Jesper Christiansen

In 2016, Jesper joined Nesta. The role will be to explore new avenues and possibilities in the field of social, public and government innovation. In particular it will be focusing on supporting the work of teams and labs at a global level through new ways of developing and mobilizing knowledge to create a flourishing community of practice. Consequently, the role will contribute to a strengthening of international collaboration as well as connecting practical projects and experiments with engaged research and development activity. Jesper has previously functioned as Head of Research at Danish public human-centred innovation unit MindLab. He founded and directed MindLab’s research program and also led MindLab’s international portfolio including advising and collaboration with governments around the world, institutions like the OECD, UNDP and the European Commission, other innovation and design labs and various international research institutions. Jesper is a public innovation thought leader, intensely involved in framing and forwarding the field through publications, presentations and international exchange. He is an experienced presenter and facilitator and has worked with and advised a number of governments and public agencies around the world. He is also a part of several leading research networks including the ‘MacArthur Research Network on Opening Governance’. Jesper holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology focusing on embedding human-centred innovation practices in public sector organizations. Based on this PhD research and experiences at MindLab, he is currently writing a book on the interlinked practice of public innovation labs and the building of a resilient state.