Our Board of Directors
Rick Hanson - Chair
Rick is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and a New York Times best-selling author. With his son Forrest he produces the Being Well podcast which is downloaded several million times a year and he has lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard.
Mauricio Conejo - Secretary
Mauricio is Executive Director of the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, concurrently serving as a distinguished professor and board member. Mauricio also established the certificate program on cognitive neuroscience and mindfulness for mental health professionals at the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience and the UPR Medical Sciences Campus.
James Kirby - Treasurer
James is Co-Director of the Compassionate Mind Research Group at the University of Queensland. He specialises in studying the effectiveness of Compassion Focused Therapy and the decision-making that underpins compassionate actions. He also works as a clinical psychologist in private practice.
Jaskaran Basran
Jaskaran is Foundation Manager and Research Coordinator at the Compassionate Mind Foundation (UK) and an associate professor at the University of Derby. She is currently completing a PhD on the use of compassion focused therapy for individuals with narcissistic traits.
Michael Yellow Bird
Michael Yellow Bird, MSW, PhD, is Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba. He is a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (MHA) Nation in North Dakota, USA. His research focuses on decolonization, neurodecolonization, Indigenous mindfulness and contemplative practices, and the cultural significance of Rez dogs.
Gonzalo Brito
Gonzalo is a clinical psychologist and Ph.D. holder in psychology, interested in the integration of meditation and psychology. He is a compassion-focused therapist and trainer and also a teacher trainer of the Compassion Cultivation Training and Mindfulness-Based Emotional Balance programs. He has authored several articles and books on these topics and teaches widely in Latin America and Europe
Daniel Ellenberg
Daniel Ellenberg, Ph.D. is the founder of the Men and Boys Compassion Coalition (MBCC), a group seeking to educate both professionals and the public about what defines a strong, compassionate man.
Elissa Epel
Elissa is an American health psychologist. She is director of UCSF’s Aging, Metabolism, and Emotion Center, head of The UC wide Mental Health Council for climate change, and former co-chair of the Steering Council for Mind and Life Institute.
Paul Gilbert
Paul is professor of clinical psychology at the University of Derby and visiting professor at the university of Queensland. He has studied evolutionary approaches to mental health problems and compassion for over 30 years and is the founder of the Compassionate Mind Foundation. He was awarded on OBE for his services to mental health.
Cheng Yi Heng
Yi Heng is a senior consultant to international financial institutions in clean coal technology and hydrogen production, as well as carbon neutrality strategy. He is also Asia Deputy Director of the International Ecological Development Union (EDUI) and a fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Science. Yi Heng is a practitioner of Information Healing.
Dr Johnny Hon
Johnny is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of the Global Group of Companies. He holds a PhD in Psychiatry from the University of Cambridge and a Master of Buddhist Studies from the University of Hong Kong and is applying his studies to Buddhist Counselling in psychotherapy to help people with mental health issues.
Reggie Hubbard
Reggie is an internationally recognized yoga and meditation teacher and the founder/chief serving officer of Active Peace Yoga.
Marcela Matos
Marcela is Clinical Psychologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Coimbra, Portugal. She has written over 80 international peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on the topics of compassion, shame, self-criticism, emotional regulation, psychopathology and well-being.
Lobsang Tenzin Negi
Lobsang is co-founder and Executive Director of the Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics at Emory University. He is also a Professor of Pedagogy in Emory University’s Department of Religion and the founder and spiritual director of Drepung Loseling Monastery in Atlanta, GA.
Nicola Petrocchi
Nicola is a professor of Psychology at John Cabot University and a CFT therapist and trainer based in Rome. They are the author of several national and international peer review publications and book chapters on compassion, compassion-focused therapy, and the physiological correlates of prosocial motivations. They are also the founder of Compassionate Mind Italia which is linked to the Compassionate Mind Foundation in the UK.
Mamphela Ramphele
Mamphela is Co-Founder of ReimagineSA, the Chair of the Tutu IPTRUST, and Co-President of the Club of Rome. She is a medical doctor, social anthropologist, and was formerly Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town and a managing director at the World Bank.
Lilli Ross
Lilli is a writer, mindfulness teacher, classical singer, and movement practitioner. She attended the University of Virginia and Columbia University and has studied the work of developmental psychologists and social scientists. Assisting others to prevent and heal trauma is her life mission.
Ha Vinh Tho
Ha Vinh Tho, founder of Eurasia Foundation and Learning Institute, is a Buddhist Dharma teacher in the Vietnamese Zen tradition. He co-founded and directed the Gross National Happiness Centre in Bhutan and was previously the head of training at the ICRC. Doctorate in Psychology and Education, he is an international lecturer and author.
Our Team
Rachael Ebanks-Gold - Events & Administration Manager
Rachael is responsible for creating and coordinating our online events. She is also a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, Registered Dietitian, Professional Coach & student of Buddhist Philosophy. A Highly Sensitive & Purpose-Driven person, Rachael is committed to playing her role in the collective effort to build a compassionate world by using her skills to guide others back to peace, belonging and wellbeing.
Meg Foulkes - Networks and Partnerships Manager
Meg has been working for fifteen years in mission-driven organisations working to achieve social justice in topical areas ranging from ending the hostile environment towards asylum-seekers in the UK, ending air pollution in Latvia to protecting the rights of artists and creators in the age of AI. During this time, she's been an administrator, coordinator, fundraiser, community builder, trainer and leader.
Matt Hawkins - CEO
Matt Co-Founded Compassion in Politics UK and Co-Edited the book How Compassion Can Transform Our Politics, Economics, and Society. He was part of the Nobel-prize winning team at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and successfully led the campaign for mixed-sex civil partnerships in Britain.
Caylim Reeva Isaacs - Communities Coordinator
Caylim is a narrative strategist based in Cape Town, South Africa. A Motion Picture graduate from AFDA, Caylim is passionate about exploring experimental forms of storytelling across various media. They are committed to the upliftment of neighbourhoods and believe that personal stories can ignite collective change. Currently, they are working with the suburb of Observatory to find new pathways for meaningful civic engagement.
Michelle Keane - Comptroller
Michelle is an online strategy and content consultant. She specializes in web development, eLearning, content and social media marketing and strategy. Originally from Ireland she now lives in North America.
Maria Paula Jimenez Palacio - Head of Training and Compassion Corps
Maria Paula is a Colombian contemplative trainer and compassion coach. She is a Senior Teacher and Teacher Trainer of the Compassion Cultivation Program developed at the Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University. She is also a certified teacher and teacher trainer of the Mindfulness Based Emotional Balance Program developed by Margaret Cullen and she is a trained teacher of the Mindful Self-Compassion program developed by Chris Germer and Kristin Neff. She is trained as a therapist, and she is also a lecturer, organizational consultant and advisor to groups and individuals on topics related to well-being/ whole-being, change, contemplative practices, mindfulness, compassion, self-compassion and purpose.
Cat Swartbooi - Content Manager
Cat is a creative strategist currently based in Cape Town. Cat specialises in creating content with a radical empathy scope. Prior to joining the GCC Cat worked with the Movement for Mothers, FAMSA, and One81
Alex Wilks - Head of Communications and Digital
Alex has extensive experience as a digital campaign strategist and manager. He was previously Digital Manager for the European Movement and Head of Digital Campaigns for the People's Vote movement in the UK. He has also been a digital advisor to Compassion in Politics UK.