Professor Jo Wolff, the inaugural Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy, first joined the School in 2016. Almost a decade later, the School is marking his retirement with an event and celebration of his career.
Jo began his career exploring traditional themes in political philosophy, including distributive justice, political obligation, and exploitation. A turning point came when he was invited to serve on a government committee reviewing UK gambling legislation—an experience that led him to reorient his work toward more directly addressing policy challenges.
Since then, Jo’s philosophical approach has been marked by a deep engagement with real-world issues, especially those concerning social justice, inequality, and the ethical dimensions of public policy.
Jo’s teaching and mentorship on the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Foundations course, which explores the moral foundations of policy decisions, has shaped the intellectual trajectories of so many of our students who have gone on to shape public policy across the globe.
Adnan Zaylani, Deputy Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia who did the MPP course in 2017, noted how the Foundations course “opened up a new world and fundamentally changed my approach to economic policy."
The course “encouraged us to focus on the moral implications of our decisions, not just on what the data tells us”, he added. “This perspective helps me clarify and better weigh up what ought to be prioritised in policy design."
Over the course of his career, Jo has authored numerous books and papers. His latest book, “City of Equals”, co-authored with Avner de Shalit, explores how the way in which a city treats its citizens lays the foundations for equality.
In 2023 Jo was appointed as a Fellow of the British Academy and in 2024, he became the President of The Royal Institute of Philosophy which recognises those who engage the public with their work, following in the footsteps of Lord Balfour and Baroness O’Neill.
Reflecting on a piece of advice for students, Jo has some parting wisdom. “Think about why you chose to do what you’re doing... why are you in this job?”, he asks. “You can never be sure what the outcome of anything is going to be but think about what is most likely to have lasting value”.
Jo's contributions to political philosophy and to the Blavatnik School community will continue to have value for years to come. We wish Jo all the best for the future!
