Professor Laurie Thomas – Non Executive Director, CSOL
In 1967 Laurie founded the Centre for the Study of Human Learning as a self-financing research and postgraduate teaching institute where he developed Self-Organised Learning. From a Science and Engineering background and brief career in production management, he went on to be awarded a PhD in Psychology at London University. He taught management development and established the first undergraduate sandwich course in psychology at Brunel University. He has procured major research grants and consultancy contracts to study Human Learning at work, and in business education, sport and social service and has published over 100 papers and 5 books. He has been Professor of Human Learning at Brunel University and is the Carl Rogers Memorial Professor at Clayton University USA.
Professor Sheila Harri-Augstein – Non Executive Director, CSOL
Having graduated with first class honours and MSc, Sheila went on to head a Science Department in a Grammar School. She was awarded her PhD in Psychology at Brunel University. She has been a Senior Research Fellow, leading several research projects. She has also been a Senior Lecturer in Educational Psychology for the B.Ed. degree at Loughborough University whilst also producing course units on learning for the Open University. As Joint Head of Human Learning at Brunel, she has helped to develop the theory of Self-Organised Learning and has co-authored 3 books with Laurie Thomas and one with Ian Webb. As Visiting Professor she has run seminars and workshops and advised on research projects in Mexico, Australia, India, France, Switzerland, Wales, Ireland and SE Asia.
Dr Andrew Taylor – Programme and Learning Director/Joint Founder, CSOL
Andrew spent 34 years as a manager in the Post Office, his main experience being in personnel and operational line management. It was whilst responsible for mail services in Reading in 1983 that he first became involved with Self-Organised Learning when the Centre for the Study of Human Learning (CSHL) commenced a 7-year action research study with the Royal Mail. He continued to use Self-Organised Learning as Manager of a major Parcelforce Worldwide Sort Centre. As a result of this involvement, in 1997 he was awarded a PhD in Human Learning for his thesis “Experimenting with Self-Organised Learning for Organisational Growth: a Person- Centred Approach”. Most recently he introduced Self-Organised Learning in UK Reclaim-Reading. He is also a Visiting Lecturer at Westminster Business School.
Nick Crowder – Development Director/Joint Founder, CSOL
Nick has 20 years senior management experience in strategic planning, vision delivery, marketing, community development and social justice. In 1991 he moved from the corporate to the social sector and served as CEO and Executive Director in establishing Social Enterprises which enabled people to recognise and release their potential. He has in-depth knowledge and experience of the issues relating to sustainable community and social enterprise development, inclusion, cross sector partnering and access to funding. Study trips, consultancy and facilitating working groups in the UK, Spain, Canada and Hong Kong continue to inform his approach to how individuals can be most effectively empowered to take responsibility for their own learning and personal development.