Who we are

ForgeFront® is a team of experienced policy and futures experts created by founding members of the Cabinet Office’s Priority Projects Unit, a team which deals with the Department’s most important and high-profile policy and project challenges.

We equip you with the tools to embrace opportunities, mitigate threats and successfully deliver in a rapidly changing world. 

Our Future.Ctrl® methodology is based on colleagues’ experience working in a range of UK Government departments, for the European Union and organisations in the private and third sector.

At ForgeFront we have three types of team member: our Core Team of full-time colleagues, our Associates who partner with us on a project by project basis, and our Advisory Board who provide strategic and occasional project support.

CORE TEAM

  • Founder

    Sam is a policy and futures leader who has worked in the private office of two MOD ministers, for the UK’s Cabinet Office, and for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He has worked for a former Foreign Secretary in the House of Commons, led accounts for a leading public affairs firm, and was in the last tranche of British EU Civil Servants working for the institutions in Brussels. During his career he has designed and delivered futures, foresight and policy work for a range of public and private clients including the EU, multiple UK Government departments, overseas governments, and companies including Siemens and Zurich. Sam is an accredited Microsoft data analyst and holds a degree in politics from the University of Bristol. 

    sam.douglasbate@forgefront.co.uk

  • Managing Director

    Gavin is a futures and foresight expert, working with governments, devolved administrations and international organisations to link foresight and futures thinking with tangible public policy delivery. Prior to ForgeFront, he developed cryptocurrency anti-money laundering and terrorist financing rules for the Financial Conduct Authority and led on FTA and trade tariffs policy for the UK’s Treasury. He was a lead adviser in the European Parliament on EU finances, environmental and agricultural regulations, and has a deep understanding of decision making levers in Brussels and Whitehall. He holds an MA in Comparative Ethnic Conflict and Legislative Studies from Queen’s University Belfast, and has published works with think tanks, such as the New Lines Institute, and industry outlets, including the Economist.

    gavin.moore@forgefront.co.uk

  • Futures and Policy Executive

    Eva is our research and data specialist. She has helped inform, analyse and optimise global strategies across a wide range of industries including consumer goods, fintech, tourism and charity. She has delivered end-to-end quantitative and qualitative market research as well as business intelligence projects for some of the largest FMCG and luxury brands. She holds a BA in Literature, History and Linguistics from Bordeaux Montaigne University, France and a MA in Cultural Studies and International Business from Lyon 2 University, France.

    eva.berthiere@forgefront.co.uk

  • Futures and Policy Executive

    Edward is our energy and defence specialist having previously spent over 6 years working for Deloitte’s public sector practice. There he helped deliver large programs related to organisational transformation, clean energy strategy, performance measurement, supply chain security, and defence funding. As a Manager and Senior Consultant he helped lead transformation of an Australian Government team of over 100, facilitate a national stakeholder dialogue for a ministerially-appointed independent commission, and accelerate plans for a department's clean energy transition. A Queenslander, he holds an MA in International Relations from the Australian National University and an LLB from Bond University.

    edward.dickinson@forgefront.co.uk

  • Futures and Policy Intern

    Davin is our futures and policy futures intern. He holds a BSc in Politics and International Relations from the University of Bristol and is currently pursuing an MSc in International Relations. Through his studies, he has developed skills in research methods, critical analysis, and the evaluation of global political dynamics. His academic work has focused on assessing political issues and producing clear, evidence-based written analysis. Davin was awarded the Bristol PLUS Award, achieved by fewer than 5% of students, in recognition of his sustained engagement in volunteering and professional development. He brings a strong analytical foundation and a keen interest in applying futures thinking to policy challenges.

Associates

  • Associate

    Athena Peppes is a strategic foresight advisor known for connecting emerging technology insight with economic and organisational strategy. She works with senior leaders to anticipate disruption, navigate uncertainty, and unlock new avenues for growth, particularly in areas such as AI, generative AI, emerging tech, and the future economy. Athena brings a combination of deep economic training and hands-on experience delivering foresight and thought leadership in complex business environments. Prior to working with ForgeFront as an Associate, she spent a decade at Accenture advising global clients across industries including consumer goods, insurance, mining, shipping, and development. She also co-founded Accenture’s Business Futures approach and has led multiple strategy and foresight projects focused on long-term value creation. Athena trained as an economist and began her career advising on macroeconomic and public policy issues. She holds an MSc in Economics from the University of York.

