Matthew Taylor

Matthew Taylor is Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation and incoming chair of the Fair Work Agency, specialising in employment rights, public policy, and healthcare leadership. He led the influential Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices in 2016, which shaped transformative employment reforms now being delivered through the Employment Rights Bill, work that earned him a CBE in 2019. Previously, he served as Chief Adviser on Political Strategy to Prime Minister Tony Blair and transformed the RSA into a global institution with 30,000 fellows during 15 years of leadership. His sessions equip organisations and leaders with strategic insight into workforce reform, public service innovation, and building fair, sustainable employment practices that benefit both workers and employers.

When Theresa May commissioned an independent review into modern employment practices in 2016, Matthew Taylor delivered findings that would reshape the future of workers' rights across the United Kingdom. That influential Taylor Review provided the foundation for transformative reforms now being delivered through the Employment Rights Bill, work that earned him a CBE in 2019. His appointment as chair of the Fair Work Agency, launching in April 2026, marks the next chapter in his commitment to fair employment, bringing together three enforcement bodies into a single agency with robust powers to tackle minimum wage underpayment, ensure holiday pay reaches an estimated 900,000 workers currently denied it, and create a level playing field for businesses that want to do the right thing.

Matthew's career spans the highest levels of public policy and leadership. As Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation since 2021, he leads advocacy for healthcare organisations navigating recovery and reform. Before that, he transformed the RSA during 15 years of leadership, growing the 250-year-old institution into a global platform with 30,000 fellows and an influential research programme. His earlier role as Chief Adviser on Political Strategy to Prime Minister Tony Blair, alongside four years running the Institute for Public Policy Research, established him as a trusted voice at the heart of government. A regular media commentator, he appears on programmes including Newsnight, Radio 4's Today, and as a panellist on The Moral Maze, whilst contributing to publications such as The Guardian. His cross-party credibility and depth of experience position him uniquely to bridge policy, practice, and political reality.

Matthew equips organisations with strategic insight into workforce reform, public service innovation, and building sustainable employment practices. His sessions translate complex policy into practical application, helping leaders understand how employment law changes will affect their organisations and how to implement fair work practices that benefit both workers and employers. Audiences gain clarity on navigating regulatory change, creating workplace cultures that attract and retain talent, and building business models resilient to evolving labour market expectations. Whether addressing healthcare leaders managing workforce challenges, business executives preparing for new employment rights legislation, or policymakers shaping public service delivery, Matthew delivers actionable intelligence grounded in real-world implementation. His work demonstrates that fair employment and organisational success are not competing priorities but complementary goals that drive lasting impact.