School Debate Judges
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Peg Alexander is an award-winning TV, radio and online broadcaster, radio journalist, event host and occasional writer. She mainly reports on news, politics and current affairs but she also hosts a music podcast. She originally started life on the debating floor herself, active in politics. At 25 she was the de-facto leader of a national political party. But now she prefers asking the questions.
Catherine Allsop has been the HR Business Partner & Project at the Royal Armouries Museum since 2023. With a background in HR across several different sectors including financial services, logistics and events she is used to working alongside people with a variety of diverse backgrounds and interests. Catherine has participated in volunteering initiatives with children in local schools, helping to run team building events and supporting them with interview practice. Being a Mum to a 15- and 18-year-old, she is used to lots of healthy teenage debate!
Robbie Arrell is a Lecturer in Applied Ethics at the Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied (IDEA) Centre at the University of Leeds. He specialises in applied ethics, moral and political philosophy, the ethics of love and sex; bioethics; neuroethics and medical ethics. Before joining IDEA, Robbie held positions as an International Research Fellow at Wuhan University, China, and as a Lecturer in Philosophy at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He completed his PhD entitled The Ethics of Partiality at the University of Melbourne after obtaining an MA in Political Philosophy and a BSocSc in Politics and Sociology at University College Dublin.
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Sally Bavage is the Fundraiser for Headingley LitFest. After qualifying in Biological Sciences, she worked initially as a secondary science teacher, before moving on to work with younger pupils and teach across the curriculum. A master’s degree in Education, advisory and consultancy work in science, mathematics and IT followed before becoming a secondary deputy head responsible for implementing curriculum change. Work for the local education authority, and working to get free access to wide-ranging out-of-school opportunities for some of the most deprived young people, completed a career spent enjoying chances to broaden minds and extend opportunities.
Jim Baxter manages a team of consultants at the Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied (IDEA) Centre at the University of Leeds, providing ethical review, continuing professional development and applied research. He has a PhD in Philosophy. Jim’s professional ethics research includes projects on integrity in organisations for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and on professionalism in banking for the Banking Standards Board. His book, Moral Responsibility and the Psychopath: The Value of Others is available from Cambridge University Press.
Natalie Bennett was the leader of The Green Party from 2012-16. She was the founding chair of Green Party Women and a candidate in Holborn and St Pancras in the general elections of 2010 and 2015, and in Sheffield Central in 2017. Natalie has been a journalist for two decades and before entering politics she was editor of the Guardian Weekly and has worked previously for The Times, the Independent, the Bangkok Post and Australian provincial papers. Her academic background includes agricultural science, history, politics and mass communications.
Nathalie Bethesda: After teaching English for 18 years in high schools in Leeds and Sheffield, Natalie is now a campaigner for holistic education as a vehicle for social justice, as well as a researcher in the Philosophy of Education and part-time lecturer at Leeds Beckett University. She is also a writer of plays, poetry and prose; walker of hills and fells; sufferer of gym and swim; and frequent theatre and cinema goer. She believes that family and friends go well with food and drink.
Justine Brian is Director of the schools programme for the think tank Civitas, and was formerly the director of the Institute of Ideas Debating Matters sixth-form debating competition. She believes in education and grappling with big ideas – and practised what she preaches by completing a degree in Classical Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London, as a mature student. She loves good food and hates food snobbery, and learned to cook at Westminster College. She is an occasional writer on food issues, and her greatest media claim to fame was being on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour on the issue of ‘frugal food’, which made her Mum extremely proud.
Charles Brickdale was born in London, but has lived in Yorkshire for over 40 years. He taught English and RE in Leeds and Bradford until he retired in 2017. Debating ideas and issues has been a big part of his life and something he enjoys. More importantly, the right to speak freely and to question each other’s beliefs is something that must survive and flourish – it’s how society progresses. Charles enjoys reading, travelling, doing some voluntary work and looking after his grandchildren who he hopes will enjoy the same freedom that their great grandfather fought for.
