Thomas Lingard

Thomas Lingard is CEO of the Centre for Future Generations, an independent think and do tank created to help decision makers anticipate and govern rapid technological change.  Prior to joining CFG, Thomas had a long career with the global consumer goods company, Unilever, across IT, Finance, Public Affairs, Communications, Advocacy, Strategy and Sustainability. This included launching the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, founding a Global Advocacy team to influence international public policy on sustainable development and climate change, and developing two successive Climate Transition Action Plans for shareholder approval.

Thomas spent two years as Deputy Director of Green Alliance, an influential UK policy think tank, and has also served on numerous governance boards, advisory boards and councils, including for Oxfam, the World Economic Forum, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

He is a Senior Associate of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, a board member of Climate Catalyst – a campaign group – and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Thomas is a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA, CGMA) and holds degrees in Philosophy & Modern Languages (Durham University), Development Management (Open University) and Artificial Intelligence Ethics & Society (Cambridge University).

He is married to Sarah, a British diplomat, and they live with their three children near Cambridge, UK.