Professor Rowley is a leading figure in the study of employment and human resource management and business and management in Asia. He was the founding Director of the Centre for Research on Asian Management at Cass Business School (one of the top UK Business Schools), where he is Professor Emeritus of Human Resource Management. He is now at Kellogg College, University of Oxford as a Visiting Fellow and member of its Centre for Mutual and Co-Owned Business. He serves on many other journal editorial boards and has given interviews and expert comment for international media and news outlets, including ITV, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5, Financial Times, CBNC, Bloomberg, Guardian, Times, Sunday Times, Independent, Telegraph, Evening Standard. ‘What is knowledge and can it be shared?’ ‘What is Globalization?’ – just a few of his many informed talks.
Lara Sahi
Hi, my name is Lara Sahi. And I’m 12 years old. I’m super interested in wildlife, and when I grow up I want to help endangered animals battle the impacts of climate change. I also really enjoy art and animation. I love illustrating my ideas and characters with a digital pen (XP pen). I currently use my chromebook, on an app called sketchbook. I especially love drawing images and characters related to animals, mythical creatures, or adventure stories.I have been doing digital illustrations for about three years now. I have developed various character designs, created themed cards, and made short animations. My most recent project is a magazine. In my free time, I like reading books, rollerblading, and doing homework projects.
I was the first editor of The Interpreter’s House, a little magazine founded, in 1996, in Bedfordshire where I then lived. It’s still going but now it’s online! My first interest, on which I wrote my doctoral thesis, was the novels of Thomas Hardy. Since then I’ve published various studies of the Victorians and post-Victorians – Preface to Hardy (Longman), Women in the English Novel, 1800-1900, Margaret Oliphant: A Critical Biography, and Six Women Novelists, all published by Macmillan. More recently I wrote a book on a fascinating subject – Effie: A Victorian Scandal, From Ruskin’s Wife to Millais’ Muse (Book Guild). I’ve appeared in several magazines and have four collections out so far.
Dr Rob Collins is a visiting fellow of Kellogg College and regularly teaches courses at Oxford University – the MSc in Software Engineering for over 20 years; courses in Machine Learning, Design Thinking and Business Process Improvement. As well as his academic work, Dr Collins regularly provides industry consultancy; he gained his Black Belt Certification in Lean Six Sigma from Lockheed Martin – the world’s largest Systems Engineering company and a world-leader in advanced technology. With a degree in Physics and Computing and a PhD focussed on training, psychology and processes for introducing complex technology into learning environments, Dr Collins’ completed his MBA at Henley Business School. He thus has a strategic business view as well as a deep understanding and practical experience of hands-on process improvement in technology and service.
As Professor of Classics at the University of Reading, Matthew Nicholls developed a unique large digital 3D model of the city of Rome. His work has won numerous national awards and has helped bring the past to life as part of an online course that has already attracted over 40,000 participants. Matthew, who is now Senior Tutor at St John’s College, Oxford, enjoys talking to school audiences about life in the ancient city and the process of researching and creating this model. He is a specialist in libraries in the Roman Empire and the history of the city of Rome. These reflect his interest in the political and social history of the Romans and the way that their built environment (in Rome and in other cities within the Empire) expressed their values and priorities.
Dr Julian Thompson is Director of Studies and Fellow in English at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University, where he holds overall responsibility for undergraduate studies in English Language and Literature, and the annual round of admissions interviews for the College. He also teaches a range of papers on the undergraduate syllabuses, including English 1760-1830, 1830-1910 and 1910-Present Day, Issues in Theology (Literary Topics), and dissertation supervision (1760-present day), as well as teaching for the College’s vibrant Visiting Student Programme. ‘The English Gentleman in Literature’ is his most popular talk along with any number of fascinating talks on pretty much any aspect of English literature.
John Vella is an Associate Professor of Taxation in the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford. He is Assistant Director of the Oxford University Centre for Business Taxation and a co-director of the MSc in Taxation. His research interests include Taxation, Corporate Finance Law and Financial Regulation. John has held many visiting research positions and was a visiting scholar at the International Monetary Fund. He has given evidence on these issues on a number of occasions both before UK Parliamentary Committees and Committees of the European Parliament.