Dr Kate Brown lives in East Leeds and is a Lecturer in Social Policy and Crime at the University of York. Before studying for her PhD she worked in the third sector for around ten years supporting vulnerable groups such as young women who sold sex, young drug users and families affected by domestic violence. Her book Vulnerability and Young People: Care and Social Control in Policy and Practice was published by The Policy Press in 2015. Kate is also Chair of Trustees for Basis Yorkshire, a sex work and sexual exploitation support charity.
Paul Butterworth studied Government and Politics at the University of Manchester in the 1980s. After then gaining an MSc in Human-Computer Interaction at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, he began what turned out to be a career in the IT industry, first installing monitors and now as Head of Technical Assurance for NHS England.
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Annabel Carington owns and runs a brand and PR agency in Leeds, called The Firmament. She has enjoyed previous careers in journalism and academia and used to train undergraduates in the art of effective argumentation. Annabel is also a successful writer and artist. Her book on the cultural history of dolls will be published in 2024 and her latest solo exhibition of paintings inspired by T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets opened in Chicago at the end of 2023 to great success. Her book about the Four Quartets’ project will be published by Rook’s Nest spring 2024.
Feona Carmichael: Having completed a law degree at Leicester University, Feona qualified as a solicitor and worked in private practice in Newcastle specialising in Property and Family Law. She then moved to the University of Law in Leeds where she was a Principal Lecturer and headed the Legal Practice Course (a compulsory part of the training for law students wishing to qualify as a solicitor). Feona retired in September 2022 but continues to work for the University of Law on an intermittent basis as a visiting lecturer.
Jo Caswell has worked in the creative field for almost 30 years. Previously heading Hallmark Cards as Creative Director, Jo is now an established Creative Project Consultant, working with local councils and communities to create thought provoking commissions. Jo’s latest project was a commission for Rochdale’s Festival of Ideas, ‘Rockdale Wall of Sound’, celebrating the town’s rich musical heritage.
Dan Clayton is a freelance researcher, writer, cameraman and Documentary Film Maker. He is also a self-employed builder, and has worked in IT and as a handyman in French ski resorts. Dan has a degree in History from the University of Birmingham, he helped research and produce the documentary Sylvia Pankhurst: Everything is Possible, and is Leeds Salon’s video manager.
Dan Cohen is the Leeds City Councillor for Alwoodley having first been elected in 2011. A solicitor by profession, for 20 years he was the Managing Director of Madison Hosiery, a Leeds based business importing and distributing children’s and lady’s hosiery to some of the UK’s leading retailers. A freelance educator, Dan led the project team establishing Leeds Jewish Free School in 2013 and continues as its Chair of Governors. As an advocate, councillor, former stand-up comedian and debater, Dan is an experienced and accomplished public speaker often speaking to groups and events around the UK.
David Cole studied History at the University of Manchester before going on to achieve an MA in Early Medieval Landscape History, specialising in the impact of Anglo Saxon and Viking migration and cultural influence on the landscape of northern England. David went on to pursue a legal career and is currently a Partner on the Real Estate team at Womble Bond Dickinson. David has worked in Leeds since 2008.
John Connor was raised in Leeds, and was a frequent participant in public speaking and debating competitions whilst at school. He moved to London to study law at Queen Mary’s College, University of London, where he took up mooting and won the University’s mooting competition in 1994. John qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and is currently the national head of Womble Bond Dickinson’s banking practice. He has spent the majority of his professional career in Leeds, and applies elements of his debating skills daily in negotiating contracts for his clients, dealing with tenders and managing the members of his team.
Cathy Cook is an Associate Solicitor at LCF Law based in Leeds. Until February 2016, Cathy was Head of Company and Commercial Law at Jordans Solicitors in Wakefield, where she set up its Wakefield Sixth-Form Debating Competition. She has also previously set up and run a community art day. Originally from the North East, Cathy arrived in Leeds as a student to study English Literature at Leeds University and other than a short stint in London as part of her training contract she hasn’t left.
