founding Commitments
Our Commitments to the Nation
The National Strategy Project exists to help the United Kingdom think, decide and act together for the long term public good.
We believe the future should be shaped with society, not for it — and that this responsibility belongs to all of society.
We ask everyone involved in this work — founders, trustees, colleagues, volunteers, advisers, partners, donors and supporters — to make these commitments publicly and hold one another accountable to them.
These commitments are the foundation for earning trust.
1. We seek impact, not power
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The decisions belong to democratic institutions and the people who elect them. We exist to help society use those decisions more wisely.
2. We serve the whole country
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Every part of society deserves a fair hearing in shaping the future we share, including those who distrust institutions or rarely participate.
3. We do not choose the answers
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We establish where informed public judgement lies once people have had the chance to think seriously together.
4. We show our working
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Every source, assumption and area of disagreement will be visible. Trust should never depend on taking our word for it.
5. We will be transparent about our money
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Every source, assumption and area of disagreement will be visible. Trust should never depend on taking our word for it.
06. We will be accountable
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Our governance and standards are published openly and designed to be tested, challenged and scrutinised from the outside.
07. We will bring the country’s strengths together
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We connect people, ideas and leadership across sectors, generations and places so more of the country’s capabilities bear on shared goals.
08. We will put future generations in the room
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The decisions we make today will shape lives not yet lived. We commit to keeping those consequences in view.
09. We will approach this work with humility
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The future cannot be predicted with certainty. We will stay open to new evidence, challenge and better ideas as we go.
10. We will strive to leave the country stronger than we found it
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Our success is measured by the capability we leave behind and whether the UK becomes more able to shape its future deliberately and together.