Les Mayhew

Les Mayhew is a part-time Professor of Statistics at Bayes Business School (formerly Cass), City, University of London, within the Faculty of Actuarial Science and Insurance. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and a member of the Royal Economic Society. His career spans academia, government, and consultancy, with significant contributions to demography, pensions, health, and long-term care policy.

His research interests include demographic methods, population ageing, the economics of ageing, and the exploitation of administrative data for population estimation and policy evaluation. He has pioneered the use of large administrative datasets and Geographical Information Systems in public sector research, particularly in health and local government applications. His work often bridges actuarial science, statistics, and public policy.

The recent articles reflect a strong focus on health inequalities, longevity risk, pension sustainability, and innovative financing models for long-term care. Key themes include the impact of smoking on healthy life expectancy, gender convergence in survival, deprivation and lifespan inequality, and asset-based solutions for care funding. His research combines rigorous statistical analysis with practical policy implications.

• Twice winner of the Bayes research prize
• Winner of the University Project of the Year prize
• Joint winner of the University Research Impact Award
• Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries

Les Mayhew advises central government, healthcare providers, and local authorities on policy evaluation, resource allocation, and service commissioning. He is the Managing Director of Mayhew Harper Associates Ltd., a research consultancy specializing in data linkage. He has supervised and collaborated with numerous researchers and students, though specific names are not listed. He has held visiting appointments at IIASA and the University of Newcastle, and previously served in senior roles at the Office for National Statistics and the Department of Social Security.

He has led projects on population estimation using administrative data, transport policy (including the London congestion charge), and the economic impacts of population ageing. His future work appears focused on levelling up health outcomes, sustainable care systems, and the economic implications of longevity.