Bentley, Tom

Melbourne Innovation Districts, Australia

Tom is a thinker, writer and adviser on public policy and institutional change. His publications focus on democracy, education, social and economic innovation. He worked as Director of Demos (UK think tank) from 1999-2006 and Deputy Chief of Staff to Julia Gillard from 2007-2013.

Other roles include special adviser to the UK Education Secretary, David Blunkett; Executive Director in the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet; expert adviser to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) through the Gates Foundation; and as Trustee of NESTA, UK’s innovation agency for social good.

Tom is the executive director of RMIT University, one of the key actors in the partnership that constitutes Melbourne Innovation Districts. At RMIT, Tom leads a diverse group of teams pursuing impact and partnership in priority areas, including: strategy and public policy, Indigenous engagement, Asia-Pacific regional collaboration, innovation in health, justice and social services, precincts and partnerships.