Jonathan Birdwell

Regional head, EMEA, policy and insights, Economist Impact

Jonathan Birdwell leads Economist Impact’s policy and insights team in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Across offices in London and Dubai, he steers a team of researchers, economists and subject-matter experts as they generate evidence-based insights that inform internal strategy and external engagement for governments, international institutions, corporations, foundations and NGOs around the world.

He has more than 12 years of think-tank experience in leading research and advising governments, international organisations and civil society on a wide range of topics. Before joining The Economist Group, he was the deputy director of ISD Global, where he led the research, policy, education and cities teams, and the setup and development of the digital analytics unit, the Middle East office and the Strong Cities Network, a global network of over 140 cities that focuses on capacity-building for city-led approaches to social cohesion.

Previously, Mr Birdwell was the head of the citizenship and political participation programme at Demos, a London-based think-tank. In Britain he has presented his research at 10 Downing Street, the Home Office and the Department of Health, and in the United States at the Department for Homeland Security, the State Department and the National Counterterrorism Centre.