Simon Cooke is a retired professional marketer and politician, having been account planning director at one of the UK’s leading direct marketing agencies. He was a Bradford councillor for 24 years, including periods as council deputy leader and Conservative Group Leader. He has a degree in South East Asian Studies, an MSc in urban regeneration and a diploma in communications from the CAM Foundation. He is married to Kathryn and he blogs at The View from Cullingworth (the beautiful South Pennine village where they live).
Michael Crowley is a writer and dramatist. He is the author of two novels, two collections of poetry, nonfiction, and numerous plays. He is the artistic director of the Brutish Multitude Theatre Company. As a freelance journalist, he is a regular contributor to the culture section of Spiked. Michael’s passion is historical fiction, and he leads a historical research group in his home village of Heptonstall. He was formerly a youth justice worker in Greater Manchester.
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Dr Mark Davis is Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Leeds, Founding Director of the Bauman Institute and Director Building Sustainable Societies. He is interested in the capture and translation of the social world into economic interests, specifically how individual freedom is reduced to market choice and how this can be reconciled with the challenge of creating fairer, more resilient, and more sustainable societies. He is author of Consumer Culture and Society: A Critical Introduction, and editor of Liquid Sociology: Metaphor in the Writings of Zygmunt Bauman’s Sociology. Mark was elected a Fellow of the RSA in 2010.
Sarah Derbyshire-Thomas is originally from Lancashire, and graduated from the University of Liverpool in 1994 with a Degree in Economic and Social History. Following a two year period teaching English in Madrid she embarked on a PGCE in History at the University of Leeds. After teaching History and Social Sciences in Hong Kong and West Yorkshire Sarah joined Leeds Beckett University in 2002 in the Widening Participation Department. She is now the Widening Participation Projects Manager and help to set the agenda and strategy of outreach programmes within our University.
Wayne Dixon was elected Leeds City Councillor for Middleton Park ward in 2022, and was the first councillor elected for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) since the 1990’s. He stood as an independent in 2016 after feeling frustrated with local politicians who appeared to be failing the area where he was brought up and still live in, and joined the SDP in 2017, and sat on the SDP’s National committee from 2018-2022. Wayne’s professional background is working in the charity sector as an employment advisor. He is married with two children.
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Nat Edwards is Director General of the Royal Armouries Museum. As a museum curator and community activist, he has worked in museums, galleries and archives for almost 35 years – developing exhibitions, education and community-based projects as well as major capital projects. Nat is the author of Caledonia’s Last Stand: In Search of the Lost Scots of Darien (Luath Press Ltd, 2007).
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Denise Fahmy is co-founder of Freedom in the Arts, a new organisation promoting freedom of speech and expression in the UK cultural sector. Together with choreographer Rosie Kay, she started the organisation having seen the growth of censorship and the impact on artists of being ‘cancelled’. Denise has worked in the cultural sector for 30 years and specialises in visual arts. She worked for Arts Council England for 15 years, managing a portfolio of diverse arts organisations, from galleries to commissioning agencies. She is a board member of the Women’s Budget Group.
Sarah Field is a councillor representing the ward of Garforth & Swillington in Leeds City Council. She has been a councillor for six years. She is a feminist and takes a special interest in issues affecting women and children. In her spare time she enjoys reading, spending quality time with her two children, and riding her Vespa.
Dr Julie Firmstone is an Associate Professor of Media and Communication at the University of Leeds. Her research analyses the role of news, journalism and political communication in local democracies, editorial journalism at newspapers, journalism ethics and regulation, and the communication of European politics. She is currently working on a project that compares journalism ethics and regulation in Europe and is researching public attitudes to journalism regulation. She publishes her work in academic journals and books.
