People

Sarah studied History at the University of Bristol, graduating in 2018. She is now an MPhil student at Trinity College Dublin, where her research focuses on colonialism & the museum. She reached the National Final of Debating Matters in 2014/15, and has volunteered as an alumnus ever since. When not buried in books, she enjoys cooking, talking politics and when time and money permit, eating & drinking her way around Latin America.

Thea is a Queens School student, currently studying Religious Studies as an extra A level during her gap year after previously studying Physics, History and Politics. She hopes to study Liberal Arts at The University of Bristol. She has taken part in two Debating Matters competitions as well as Parliamentary debates and she has interned at the Academy of Ideas, helping to organise the Battle of Ideas.

Jack Aldane is a British writer, cartoon illustrator and podcast producer. He is a former student of philosophy at Heythrop College and trained as a journalist at City University London. Before this, he lived and wrote in China for three years. His podcast is The Corner Table: a conversation series with today’s leading thinkers.

Graeme has been with NATS since December 2017; he leads a team focused on building the capabilities NATS needs, both now and in the future, in order to achieve its goals. This includes learning, leadership development, talent management and oversight of all early careers entrants into the organisation.
Before joining NATS, he worked in a global leadership role for Vodafone, and was previously a partner in an international HR consulting firm.  He has a degree in archaeology and anthropology from Cambridge university.
In his spare time, Graeme enjoys spending time with his family (including five amazing children) as well as cycling and playing the piano (not at the same time).

communications director, NATS

Simon Warr is the executive lead for communications at the UK’s primary air traffic control company, NATS, since 2012. Previously, he worked for Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy hub, and spent over a decade in a range of communication positions across Ford Motor Company, including roles in Germany and Japan. As director of communications at Jaguar Land Rover, he was a member of the executive team that transitioned the company from Ford to Tata ownership.  Earlier in his career, Simon trained as a journalist working for various national media outlets and also worked in communications at the Home Office, Foreign Office and City of Westminster.  He has served as vice president of the Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, is currently a trustee of the disabled flying charity Aerobility and a school governor. Simon is a trained business coach and an alumnus of Leeds University, City University and the Oxford Saïd Business School.

senior lecturer in journalism, Solent University

Graham previously spent ten years working as a journalist on newspapers and magazines in both Europe and Asia. He began his career in regional print journalism in the UK, writing for the Reading Chronicle and the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, before spending five years living and working in China. During this time, he contributed articles to The Times, The Australian, the South China Morning Post, the China Daily, worked as deputy editor of Shanghai-based travel magazine Asia and Away, and authored a total of six guidebooks. He completed his doctorate in Chinese media and political communications in 2015 at the University of Westminster’s highly-regarded Communication and Research Institute (CAMRI). Graham currently leads seven modules across three journalism degree courses at Solent University. In addition to his teaching, Graham also works as review editor for the Sage journal Global Media and China.

Rebecca began her career as a journalist, making the move to teaching English in her twenties. She has now been a teacher for over 20 years, in both the state and independent sectors, serving as head of department for 16 of these. In her current role as Head of English at Sherborne School, she has created a range of societies which encourage young people to write and to talk about writing, as well as run a world-class festival of writing for 8 years, where over 25 writers shared their practice in group sessions, and their skills in workshops, for the benefit of the 4000 or so pupils across the five secondary schools in Sherborne.  She has recently become Programme Curator for TEDxSherborne, which will hold its first event on May the 9th in 2019. Rebecca is passionate about enabling young people to express themselves fluently and with power.

Paul is married to Susannah and they have two children, Hannah and Luke. They live near Oasis Academy Mayfield and have been involved in supporting the Academy as chaplain since its beginning. He now works across the three Southampton academies and nationally, has been delivering training for hubs around bereavement support and dealing with critical incidents. Locally, Paul leads a collaboration of churches and projects called Love Southampton. Most recently, he initiated a citywide conversation and action plan to tackle homelessness in the city.

Martin runs the Exeter Ideas Salon, which seeks to promote critical thinking and discussion of major issues in society. He has previously taught in secondary, FE and HE institutions in the UK and New Zealand. He also coached the Exeter College debating and public speaking teams in four national competitions, reaching the Debating Matters National Final in 2016.
Martin is currently studying for a Masters in Art History.

communications director, NATS

Ian has over twenty years’ experience in the sphere of environmental aviation issues working for the Civil Aviation Authority, the UK air navigation service provider – NATS – and in his own independent consultancy.  Ian is Head of Environmental and Community Affairs at NATS, responsible for driving forward an industry leading corporate social responsibility programme targeting improvements to operational CO2 emissions, noise performance and a low carbon estate.  His work has enabled NATS to be the first air navigation service provider in the world to commit to operational CO2 targets and a financially incentivised air traffic control performance metric. On behalf of the UN body for aviation – ICAO – Ian is leading a task looking at environmental benefits from global airspace modernisation; he works with airports, airlines and local communities to design and run innovative trials to help manage aircraft noise impacts.  As a member of the UK Sustainable Aviation coalition’s oversight committee, he is the lead of a cross industry task group looking at ways to better manage noise impacts.  Ian is a member of the UK Royal Aeronautical Society’s ‘Greener by Design’ environmental steering group.