  • Associate

    Christian Young is an engineer with a background in precision manufacturing and process control. His work has ranged from busy industrial workshops through to high security defence manufacturing. He currently manages the EPSRC Future Metrology Hub, a high profile research institution with over £22m of active grant funded projects. With over ten years’ experience in the university and research sector including Hydris and BAE Systems, Christian is well versed in the UK Research & Innovation landscape and culture. Outside of technical roles, Christian has worked extensively in the charity sector as a consultant, board member and trustee. He is currently Vice-Chair of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Education and Skills Strategy Board and has contributed heavily to STEM education policy. He brings a wealth of knowledge in impact metrics, grant making and corporate governance. Christian holds an MEng in Automotive Design and a PhD in Ultra-precision Engineering from the University of Huddersfield. 

  • Associate

    David is the strategic foresight lead at the General Medical Council (GMC) and has conducted work on the medium to long-term implications of various topics for health policy and regulation, including climate change, public trust and artificial intelligence. He has established a futures community of practice and delivered a scenario-based programme of engagement to inform a new corporate strategy for the GMC. He has managed the organisation's response to high-profile reviews including the Independent Neurology Inquiry and the Infected Blood Inquiry. David has previously worked for the Department of Health, as an assistant private secretary to the Chief Medical Officer for England and in EU and research -policy teams. David holds an MA in Critical Theory and Cultural Studies from Birkbeck College, and a PhD in English Literature from Queen Mary, University of London. 


  • Associate

    Eduardo Plastino is a strategic foresight expert working at the intersection of geopolitics, business, economics and emerging technology. He advises senior policy and business leaders on navigating volatility, anticipating disruption and preparing for alternative futures. Eduardo was previously Research Director at Cognizant in London and Latin America Research Lead at Accenture in São Paulo. He is Editorial and Project Director at the thought leadership boutique ThoughtLab, a member of the Technology Panel at Dow Jones’ Oxford Analytica Global Horizons conference, and serves on the MIT Technology Review Global Panel. He also lectures on the Certification in Strategic Foresight offered by the Brazilian consultancy and foresight school W Futurismo, which is a member of both the Global Futures Society and the World Future Studies Federation. Eduardo is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and holds an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a master’s degree in International Relations from the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio).


  • Associate

    Maksim works at the intersection of law and public policy across international organisations and governments, focusing on the governance of emerging technologies. He was the principal consultant and programme specialist at UNESCO, where he helped negotiate the first global AI ethics framework that has been adopted by 193 states. He was an independent expert at the European AI Office, including shaping the AI Code of Practice under the EU AI Act. Maksim is currently collaborating with the University College London's Centre for Law, Economics and Society on digital and emerging technology regulation. Previously, he was a deputy director of an international policy institute and an associate professor of law. Maksim is also a published author and holds a PhD in Law from Ghent University in Belgium. He is now completing an MSc in Philosophy and Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science. 

  • Associate

    Dr. Tim Angus is a consultant with 25 years experience in social science research, market research and evaluation. Tim specialises in knowledge and innovation in advanced manufacturing within industrial clusters and networks. Tim has worked for academia, central government, trade associations and the private sector based in the UK, EU and China. Tim’s main areas of focus are economic development, innovation policy and market research. In addition to his consultancy work, Tim has been an Honorary Fellow at the Centre for Business in Society at Coventry University for the last decade. He also acts as a Research Associate for the European Science Foundation and is a Board Advisor to RPM, an Italian trade association working in advanced manufacturing. He holds an ESRC funded PhD in Economic Geography from the University of Birmingham.

  • Junior Associate

    Asmita Mehta is a design expert and futures researcher who applies participatory design, systems thinking and foresight methods to help organisations develop resilient, equitable strategies for complex transitions. Asmita has worked with BCG, the RCA and GreenStitch, and recently led the research for the Pack of Possibilities innovation card deck used at [y]our2040’s annual gathering in La Punt (Switzerland). She is a Research Advisor to Foundations for Tomorrow, working on policy projects in Australia. Asmita undertakes design and foresight freelance projects across climate, digital infrastructure and civic innovation. She was the winner of the MaDE Hackathon (UK) in 2024, and a finalist in both Service Design Challenge (Estonia) and Henkel DESIGNathon (Germany) challenges. Asmita recently graduated with an MDes in Design Futures from the Royal College of Art.