Peter Afford is an experienced Focusing teacher and a psychotherapist with an interest in neuroscience. He is the author of ‘Therapy in the Age of Neuroscience’. www.peterafford.uk

Stephen Batchelor is a writer, translator, artist, and teacher of Secular Dharma. A co-founder of Bodhi College, he is the author of Buddhism without Beliefs, After Buddhism, and, most recently, The Art of Solitude.

Vishvapani Blomfield is the Buddhist contributor to Thought for the Day and the author of ‘Gautama Buddha’. He works with the Welsh Government on bringing the mindfulness into the Welsh Health and Education systems.

Marina Cantacuzino is the founder of The Forgiveness Project, a charity that uses real stories to explore concepts of forgiveness, reconciliation and restorative justice.

Dr Jim Champion has been teaching physics at schools in the south of England since 2004. His PhD is in theoretical physics. He is also secretary of the Middle Way Society and contributor to After Buddhism: A Workbook.

Barry Daniel is the treasurer of the Middle Way Society and host for its podcast series, where many of this event’s speakers have been interviewed. He runs a guest house and a carpentry business.

Nina Davies is an experienced meditation and guided enquiry leader with an interest in feminist and continental thought. After leaving a long career in social care, she trained as a CBT Hypnotherapist.

Dr Robert M. Ellis is the founder and chair of the Middle Way Society. He is author of around 18 books on the Middle Way, including the introductory Migglism, the detailed Middle Way Philosophy series and recently The Buddha’s Middle Way. See www.robertmellis.net for more details.

Darren Gibbs is a Certified Clinical Somatic Educator and with over twenty years experience of teaching embodied practices throughout the UK and internationally.

Katja Kaine is a Yorkshire based writer, and creator of the Novel Factory writing software. She’s had short stories published in a range of print and online publications.

Dr Iain McGilchrist is a psychiatrist and writer, best known as the author of The Master and his Emissary: see www.iainmcgilchrist.com for details.

Jon Price has been studying Tai Chi and Qigong for eighteen years and has a background within various Chinese martial arts prior to making the shift towards the internal arts .  His focus is on using the arts as a life practice exploring and developing the relationship between body and mind.

Prof Katherine Weare is internationally known for her varied work on mindfulness and contemplative approaches in education, including recently heading up two policy major networks, keeping a handle on the empirical evidence base, writing an inspirational book with Thich Nhat Hanh and teaching mindfulness to local secondary school teachers.

Andy West has taught philosophy in several prisons for the last four years. He is currently writing a book about his experiences for Picador, due Feb 2022. He has also taught philosophy in primary schools as a senior teacher with the Philosophy Foundation.

Tony Wilmot has been practising Yoga for 30 years and qualified as a British Wheel of Yoga teacher in 2000. Styles taught are Ashtanga Vinyasa & Hatha Yoga. His teaching is influenced by traditions of many to including Dru, Iyengar & Satyanada Yoga. His meditation is grounded in Zazen (silent sitting) and vipassana in the tradition of Goenka.

For more details on the Virtual Festival programme please go to the programme page.

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