Tom Doust

Tom has spent over 20 years working in the fields of learning design and social innovation, with a focus on children, young people, and communities. His work has spanned a broad range of contexts, including working in the charity sector, with local and national government, and alongside global institutions, including The LEGO Group. Tom is part of the leadership team at The Institute of Imagination, a charity set up to champion the power of imagination in educational and learning settings. He is passionate about creative approaches to social challenges and the role social imagination can play in transforming environments for positive change. His 2018 TEDx talk was titled "The Art of Mind Wandering," where he spoke about the importance of creative thinking.

Previously, Tom founded the youth social action charity Envision, which empowers young people from less-advantaged backgrounds to develop essential skills and confidence through tackling social issues affecting their community. He was Head of Education at The Sorrell Foundation, leading programmes that brought students and teachers into the design process of school buildings. In 2013, he was a Clore Fellow with Nesta, where he explored impact investment and digital learning across the education spectrum. In 2015, he was the winner of the Knee High Design Challenge supported by Guy's and St. Thomas' Innovation Charity and run by The Design Council.