The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)
is delighted to announce that Helen Miller has been appointed as
its next Director. Helen will succeed current IFS Director Paul
Johnson, who will leave in July 2025 after 14 years of
outstanding leadership.
Helen joined the IFS in 2007. She has
been Head of the Tax team since 2016 and Deputy Director since
2019. She has over 17 years of experience analysing UK fiscal
policy and providing trusted advice to policymakers. She is an
excellent and experienced media commentator. She has served as a
trustee to the Royal Economic
Society.
Helen takes on this role at an
exciting time for the IFS as we push ahead with timely and
rigorous research into areas such as inequalities, justice,
benefits, education, pensions and tax policy. She will work
closely with IFS Research Director Imran Rasul and IFS Deputy and
Associate Directors to drive an ambitious and impactful research
and engagement agenda.
Harry Gaskell, Chair of the
IFS Board of Trustees, said:
"The job of Director of the IFS is one
of the most sought-after in the UK public policy arena. We had a
wide range of very talented applicants, and I am delighted that
it is Helen who has emerged from this strong field as the new
Director of the IFS. The Board and I believe that she is the
ideal person to build on the strengths of the IFS and to make
sure it keeps its pre-eminent role at the heart of UK economic
research and policy making. I'm very much looking forward to
working with Helen over the next few
years.”
Imran Rasul, IFS Research
Director, said:
“I am delighted that Helen will be
stepping into the role of IFS Director. She brings many years of
experience on studying issues around the tax system, firm
productivity, and entrepreneurship – key components of UK
economic policy that the country needs to get right in the years
ahead. Helen will bring her own ideas and energy to our research
agenda, ensuring it remains of the highest quality and translates
into engagement with policy makers. She is committed to take
further our long-standing work on building capacity among a new
generation of research economists focused on scrutinising and
designing public policy in the UK and overseas. I am very much
looking forward to working closely with Helen in the years ahead
– IFS could not have a better leader, ensuring our trusted and
independent advice continues to hold value in the years
ahead.”
Paul Johnson, IFS Director,
said:
“I
am delighted that Helen will be taking over as director. She is a
wonderful colleague and an inspiring leader. She will bring
energy, insight and a deep commitment to the IFS mission and
culture to the role. I am sure the IFS will only go from strength
to strength under her leadership, continuing to produce analysis
of the highest quality, to hold government to account and,
perhaps most importantly, to develop new generations of great
economists, communicators, and
leaders”.
Helen Miller, IFS Deputy
Director and incoming Director, said:
“It is a huge privilege and a delight
to be handed the IFS Director baton. The IFS is full of
inspirational people who are working to ensure that policymakers,
and those who hold them accountable, better understand the
effects of different economic policy choices. This mission
– and the need for truly independent and rigorous analysis – is
as important as ever. I am excited to lead the IFS through the
next phase of its enormously valuable and impactful
work.”
