Academy Learning's Brains Trust

Since its inception in 2009 by Julie Arliss, Thriving Minds, now Academy Learning, has been blessed with the advice and mentorship of extraordinary scholars, colleagues and collaborators. The advisory board below are our consistently supportive partners who’ve made Academy Learning what it is today.

Equally important is our funding partner, sponsor and benefactor- Templeton World Charity Foundation.

Professor Tom Greggs

Marischal Professor of Divinity at the University of Aberdeen

After being awarded a starred Double First Class Honours Degree from Oxford, Tom completed his Phd at Cambridge. He has taught at Manchester Grammar school but is now a university lecturer and researcher with a commitment to making his work accessible to young people. He has a weekly slot on radio 4 and holds various political offices at local regional and national levels with a general focus on education policy. He is widely regarded as a ‘rising star’.

Dr Andrew Pinsent

Research Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Religion and Science, Oxford University

Dr Pinsent is a former particle physicist at Oxford University, and is now Research Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion, a Research Fellow of Harris-Manchester College and a member of the Faculty of Theology and Religion at Oxford. He is ‘interested in everything’ and visits schools to encourage the young to be ambitious and courageous in their thinking. He is committed to a broad view of education in which gifted students can maximise their full potential.

Professor Keith Ward

Regius Professor Emeritus of Divinity at Oxford

PROFESSOR KEITH WARD is Regius Professor Emeritus of Divinity at Oxford and was Professor of the History and Philosophy of Religion at King’s College, London. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and a member of the Executive Council of the Royal Institute of Philosophy.

Dr Chris O'Neill

Fellow of Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford

Dr O’Neill is a fellow of Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford and is a polymathic thinker. He is a psychologist, registered psychotherapist and trained counsellor. He initiated the large-scale MYRIAD research project in Oxford University investigating resilience and well-being in young people. He has forty years’ experience of working with students and staff in schools and is an exceptional educator.

Prof John Swinton

Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the School of Divinity, History, and Philosophy, University of Aberdeen.

John Swinton is a Scottish theologian. He is the Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the School of Divinity, History, and Philosophy, University of Aberdeen. John is founder of the university’s Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability.

Fr-Mark-Smith

Chaplan Kings College Taunton

Father Mark Smith from Kings College Taunton is running the UK Philosothons with Julie Arliss of Academy Learning.