Misha Upadhyaya

Chief of Staff at IOPC, 2025 40 under Forty winner

United Kingdom

About

Strategic, politically astute leader operating across public affairs, policy and organisational transformation. As Chief of Staff at the Independent Office for Police Conduct, I drive executive decision-making, lead high-stakes public affairs, and advise senior leadership, Board members and non-executives. I’ve successfully influenced national policing reform, shaping policy and legislation through strong relationships across Whitehall and Parliament. Previously, I led the Private Office and Secretariat at MOPAC, overseeing corporate and political priorities for London’s senior leadership. I managed a 20-strong team, supported a 300+ organisation, and built the governance, stakeholder and communications architecture required to operate at pace in a complex political environment. My career spans frontline delivery through to global policy influence — from leading a world-first city-wide consultation on extremism and co-authoring a best-practice international strategy, to driving safeguarding transformation across NHS England and delivering nationally recognised community programmes. I specialise in: • Strategy and organisational transformation • Government relations and public affairs • Leadership of complex, high-performing teams • Governance, risk and crisis management I’m driven by impact — shaping policy, strengthening institutions, and delivering meaningful change at scale.

Experience