Dr Francis Young
Dr Francis Young was born and raised in Bury St Edmunds close to the ruins of the Benedictine abbey, and was fascinated by history from a young age. He studied at Cambridge University where he obtained his PhD in History. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the author of twelve books about the history of religion and belief, including Edmund: In Search of England’s Lost King (2018). He provides a unique insight into the historical basis for English culture which is of particular interest to those who are teaching in multi-cultural schools where students are keen to learn more about the diverse social context in which their educational experience sits.
Founder of The Northern Programme: John Ebo
I have had the good fortune of having a dual career: one in industry and commerce and the other in local government as an elected Councillor. In recent years I have used the experience gained from each to deliver programmes for groups of senior officials from provinces across China. Presenting talks on local government, its structure and politics, I draw upon some three decades of service where I held senior roles within local councils including Chairman of committees and boards and, ultimately, Chairman of a large regional council. I also held the role of Lord Mayor. Though a largely ceremonial role, it was a historic and ambassadorial position for the city of Chester. I am looking forward to developing A Northern Programme at a time when local economies are thriving, more government funding than ever is being put into innovation and significant powers and budgets are going to directly elected mayors to ensure decisions in the North are made by the North.
Dr Clarke teaches at St Clare’s College, Oxford and the Department for Continuing Education, Oxford University, as well as tutoring at various colleges. His latest book, ‘The Vagabond Spirit of Poetry’, published in 2014, makes claims for the efficacy of poetry in our industrialized world. This is of particular relevance to schools hoping to unleash productivity in their students through encouraging creativity and promoting a healthy, happy and curious mind-set among learners and teachers. ‘The Later Affluence of W.B. Yeats and Wallace Stevens’ was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2012. He is currently embarked on a cycle of poems in response to his experience of reading the Psalter through once every month according to Cranmer’s divisions in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer.
Renee Watson
I’m on a mission to give 1 million children an awesome experience of science. Since founding my first business in 2008, I’ve raised more than £10 million for education charities, won awards for leadership in business and STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering and Maths). In 2016 I launched my second business, The Curiosity Box, a STEM subscription box; now sold across the EU, Australia, New Zealand, UAE and South Korea. Science has been my catalyst for exploration and discovery and I am constantly looking for new ways to disrupt preconceived ideas about the world of STEM and education, to make it accessible and fun for all young people, regardless of background. I have been recognised by Melinda Gates as one of six women in STEM to watch and am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Dr Francesca Magnabosco
Dr Francesca Magnabosco lives in Oxford, where she obtained her DPhil in Italian literature (University of Oxford, 2011). She is lecturer in Italian at Pembroke College, Oxford, and teaches at the Department for Continuing Education (University of Oxford). She is currently attending the Golden Egg Academy course ‘Writing for Children and Young Adults’ and working on her debut middle grade novel. She published a travel diary on Brazil, included in the suggested reading of the Lonely Planet guide Brasile (2008): Canto a due voci. Viaggio in Brasile (co-author Francesco Conte), ed. affinità elettive, 2007. She has also published poems in Italian literary magazines and has produced translations of the poetry of Alice Oswald and Jonathan Galassi.
David Cox
David Cox studied English at Cambridge University before going on to teach English literature at CUNY – Borough of Manhattan Community College. In 1985 he returned to England where he worked on the BBC series ‘Casualty’ and Granada TV’s ‘My Uncle Silas’. As well as corporate video work for clients such as Oxford University Press, he has enjoyed a varied stage career with highlights that include leading classical roles such as Lord Foppington and Friar Laurence (under Christine Appleby, the CEO of Say Two Productions). He brings his wealth of knowledge and insight into the worlds of drama, film, acting and literature to life in talks which are lively, entertaining, controversial and sure to set off some insightful discussions in the classroom for many months to follow.
