Areas of Expertise

Urban regeneration; community development finance and financial inclusion; entrepreneurship; volunteering; US economic and social policy.

Press experience

Print: Financial Times, The Observer, The Guardian, The Economist, plus specialist press.

Broadcast: BBC TV (Breakfast, Ten O'Clock News, News 24 ), Radio 4 (Today, Westminster Hour ), Radio 5 Live, plus local TV and radio.

Previous work

Policy adviser, HM Treasury (1994-2005): Dermot was a private secretary in both of Ken Clarke and Gordon Brown's ministerial teams (1996/97). He also played a key role on urban economic policy (1998-2001), steering the Social Investment Task Force. And he was instrumental in taking forward government policy on youth entrepreneurship and youth volunteering.

British Embassy, Washington DC (2001-04): Dermot was First Secretary (Economic Affairs) during most of George Bush's first term. He reported to Whitehall on the US macro economy and US domestic policy developments, including urban regeneration. He also forged strong links with a wide range of leading US think tanks such as Brookings and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City.

Dermot is from Clitheroe, Lancashire, and studied at Liverpool University (1986-89) and Queen's University Belfast (1989-91).