Ravi Gurumurthy
Biography
Ravi Gurumurthy is Lead Non-Executive Director at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
Ravi is the Chief Executive of Nesta, the UK’s innovation Foundation. Nesta’s mission is to design, test and scale solutions to society’s biggest challenges, from sustainability, and health to educational inequality.
Ravi also leads the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), also known as the ‘Nudge Unit’. BIT has grown from a small team in No 10 Downing Street to a 250-person global social purpose consultancy, and subsidiary of Nesta.
Prior to joining Nesta, Ravi co-founded and led the Airbel Innovation Lab at the International Rescue Committee. He was responsible for designing new products and services for people affected by crises in over 40 countries.
Ravi worked in the government from 1999 to 2013 where he held several roles including adviser and speechwriter to the Foreign Secretary, leading the creation of Every Child Matters and the Children Act 2004, and the world’s first legally binding climate legislation.
Ravi has held a number of non-executive roles, and is currently a governor of the Heath Foundation.
Appointed: 1 May 2025
Term ends: 1 May 2028
Lead non-executive board member
The main responsibilities of Lead Non-Executive Board Members are:
- be the Deputy Chair of the Departmental Board and lead the meeting in the absence of the Chair (Secretary of State)
- chair the Nominations Committee, which provides provide assurance on the Department’s strategies and plans for talent management; succession planning; capability building; Board appointments; senior performance management; incentives and rewards and the implementation of corporate governance policy
- undertake an annual assessment of the Permanent Secretary’s performance to inform the Permanent Secretary Remuneration Committee and the Cabinet Secretary
- leading the Department’s non-executive team, ensuring that they are able to fulfil their role effectively, that their views are given due weight on the Board, and the lead minister is aware of any concerns
- working with the government Lead Non-Executive and Non-Executives across government, to learn from the experiences of other government departments and comparable organisations, including playing an active role in the cross-government network of lead NEBMs and to feedback views to the Prime Minister