Alex Burghart

Parliamentary private secretary to Boris Johnson, Alex Burghart, has been the Conservative MP For Brentwood and Ongar since 2017. Prior to entering Parliament, Burghart was a teacher, university lecturer, policy director and special advisor. As director of policy at the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) from 2012 to 2016, Burghart worked closely with Fiona Hill on the modern slavery agenda, culminating in the passing of the Modern Slavery Act in 2015. He then went on to become director of strategy and advocacy for Anne Longfield — the children’s commissioner for England, followed by special adviser to Prime Minister Theresa May. In 2015, Burghart unsuccessfully contested Islington North – the safe Labour seat held by its former leader, Jeremy Corbyn. Upon entering Parliament, Burghart became the co-chair of the APPG on adverse childhood experiences. From 2017 to 2019 Burghart served on the work and pensions committee, the standing orders committee and the human rights joint committee. Outside of parliament, Burghart is non-executive director of New Scientist Ltd., author of the policy guide, ‘A Better Start in Life: Long-term Approaches for the Most Vulnerable Children’, and vice-chair of Governors at Queensmill School.