Professor Mariana Mazzucato

Professor Mariana Mazzucato is an influential Italian-American economist serving as the Chair in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London. As the founding director of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, she is a global authority on how the public sector drives technological breakthroughs. Her research demonstrates that government-funded initiatives, such as DARPA in the United States and the Chinese Development Bank, have historically provided the essential high-risk investment needed for clean technology and the internet to flourish. A prolific author, she has challenged traditional economic views through acclaimed works including The Entrepreneurial State and The Value of Everything. Her more recent publications, Mission Economy and The Big Con, examine how governments can rediscover their sense of purpose and the impact of the consulting industry on modern administrations. Her contributions have been recognised with the Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana, the highest civilian honour in Italy, and she was previously named one of the three most important thinkers on innovation by the New Republic. Beyond academia, Professor Mazzucato holds high-level advisory roles for international bodies such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the UNESCO High Level Expert Group on AI Governance. She has also served on the Presidential Economic Advisory Council of South Africa and the Scottish Government's Council of Economic Advisers. Audiences book her for her unparalleled ability to rethink the relationship between the state and the private sector to address global challenges like climate change and economic inequality. On stage, Professor Mariana Mazzucato is best known for talks on Business Competitiveness and Politics & Geopolitics. Audiences leave with a clear, practical view of the subject rather than a generic overview — every keynote is shaped around the brief and the room. Their work resonates with leaders across Business & Consulting and Finance & Economics, where the themes translate directly into team decisions, customer experience and growth strategy. Professor Mariana Mazzucato is regularly booked for Business Speaker, adapting tone, length and format to suit the event — from a 20-minute opener to a full conference keynote with Q&A. Based in UK, Professor Mariana Mazzucato travels internationally for engagements. To check availability or request a tailored brief for your event, send an enquiry and we'll come back with fees, dates and a short summary of how Professor Mariana Mazzucato would approach your audience.