Richard Wilkinson, MMedSci is an Emeritus Professor of Social Epidemiology at the University of Nottingham Medical School and an Honorary Professor at University College London. He has played a formative role in international research and his work has been published in 10 languages. His 1976 New Society article prompted the commission of the UK’s Black Report on health inequality in 1980. With Kate Pickett (also shown in photo), Richard co-wrote The Spirit Level : Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better , which presents a meta-analysis of data from sources such as the UN, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and the US Census and arrives at the undeniable conclusion that social inequality harms everyone. The book outlines how we must remove economic impediments to individuals feeling valued to allow for the flourishing of human potential.

The authors also co-founded The Equality Trust, an empowering organization prompting citizen action to restructure equal societies for the common good.