Think Tank Awards judges include (from top left): Bill Emmott, Bridget Kendall, Andy Haldane, Gisela Stuart. © Marina Zaninelli, BBC World Service, Bank of England, Gisela Stuart MP
Leading journalists, politicians, economists and more will come together this month to judge Prospect’s Think Tank of the Year Awards.
The annual awards, which celebrate the important and influential work done by think tanks across the globe, will be judged by a panel of experts led by Prospect’s editor Bronwen Maddox. This year, the panel includes Writer and former Economist Editor Bill Emmott, the Bank of England’s Chief Economist Andy Haldane, the BBC’s Diplomatic Correspondent Bridget Kendall, and Labour MP Gisela Stuart.
Only think tanks that show not only excellence in research but also a real sense for the wider public conversation will take the top prizes. The judging process takes into account influence on both public policy and on the public discourse, as well as quality of research.
Last year, the Resolution Foundation won the coveted UK Think Tank of the Year Award. This was not only for its pioneering research on the middle and lower end of the income scale, but also for its ability to gain coverage in the press and influence Westminster.
The awards also seek to discover the best new think tank talent: the judges will look at the potential of newer, smaller outfits with compelling ideas. Last year, the North American Think Tank of the Year Award went to Third Way, an upstart on the US think tank scene that drew the judges’ approval for its influence on the Obama campaign.
Prospect editor Bronwen Maddox said: “One of the questions which Prospect addresses is ‘how do you run a country?’ Original and dynamic think tanks are vital in helping leaders and the public to answer this question, and with our awards we seek to recognise the work of these remarkable institutions.”
This year’s Think Tank Awards will be held at the Institute of Directors on Wednesday 16th July. The awards were founded in 2001.
The Think Tank awards are supported by Shell.
