Jonathan Saks
Biography
Jonny is Director of Strategy and Systems Change at the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). He was formerly NISTA’s Chief Economist, and held the Chief Economist role at the National Infrastructure Commission, which he joined in October 2023. He previously worked at the Department for Transport, where he headed up a multidisciplinary analysis division serving the department’s Aviation, Maritime and Security Group, and has extensive senior experience leading analytical programmes across government, working across a wide transport brief.
As an economist his experience includes leading funding bids and strategic analysis in Spending Reviews and fiscal events, being a senior advisor on public/private funding negotiations, heading up technical delegations at international negotiations, and delivering a range of large, innovative modelling and forecasting programmes. He also lead the analysis on the Global Travel Task Force during the COVID pandemics, and was lead economic advisor at the Airports Commission. Jonny is also a regular contributor and chair for expert panels at the OECD.
Director of Strategy and Systems Change
Providing policy advice on infrastructure needs and leading the NISTA strategy and policy function, covering economic infrastructure - digital & telecoms, energy, flood risk management, transport, water and wastewater, and waste. The team provides long-term policy advice to ministers supported by robust analysis, modelling and extensive engagement with the sectors, regulators and other experts.
National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority
Previous roles in government
-
Chief Economist