Conference team
The early vision for the conference was developed in a working group with participation from colleagues from a range of training and research centres, and through a series of consultation events.
We are particularly grateful for the input from Prof Nirbhay Singh, former editor of the Springer Mindfulness Journal and lead of the International Conference on Mindfulness series, Sharon Hadley, CEO, Oxford Mindfulness Foundation, Dr Robert Marx, co-director of the Sussex Mindfulness Centre, Ruth Ormston, former director of The Mindfulness Initiative, Alison Evans, Supervision Lead with the Mindfulness Network and Nick Hammond, Chair of Trustees for the Mindfulness Network.
Rebecca Crane
Conference Chair
Professor Rebecca Crane PhD is the former director of the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at Bangor University and is a trustee for The Mindfulness Network. She has written numerous peer-reviewed articles on how mindfulness-based programs can be implemented with integrity into mainstream practice settings, and how they can support inner change that contributes to collective and systemic societal shifts towards a more equitable and sustainable world. She has written Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Distinctive Features, co-authored Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy with People at Risk of Suicide, co-edited Essential Resources for Mindfulness Teachers, and is a Principal Fellow with the Higher Education Academy.
Ken Lunn
Conference Director
Ken Lunn, PhD, has an MA in Mindfulness Based Approaches from Bangor University.
He has a long career in information technology research and development, and more recently as a mindfulness teacher, and for most of that time has held leadership roles. He has held senior academic roles, commercial and industrial roles, and was Director of Data and Information Standards for the NHS in England from 2006 to 2014.
He is director of The Mindfulness Network, where he has worked since 2017, and he continues to teach mindfulness.
He has had a regular meditation practice since 1995, and he has a strong personal commitment to sharing the value of mindfulness as widely as possible.
Bridgette O’Neill
Programme Lead
Bridgette is a clinical psychologist by professional training and has taught mindfulness-based approaches in NHS mental health services for staff and clients since 2002. She is a senior lecturer, trainer and supervisor with the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice and the Mindfulness Network as well as a trainer with the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. Bridgette has a particular interest in mindfulness and compassion-based approaches in relation to social and environmental challenges and is part of the author group of the paper ‘Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Our Time: A Curriculum that is up to the Task’. As well as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Bridgette teaches, supervises, and trains teachers in the Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living programme.
Sophie Sansom
Programme Lead
Sophie Sansom, PhD, is the Teacher Training Programme Lead at The Mindfulness Network and also a teacher on the Mindfulness Masters programme at Bangor University.
Sophie’s PhD explored features of Mindfulness Training in both secular and comparative religious contexts.
Sophie has an interest in research and development and in promoting integrity and accessibility in the field.
Sophie founded SiTT (Support for Integrity in Teaching and Training), a peer-led community of mindfulness teachers, trainers and trainees that support one another to meet ongoing good practice guidelines at monthly meetings, community days and other events.
Gemma Griffith
Academic Lead
Dr Gemma Griffith is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and the Director of the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice Postgraduate programmes at Bangor University.
Sonia Gadhia
Planning Advisor
ABOUT SONIA
Uz Afzal
Planning Advisor
ABOUT UZ
Uz is a mindfulness teacher, trainer and supervisor. Her book, ‘Mindfulness for Children’ was published in 2018.
Uz is a lead trainer on the mental health charity, Mind’s practitioner training pathway for its 8-week course: Radical Self-Care. The team were recently selected as finalists for the Mindfulness Initiatives’ Innovation in Mindfulness Awards.
She is known for her enthusiastic approach and has enjoyed leading mindfulness sessions at the Women of the World Festival and popular walking meditations at the V&A Museum. She is particularly interested in welcoming all the intersecting aspects of people’s identities into mindfulness courses.
Uz is a Trustee of the Mindfulness Network and sits on the EDI board looking at ways to broaden the reach of mindfulness and make it more inclusive.
Hayley Dunne
Planning Advisor
ABOUT HAYLEY
ICM:2024 Hosts
bangor university
The Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice (CMRP) at Bangor University was founded by Mark Williams in 2001, following his leadership there in developing Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and was most recently under the directorship of Rebecca Crane. Over the last two decades, the centre has been at the forefront in the emergence of the field of mindfulness-based teaching, training, and research.
The staff at CMRP are active researchers in the field of mindfulness. An example is a seminal paper called “What defines mindfulness-based programmes? The Warp and the Weft.”
Bangor University offers a Masters in Mindfulness programme – the first in the world to offer a Masters in mindfulness-based approaches.
To find out more, please visit the Bangor University website.
the mindfulness network
The Mindfulness Network is made up of highly experienced trainers and supervisors who can guide you in practising, teaching and deepening your experience of mindfulness and compassion. Our focus is on serving both the mindfulness community and the general public through supervision, retreats, and training programs, offered both in-person and online.
Additionally, we work with volunteers to run a programme of inspiring events and community groups – the Mindfulness Network Community Friends. We raise funds through donations and provide bursaries that support, train and widen access for mindfulness-based teachers, in line with our charitable purpose.
Visit our website to find out more about our services