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Tarjinder Gill is Associate Director of Research and Pedagogy at Outwood Grange Academies Trust. She is an experienced primary teacher having taught in Birmingham, London, Leicester, Great Yarmouth and Wakefield. She advocates for an evidence-based knowledge rich curriculum to be taught in schools. She has spoken and debated at the Festival of Education, Battle of Ideas and ResearchED on a range of education related issues.
Dr Susan Grant-Muller is Professor of Technologies and Informatics in the Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds She is a grounded statistician, inspired by the potential of communication technologies to reduce the carbon-energy burden from the transport sector. She is currently researching the potential of positive incentives delivered through innovative mobility schemes to reduce the use of conventionally fuelled vehicles for EMPOWER.
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Simon Hill joined YPO in July 2011 from former regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, where he was an Executive Director. Previously, Simon was Managing Director for electronic automotive manufacturer Kostal UK Limited. With 20 years commercial experience across procurement, sales and general management, he also has 16 years of relevant public sector experience. Simon is an elected Executive Council Member of BESA, the British Educational Suppliers Association and Company Secretary of YPO Procurement Holdings Limited.
Ruby Hornsby is a White Rose College of the Arts & Humanities (WRoCAH) funded PhD student at the Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied (IDEA) Centre at the University of Leeds, working in the area of Ethics of Social Robotics. Ruby is currently researching the nature of human-robot relationships to determine whether robot companions have a place in the good human life. She is also interested in the ethics of sex robots, ancient philosophy and applied ethics more generally.
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Simon Kay OBE FRCS is a Plastic Surgeon and Professor of Hand Surgery at the University of Leeds. He has spent his career treating major nerve injuries, and abnormalities and injuries in children’s hands; and he has integrated psychological care into the surgical system, working closely between the disciplines. In the last ten years he has developed and led the UK Hand Transplant program, paying particular attention to the ethical problems with which this practice is beset. He is a keen educator and debater and enjoys finding the strengths and weakness of each case, whilst cheerfully challenging orthodoxies.
Geoff Kidder is Chief Executive of the Ideas Matter charity, which organises Debating Matters and the residential schools Living Freedom and The Academy. He also supervises administration and event management for the Battle of Ideas festival and runs the associate member scheme for the Academy of Ideas. Geoff is the resident expert in sports.
Philip Kiszely is a lecturer in Performance and Cultural Histories at the University of Leeds. He read Drama at Manchester and specialised in film history. After an MA in Screen Studies, he embarked on a PhD on screen adaptations of ‘hard-boiled’ US literature, which he turned into Hollywood Through Private Eyes, published 2006. In 2022, he was awarded a Senior Fellowship at the New Culture Forum think tank, where he is a cultural commentator appearing weekly on its Newspeak current affairs show and regularly on GB News, and made the documentary ‘The War On Our History’, for their acclaimed Heresies series.
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Tristan Langlois is Head of Learning & Participation at the Royal Armouries Museum where he leads teams delivering programmes for schools, colleges, general visitors, and hard-to-reach communities at the museum in Leeds and at Fort Nelson in Hampshire. With an academic background in medieval language and history, he has worked in heritage events, education and community engagement for over 30 years, managing the commercial company Past Pleasures Ltd, and leading the public engagement team at the National Army Museum in London before taking up his current post in 2016.
Dr Robert Laverick is a Teaching Fellow in Inorganic and Physical Chemistry at the University of Leeds. He obtained his PhD at the University of Southampton in the field of spin crossover chemistry after which he moved to Birmingham University as a Teaching Fellow in inorganic chemistry, where he took on senior roles in Admissions and was recognised as a Senior Fellow by Advance HE. Robert moved to Leeds’ School of Chemistry in 2022 and has used his experience in admission to take over as lead for its outreach programme. Recently, he founded Leeds branch of Academics for Academic Freedom.
Michele Ledda is a former English teacher and co-founder of The Leeds Salon. He was previously the director of Civitas Schools, a group of Saturday and evening schools teaching English and maths to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Michele has written articles on education, the curriculum and the teaching of poetry for various publications, and is the author of a chapter on English teaching for The Corruption of the Curriculum (Civitas, 2007).