Professor Rowley is a leading figure in the study of employment and human resource management and business and management in Asia. He was the founding Director of the Centre for Research on Asian Management at Cass Business School (one of the top UK Business Schools), where he is Professor Emeritus of Human Resource Management. He is now at Kellogg College, University of Oxford as a Visiting Fellow and member of its Centre for Mutual and Co-Owned Business. He serves on many other journal editorial boards and has given interviews and expert comment for international media and news outlets, including ITV, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5, Financial Times, CBNC, Bloomberg, Guardian, Times, Sunday Times, Independent, Telegraph, Evening Standard. ‘What is knowledge and can it be shared?’ ‘What is Globalization?’ – just a few of his many informed talks.
Dr Rob Collins is a visiting fellow of Kellogg College and regularly teaches courses at Oxford University – the MSc in Software Engineering for over 20 years; courses in Machine Learning, Design Thinking and Business Process Improvement.
As well as his academic work, Dr Collins regularly provides industry consultancy; he gained his Black Belt Certification in Lean Six Sigma from Lockheed Martin – the world’s largest Systems Engineering company and a world-leader in advanced technology. With a degree in Physics and Computing and a PhD focussed on training, psychology and processes for introducing complex technology into learning environments, Dr Collins’ completed his MBA at Henley Business School. He thus has a strategic business view as well as a deep understanding and practical experience of hands-on process improvement in technology and service.
Matthew Nicholls
As Professor of Classics at the University of Reading, Matthew Nicholls developed a unique large digital 3D model of the city of Rome. His work has won numerous national awards and has helped bring the past to life as part of an online course that has already attracted over 40,000 participants. Matthew, who is now Senior Tutor at St John’s College, Oxford, enjoys talking to school audiences about life in the ancient city and the process of researching and creating this model. He is a specialist in libraries in the Roman Empire and the history of the city of Rome. These reflect his interest in the political and social history of the Romans and the way that their built environment (in Rome and in other cities within the Empire) expressed their values and priorities.
As a writer and editor, I worked for the BBC, The Bath Chronicle, Oxford University and the Church of England to name a few. After I returned to my studies (for a Masters at St John’s College, Oxford University) I decided to set up Oxford Programmes and Little Ox Press. Both ventures are educational in nature, albeit at the opposite ends of the spectrum. Although hard work is a pre-requisite, I do not believe that anyone deserves to study at Oxford – it has as much a gift to do with good luck as ever; and I am hoping – in running continuing professional development programmes and promoting creativity – to share my good fortune by widening access and encouraging others to aim high.
John Vella is an Associate Professor of Taxation in the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford. He is Assistant Director of the Oxford University Centre for Business Taxation and a co-director of the MSc in Taxation. His research interests include Taxation, Corporate Finance Law and Financial Regulation. John has held many visiting research positions and was a visiting scholar at the International Monetary Fund. He has given evidence on these issues on a number of occasions both before UK Parliamentary Committees and Committees of the European Parliament.
Founder of the Africa Programme: Timothy John Mutungi (LLB) (Hons), Sheffield.
Having graduated in Law from the University of Sheffield Timothy John Mutungi went on to practice commercial law as a barrister in Uganda, with a particular interest in Private Equity, Impact Finance, Employment law and Renewable Energy (he is passionate about promoting research in these areas). He grew up and studied in both the UK and Africa and therefore brings to the table a wealth of practical and educational cross-cultural experience. He also has a personal connection to Oxford University where his father, Mr. John Twinomusinguzi, studied PPE between 1969-1971 having won a British Government Scholarship through the Special Commonwealth Africa Assistance Programmes (SCAAP). Through similar programmes run by Oxford University academics in Tim’s areas of interest, Tim hopes to positively impact the future of the African continent while providing an opportunity for knowledge exchange.
Dr Francis Young was born and raised in Bury St Edmunds close to the ruins of the Benedictine abbey, and was fascinated by history from a young age. He studied at Cambridge University where he obtained his PhD in History. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the author of twelve books about the history of religion and belief, including Edmund: In Search of England’s Lost King (2018). He provides a unique insight into the historical basis for English culture which is of particular interest to those who are teaching in multi-cultural schools where students are keen to learn more about the diverse social context in which their educational experience sits.
