John Craven

CEO

Brightside

Mar 2026 - Current (5 months)

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Founder

EconSight

Jan 2026 - Current (7 months)

EconSight challenges economic orthodoxy through systems-level analysis, behavioural insight and original thinking on social impact, policy and financial markets.

Honorary Fellow - Educational Equity

University of Birmingham

Nov 2023 - Current (2 years 9 months)

School of Education (College of Social Sciences)

Chief Executive Officer

SYSTEM

Sep 2023 - Current (2 years 11 months)

I lead System 2, an applied research organisation that develops practical solutions to address society’s most intractable problems. This non-profit was created by the Behavioural Insights Team and NESTA, with a launch mission to apply behavioural science to enable young people experiencing disadvantage to thrive. Our name pays homage to the seminal work of the late Nobel Prize Winner, Prof Daniel Kahneman. His book 'Thinking Fast and Slow' popularised the idea of 'System 2' as the deliberate, reflective part of the brain. System 2 focuses on tackling complex social problems through deep, reflective work that seeks to change behaviours at an individual, environmental & systemic level.

CEO

SYSTEM

Sep 2023 - Dec 2025 (2 years 4 months)

Founding CEO at System 2, an applied research organisation that develops practical solutions to address society’s most intractable problems. Highlights included securing a $4m grant, achieving Approved Research Institute status and getting nationwide press coverage for our research on youth mental health. System 2 combines systems thinking, behavioural science and deep collaboration to enable young Australians experiencing disadvantage to thrive.

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Director

Social Mobility Commission

Jun 2022 - Aug 2023 (1 year 3 months)

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Director / Senior Civil Servant in the Cabinet Office

Social Mobility Commission

Jun 2022 - Aug 2023 (1 year 3 months)

Led a team of 27 working to improve social mobility across England and Wales at a time of significant political change.

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Fellow of the RSA

Royal Society of Arts

Mar 2020 - Current (6 years 5 months)

Chief Executive

upReach

Jan 2016 - Jun 2022 (6 years 6 months)

Scaled upReach from a start up with 5 employees to a team of 75 based in five offices across the country, growing annual revenue to >£3m, and supporting 3,000 students each year to fulfil their career potential. Won two national Charity of the Year awards, together with the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise for promoting opportunity in 2022.

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Economics Lead Teacher

Paddington Academy

Jun 2015 - Dec 2015 (7 months)

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Economics Teacher

Magdalen College School

Aug 2014 - Jul 2015 (1 year)

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Teacher of Maths & Economics / Lead Practitioner

UK secondary schools

Jul 2013 - Dec 2015 (2 years 6 months)

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Maths Teacher

The Oxford Academy

Jul 2013 - Aug 2014 (1 year 2 months)

Director, GEF & Cross Asset Solutions

Societe Generale

Aug 2010 - Sep 2012 (2 years 2 months)

Developed and launched derivative-based investment solutions for funds, wealth managers and private banks, improving market liquidity and transparency by listing products on the London Stock Exchange. Delivered innovative hedging and commodity tracking tools, collaborating closely with traders, structurers and the UK economics team. Partnered with Lyxor to develop and market synthetic ETFs for the UK market.

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Deputy Chair & Trustee

GET CONNECTED

Aug 2005 - Jul 2012 (7 years)

Trustee and company director sitting on the Executive Committee for 7 years. Previously spent two years answering calls on the helpline as a volunteer. Held various roles including Head of Finance Committee and Interim Deputy Chair. Achievements included securing funding of £250,000 from Merrill Lynch in 2007/8.

Director, Head of SPCM (Europe, Middle East and Africa)

Merrill Lynch

Jun 2000 - Aug 2010 (10 years 3 months)

Led EMEA structured products business, creating research-driven derivative solutions across asset classes and managing a team of six. Drove $3bn in annual sales and $79m in revenues, while developing innovative trading systems and a joint venture between Global Markets and Wealth Management to enhance client access and liquidity.

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Analyst / Scholar

Arthur Andersen

Aug 1997 - Jun 2000 (2 years 11 months)

Followed the Scholarship program prior to University, including training in accountancy and tax consulting following the graduate programme, completing a total of eleven months work experience in tax consulting, audit and business consulting.

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