Dr Mo Lovatt is national coordinator for Debating Matters, a programme coordinator for the Academy of Ideas and co-convenor of Buxton Battle of Ideas Festival. Mo read PPE at the University of Oxford and completed her doctoral research at the University of Northumbria, examining the application of arts and culture policy in areas of economic deprivation. She is a lecturer, public speaker and a commentator on TV and radio and regularly appears on Sky News, Times Radio, GB News and BBC Five Live. Mo is passionate about debate and wrote Why Debating Matters for the Academy of Ideas’ series, ‘Letters on Liberty’.
Rebecca Lowe is the Corporate Partnerships & Philanthropy Manager at Royal Armouries Museum, responsible for growing the major gifts and corporate partnerships programme to achieve ambitious fundraising targets. Previously, Rebecca managed a corporate partnerships programme at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, focusing on the capital masterplan ‘Building the Ark’ for a new children’s hospice building in North London. A Durham University master’s graduate, Rebecca has mentored at the Durham University Woman in Business Society, championing careers in the arts, heritage and charity sector for graduates. She volunteers at her local Samaritans and enjoys early morning runs with the early bird club!
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Michael Meadowcroft has been active in Liberal politics for over fifty years. He has been a Leeds City Councillor, a West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Councillor, and was MP for Leeds West, 1983-87. Over the past twenty years he has been mainly concerned with new and emerging democracies, and has led or been a member of some fifty missions to thirty-five countries. His academic thesis was on Leeds City government and he has lectured extensively on Leeds local history. Michael has had a lifetime’s interest in classic jazz and still leads the Granny Lee Jazz Band. Visit his website.
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Zoe Nicholson joined Whitaker Firth Solicitors in 2018. She graduated as a Bachelor of Law from Sheffield Hallam University and went on to undertake the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law at York. Following her training contract, Zoe qualified as a solicitor in 2005. Since qualification Zoe has specialised exclusively in Private Client work bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to her team. She is currently studying for the STEP qualification and will be taking the exams to become a fully accredited member of SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly) in 2019.
Dr Christina Nick is a Lecturer in Applied Ethics at the University of Leeds. In her research she tries to understand moral conflict and moral responsibility within politics. Christina is also the organiser of the University of Leeds regional of the Ethics Cup – a nation-wide tournament in which students get to debate public issues of ethical concern. She is originally from Germany but has lived in various places across the UK for over a decade now. In her spare time she coaches athletics and is trying – with moderate success – to sew her own wardrobe
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Dave Oxley is head of information security at thebigword working with clients such as the ministry of justice and Ministry of defence and the NHS. He has been a long-time supporter of Debating Matters and a life-long fan of Middlesbrough football club a keen cyclist
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Dr Kate Pangbourne researches sustainable travel behaviour at the Institute of Transport Studies, University of Leeds. She came to Leeds from post-doctoral research at the University of Aberdeen, having gained an MSc in Sustainable Rural Development and a PhD in Geography. Prior to that she worked for Scottish Natural Heritage for 10 years, after a brief stint in the commercial fish-farming sector. She also has an MA in Philosophy with English Literature from the University of Edinburgh. Thirty seven years ago she was in the first female team to win her school’s debating competition.
Simon Pilling is a Corporate Partner specialising in Private Equity and Head of the Leeds at Womble Bond Dickinson law firm. His interest in debating started at school where he took part in debating competitions, and continued whilst reading law at university where he participated in the national Observer Mooting Competition (putting his partial success down to being partnered with someone who became a very eminent KC as opposed to his own mooting skills). Debating (or at least negotiating) has featured in all aspects of Simon’s 34-year career in the legal profession and his 25-year career as a parent.
