WHO WE ARE

A STEADFAST COMMITMENT

The Living Experiment Society is driven by a steadfast commitment to fostering meaningful conversations that inspire profound individual change and contribute to the well-being of our planet.

Our mission is rooted in the belief that transformative dialogue is the catalyst for positive personal growth and the collective pursuit of Planetary Health.

Meet the Team

The Living Experiment is committed to building sustainable, human-to-human (H2H) communities grounded in Franciscan Economics. Our team brings together diverse expertise: from theology, spirituality, and academia to global business and mediation, each member contributing a unique perspective to foster symbiotic relationships between people and the planet.

Trustees

Revd Andrew Gosler, Professor of Ethno- ornithology at the University of Oxford

He holds a joint position in the Department of Biology and the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, where he leads the Institute of Human Sciences. A priest in the Church of England, his research explores the human condition through the lens of bird ecology, evolution, and conservation. He is the Research Director of the Ethno-ornithology World Atlas and a Fellow at Mansfield College, Oxford.

Professor Willem Marie Speelman Director Franciscan Study cente

Director Franciscan Study centre
TST: Tilburg School of Catholic Theology TST

Religion and Practice. He has been managing director of the Franciscan Study Centre since 2014 and became a Professor in 2021. He is devoted to the relevance of Franciscan spirituality for present day Global problems, and as director of the Franciscan Study centre his mission is to introduce the scientific world to a different, complementary way to look at our reality.

Rev Chris McDermott

Chris McDermott, an Anglican priest, Third Order Franciscan, and Zen practitioner, spent 27 years as a community mediator in East London before becoming University Chaplain at Sussex in 2014. He is also an ADRg qualified workplace mediator. Now retired, he continues Ph.D. research on dual religious belonging, especially Buddhist Christian belonging, with his work published in the Buddhist Christian Studies Journal.

Advisory Board

Professor Martyn William Percy

Martyn William Percy is a British academic, theologian, and former Church of England priest who left the Church in 2022 but remains Episcopalian-Anglican.

He was Dean of Christ Church, Oxford (2014–2022), and principal of Ripon College Cuddesdon (2004–2014).

He taught theology, sociology, and was a fellow at Oxford’s Said Business School. Martyn has also held professorial roles at King’s College London, Heythrop College, and several international institutions.

Daniel Gerard Knought

Daniel Gerard Knought was selected to study at St Augustine’s College and Oxford University. Started out in credit insurance in London before leading pre-acquisition assessments and organisational design in a professional services group. Experienced across UK, Europe and the Middle East. Daniel now leads operations and investor relations with DIEMAnalytics and SiGenex.

Andrew Meikle

Andrew is the author to The Hustlers Tale, studied theology At Oxford University 2018 – 2023, as a student then as an Academic Visitor. He was noviced into the 3rd Order of the Franciscans 2022. Prior to this Andrew had 28 years in corporate finance. Working as a private equity dealer then starting his own company. Andrew has a wide corporate experience embracing all aspects of SME’s. IPO’s mergers and acquisitions.

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Charlotte Meikle

Charlotte is 25 years old, has been an international Showjumper winning eleven times on the European circuit. She is studying Philosophy at Bristol University. Her dissertation is the philosophy of Franciscan economics at its relevance to the modern world. Charlotte is a company Director. Charlotte has a deep interest in mental health in young people, is a social activist and part time artist. Interests are running, human beings and the environment

DeAnna Forbes-Sanchez

DeAnna is a Creative marketing manager with 13 years of valuable experience in various marketing areas, including Saas, social media. With a focus on creative strategy, target

audience creation, and project management. With a diverse skill set focused on target audience growth and user experience optimisation.