Alongside CapX’s new weekly podcast The Capitalist, we’ll also be publishing a series of bonus episodes, titled Despatch, which offer an audio version of some of our favourite pieces from the site.
This week, it’s Jack Hutchison of Civic Future*, on the opportunity for talented outsiders to fix our dysfunctional state systems from within.
…the UK also has its own – somewhat quieter – examples of success. High agency individuals who have done a ‘tour of duty’ and changed the wiring of government to respond to major challenges. Neuroscientist and former No 10 adviser James Phillips helped to set up the Advanced Research and Invention Agency; AI engineer and former No 10 adviser Nitarshan Rajkumar co-created the AI Safety Institute; Rob Murray designed and negotiated the agreement for Nato’s Defence Accelerator for the North Atlantic. These were highly talented people from outside government who simply decided they could have more impact if they moved into the system. More people are realising that such moves are possible.
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More and more scientists and technologists are considering 6- or 12-month tours of duty in government to fight to turn things around. We need to make sure our system is harnessing this reserve army of talent to do good.
*Applications for Civic Future’s talent programmes close on Sunday 16 March 2025.
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