Hannah White

Hannah is the Director. She leads the Institute’s work to make government more effective.  

Hannah is a regular commentator on the radio and television – including BBC television and radio, ITV, Channel 4, Sky News, Times Radio, and international broadcasters – and writes regularly for a wide range of print media – including the Telegraph, Guardian and the Times. She hosts the Institute’s weekly Insider Briefing podcast. 

Hannah has a PhD in Human Geography. She started her career as a parliamentary clerk in the House of Commons, working on select and legislative committees and advising on parliamentary procedure. In 2012 she left parliament to become Secretary to the Committee on Standards in Public Life in the Cabinet Office. Hannah joined the Institute in 2014 and was appointed Director in October 2022. 

Hannah also serves as deputy chair of trustees for the public participation and deliberation charity Involve. She received an OBE in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to the constitution, and in April 2022 she published her first book Held in Contempt: what’s wrong with the House of Commons?.

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