Mat Hunter is a widely respected design and innovation leader with more than 30 years’ experience driving systemic change across the public, private and non-profit sectors. He returns to the Design Council following a distinguished career that includes senior leadership roles in global design, government advisory work, and place-based innovation.

Most recently, Mat was Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Plus X Innovation, a pioneering network of innovation hubs supporting place-making and local economic growth through high-value job creation. Under his leadership, Plus X grew to support more than 500 entrepreneurs, whose businesses have raised over £250 million in investment and created more than 1,200 jobs, while securing more than £25 million in public and private funding.

In his previous role as Chief Design Officer at the Design Council, Mat worked with government departments including the NHS, the Home Office and the Department of Energy and Climate Change. During this period, he led the Design Council’s flagship Design Challenges programmes, delivering large-scale, mission-driven initiatives addressing, healthy ageing, crime reduction, energy efficiency and youth employment.

As a designer earlier in his career, Mat was one of the youngest Partners at IDEO, the global design and innovation consultancy, where he helped lead multidisciplinary teams delivering award-winning digital and physical products for major international organisations.