David Cox
David Cox studied English at Cambridge University before going on to teach English literature at CUNY – Borough of Manhattan Community College. In 1985 he returned to England where he worked on the BBC series ‘Casualty’ and Granada TV’s ‘My Uncle Silas’. As well as corporate video work for clients such as Oxford University Press, he has enjoyed a varied stage career with highlights that include leading classical roles such as Lord Foppington and Friar Laurence (under Christine Appleby, the CEO of Say Two Productions). He brings his wealth of knowledge and insight into the worlds of drama, film, acting and literature to life in talks which are lively, entertaining, controversial and sure to set off some insightful discussions in the classroom for many months to follow.
Founder of The Northern Programme: John Ebo
I have had the good fortune of having a dual career: one in industry and commerce and the other in local government as an elected Councillor. In recent years I have used the experience gained from each to deliver programmes for groups of senior officials from provinces across China. Presenting talks on local government, its structure and politics, I draw upon some three decades of service where I held senior roles within local councils including Chairman of committees and boards and, ultimately, Chairman of a large regional council. I also held the role of Lord Mayor. Though a largely ceremonial role, it was a historic and ambassadorial position for the city of Chester. I am looking forward to developing A Northern Programme at a time when local economies are thriving, more government funding than ever is being put into innovation and significant powers and budgets are going to directly elected mayors to ensure decisions in the North are made by the North.
Dr Clarke is a University Pathways Teacher at St Clare’s College, Oxford and he teaches at the Department for Continuing Education, Oxford University, as well as tutoring at various colleges. His latest book, ‘The Vagabond Spirit of Poetry’, published in 2014, makes claims for the efficacy of poetry in our industrialized world. This is of particular relevance to schools hoping to unleash productivity in their students through encouraging creativity and promoting a healthy, happy and curious mind-set among learners and teachers. ‘The Later Affluence of W.B. Yeats and Wallace Stevens’ was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2012. He is currently embarked on a cycle of poems in response to his experience of reading the Psalter through once every month according to Cranmer’s divisions in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer.
I’m on a mission to give 1 million children an awesome experience of science. Since founding my first business in 2008, I’ve raised more than £10 million for education charities, won awards for leadership in business and STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering and Maths) and in 2016 launched my second business, The Curiosity Box, a STEM subscription box; now sold across the EU, Australia, New Zealand, UAE and South Korea. Science has been my catalyst for exploration and discovery and I’m constantly looking for new ways to disrupt preconceived ideas about the world of STEM and education, to make it accessible and fun for all young people, regardless of background, financial status or gender. I’ve been recognised by Melinda Gates as one of six women in STEM to watch and am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Dr Julian Thompson is Director of Studies and Fellow in English at Regent’s Park College where he holds overall responsibility for undergraduate studies in English Language and Literature, and the annual round of admissions interviews for the College. He also teaches a range of papers on the undergraduate syllabuses, including English 1760-1830, 1830-1910 and 1910-Present Day, Issues in Theology (Literary Topics), and dissertation supervision (1760-present day), as well as teaching for the College’s vibrant Visiting Student Programme. ‘The English Gentleman in Literature’ is his most popular talk along with any number of fascinating talks on pretty much any aspect of English literature.
Erin Everleigh started writing her middle-grade fantasy series BAILEX as a promise to her daughters–to write a book that she would allow them to read (her previous books were intended for the adult reader). What a blessing it has been. She allowed her imagination to run wild and had so much fun doing it.
She created the WordSmithers program in order to involve our youth in the publishing process. Through various TEAMS, comprised of youth ages 9-16 (BETA TEAM, MEDIA TEAM, RELEASE TEAM), these kids get a first-hand look at what is involved in publishing a book. Her goal is to help kids utilize their critical reading and writing skills and to encourage creativity and imagination. And most of all she wants these kids to see how important their contribution was to the final product.
Georgia Mae
An avid reader from a young age, Georgia Mae has a strong belief in the value of books and writing as vital influences in nurturing children to develop key critical thinking skills and creativity. She brings a wide range of experience in marketing and operations to Little Ox Press. She is excited to help spread the positive impact of literature to our future authors and encourage children to explore the world around them through creative writing.