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Lindsey Rhodes was a specialist in Community Care and Mental Capacity Law at Switalskis Solicitors, Leeds. She has a wide range of experience working in the public and not-for-profit sector in community care and welfare rights, and has been a trainer in community care law for public sector employees and social work students. Lindsey is particularly interested in furthering the legal rights of people with disabilities, and regularly receives referrals from the Official Solicitor to act in Court of Protection matters. Lindsey was shortlisted for the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards Health & Social Care category in 2006.
Mark Rowlinson is a Partner at First Actuarial; a consultancy that helps companies and members with their pension schemes. He has a varied role being on the management board and in charge of IT whilst still providing client advice as a Scheme Actuary. He studied Mathematics with Physics at the University of Leeds, is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and a Member of the British Computer Society. Mark was a school governor for 10 years and in 2015 led a successful bid to open a new free school, gaining 5 minutes of fame on ‘The One Show’.
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Andy Shaw is the Director of Tectonic Interactive, a multi-award winning media technology business. He writes political satire for the Spectator and other magazines. He is the co-organiser of London’s free-thinking comedy club, Comedy Unleashed. The club hosts contrarian and free-thinking comedians from across the political spectrum. Anything is allowed and there is no censorship. The club’s motto is ‘If it’s funny… it’s funny’ – the audience is the judge.
Jack Simpson was born and grew up in Leeds, studied Philosophy and Politics at Leeds University and an MA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at York University. He’s generally interested in questions surrounding moral and political philosophy. In particular questions around distributive justice. Alongside this, Jack co-founded Leeds’ main music magazine, Vibrations, co-owns the recording studio/venue Eiger and has recently launched The State of the Arts, a cultural resource aims to enhance Yorkshire’s arts infrastructure.
Richard Smyth is a novelist, journalist and critic, among other things. His work has appeared in journals including the Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian, New Scientist and New Humanist. His first novel, Wild Ink, was published in 2014, and he is the author of five books of non-fiction. He also compiles crosswords and is part of the team that sets questions for BBC Mastermind.
Nathan Spencer is the Managing Director of The UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), a platform dedicated to fostering connections between investors, developers, and policymakers to drive economic growth through regeneration. Since inception in 2022, their flagship event in Leeds has generated £39million for the Yorkshire economy and £1billion of investment across the UK. Prior to this, he led Marketing and Brand Activation at Pentland Brands, renowned for its global sports and fashion brands, including JD Sports, Speedo, and Mitre. Beyond his professional role, Nathan serves as a Trustee for the local charity Fusion Housing.
Florence Symington currently leads the Brand & Audiences department at the Royal Armouries Museum, responsible for strategic leadership of the exhibition and displays, interpretation of the collection, as well as the marketing and communications and digital teams. In her role, Florence champions the needs of audiences and how the Royal Armouries can reach more people. Before the cultural sector, Florence spent 10 years working in food retail, initially at the Co-op and rising to be Head of Corporate Brand for Morrisons. She studied Philosophy at Durham University and is passionate about how museums can make a positive impact on people’s lives.
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Nick Thomas is the Education Officer at the Royal Armouries Museum, responsible for the delivery of the museum’s formal learning programme. He has worked at the Armouries since 2022 but has spent the last 10 years working within learning at various museums and heritage sites. Nick has long had an interest in military history as well as debating, once being a member of his own school’s debating team. He is looking out for pupils that can debate convincingly and with evidence, to support their case.
Russell Thomas is an assistant director in HM Revenue & Customs based in Leeds. Having started in the most junior civil service roles, he worked as a VAT inspector before successfully completing the Civil Service Fast Stream. He has held senior leadership roles in Excise Policy, Tax Compliance and the Risk & Intelligence Service. A father of two, in his spare time he enjoys volunteering as a scout leader, and playing games: both on-line and in-person.
Aylaia Tombros-McIvor is a commercial solicitor for the Government Legal Department, based in Leeds. Aylaia has been volunteering as a judge for the Leeds Salon school debating competition for a number of years, and enjoys creative writing in her spare time.
