Stephen Brien is a senior fellow at Future Africa Forum, a platform for thought leadership that partners with organizations to build a better Africa. Previously, he was director of policy at Legatum Institute, which is dedicated to building a movement of people committed to creating pathways to prosperity, with a particular emphasis on engaging leaders and aspiring leaders in Africa.

Stephen’s research focuses on the socio-economic drivers of prosperity around the world. He is passionate about finding solutions to reduce poverty and improve lives. He also is chair of the UK Social Security Advisory Committee. From 2015 to 2017, Stephen advised several governments in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. He has been a director at Social Finance, and he also advised the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) from 2010 to 2013, as well as the UK Cabinet Office in developing Covid reopening strategies.

Prior to joining DWP, Stephen spent fifteen years as a partner at Oliver Wyman, serving a term as the head of its London office. He has been a board member of the Centre for Social Justice and also of Social Finance Digital Labs, and is a member of the UK Social Metrics Commission. He is the author of Dynamic Benefits (the Blueprint for Universal Credit) and Outcome-Based Government.