Adrian Lovett

Where I am based: UK

What I do: As Chief Executive Officer of Development Initiatives I’m responsible for ensuring that our organisation is working towards achieving its purpose: to apply the power of data and evidence to build sustainable solutions that create an equitable and resilient world.

I am committed to supporting DI staff in delivering our strategy. As CEO, my priority is to support leadership, culture and ways of working at DI that allow all individuals to give their best and achieve their full potential. With staff and hubs across the globe, I provide overall leadership and ensure coordination across all strands of our work. I lead on strategic planning, external representation and organisational transformation, and I work with DI’s partners to examine the international development system and how it needs to change and adapt for the future to tackle poverty, reduce inequality and build resilient societies.

Previous experience: Before joining DI, I served as President and CEO of the World Wide Web Foundation for five years, working across 12 countries to help increase affordable access to the web and to address threats to the organisation’s founding vision. I was also a commissioner on the UN Broadband Commission and Co-chair of the World Economic Forum Council on the Connected World during this time.

Prior to this, I spent five years at campaigning and advocacy organisation ONE, initially as Europe Executive Director and later as interim CEO. I have also held senior positions at Oxfam and Save the Children as well as leadership roles in the Make Poverty History and the Jubilee 2000 ‘Drop the Debt’ campaigns. I graduated with a first-class degree in Politics from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Richmond, Virginia. I also worked as a researcher for the UK Parliament, after an early career in local radio.