Tom Levitt

Tom was a Member of the UK Parliament from 1997 to 2010, focusing on the voluntary sector, international development and social issues. Since then he has written widely on the potential of business as a power for good in society and the environment. His books include Partners for Good (2012), Welcome to GoodCo (2nd ed, 2015), The Company Citizen (2018) and The Courage to Meddle, a biography of Frances Perkins (2020). (Frances was the first woman to serve in the US Cabinet and the creator of the programme which came to be known as the New Deal).

His roles in government included aide to the Secretary of State for International Development (2003-07) and the minister for equalities (2001-03) and as a member of the Home Office team (1999-2001). He sat on the Work & Pensions select committee 2007-10.

Since 2010 his consultancy business, Sector 4 Focus (www.sector4focus.co.uk), has worked with major companies, SMEs, charities, social enterprises and government departments. His portfolio has included Walgreen Boots Alliance, the Chartered Association of Business Schools, the British Standards Institution and the award-winning social enterprise he helped to found, Fair for You. He has chaired the board of several charities including the Community Development Foundation, Concern Worldwide (UK) and the Coalition for (charity) Efficiency.