Amanda Truman is the owner of Truman Books – an independent bookshop and cafe in Farsley, West Leeds. After a 20-year career in the travel industry, the pandemic and resulting redundancy prompted a life change, a move from London to Yorkshire and the creation of Truman Books. Three years on and the bookshop is a thriving hub at the heart of the community. Amanda is also co-founder of Farsley Literature Festival – a month-long celebration of all things bookish, attracting authors like Ian Rankin, Kate Mosse and Ben Aaronovitch to the village to share their stories.
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Jake Unsworth took part in Debating Matters over a decade ago with Guiseley School, and was awarded the highly commended prize at the National Finals. He holds a degree in History from Newcastle University and a Masters in Law from Leeds. Since leaving University, Jake worked in finance project management and is now a solicitor with law firm Womble Bond Dickinson. He has produced sessions at the Academy of Ideas annual Battle of Ideas festival of debate and is a governor at a local Leeds school.
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Neil Walshaw is a councillor representing Headingley Ward on Leeds City Council for the Labour Party. He is Chair of the North & East Plans Panel & sits on the City Plans Panel & the Development Plan Panel. So lots of planning features in his World. He is married with three young children & therefore frequently tired! He likes history, science fiction and computer games.
Dr Mark Westgarth is Professor of the History of the Art Market at the University of Leeds. He is founder and Director of the Centre for the Study of the Art & Antiques Market in the School of Fine Art, History of Art & Cultural Studies. Mark is also Chair of the Museums & Galleries History Group. He was guest curator for the exhibition ‘SOLD! The Great British Antiques Story’ at The Bowes Museum in 2019, and was curator of ‘Part of the Furniture: The Library of John Bedford’ shown at the University of Leeds Brotherton Gallery in 2024.
Dr Paul Wetherly is Reader in Politics and member of the Politics & International Relations Group of the School of Social Sciences at Leeds Beckett University. His teaching and research interests include political ideologies, governance, and migration & diversity. Political Ideologies, edited by Paul, was published by Oxford University Press in 2017.
Richard Wilcocks is Secretary of the annual Headingley LitFest and is a member of the steering committee of Leeds Peace Poetry. He has been a journalist, a teacher, an examiner, and has worked for the British Council at the University of Poznan in Poland. He was closely involved with the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard at Education Leeds, and has recently published a book Stories from the War Hospital, based on eighteen months of research into the First World War hospital which was at Beckett Park.
Dr John Willott: Following a PhD in Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia, John gained a Royal Society Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Manchester University. For this, and research on tropical forest loss, he managed a research station in northern Borneo. He subsequently worked on the EU-funded MEDALUS programme at Leeds University on climate change, desertification and land use in the Mediterranean region. After a career break, he joined Leeds Beckett University, securing EU funding to deliver projects on social inclusion and improving access to HE and employment. His research interests include marginalised groups, particularly refugees.
Matthew Wood is the Exhibition and Displays Manager at the Royal Armouries Museum, responsible for the delivery of temporary museum exhibitions. Throughout his 14-year career he has worked in social, medical and military history collections across the UK in institutions such as the Airborne Forces Museum and Royal College of Physicians. The past four years have seen him focus on the National Collection of Arms and Armour held by the Royal Armouries Museum. Matthew maintains a keen interest in military history and in his personal time tries to keep up to date with current historical debate around the subject.
Dr Katy Wright is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Bauman Institute, University of Leeds. Currently, she is critically exploring theories of community resilience through qualitative empirical work in South Wales, involving the development of an alternative approach to understanding resilience. Previously, Katy has worked on research projects covering topics including human rights in post-conflict societies; health and social care; and disability and employment; and she has a particular interest in the themes of community, engagement and risk/vulnerability.
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Jack Yates is the Communications Manager at the Royal Armouries Museum, where he’s worked since 2019, having been a journalist in a previous life. Jack has long been an advocate of healthy debating in society and was a member of the Debate London for 5 years when he was based there. He’s looking out for excellent orators who can make a compelling case succinctly and authentically.