Core Team
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Chine McDonald (currently on leave until Nov 2022)
Director
@ChineMcDonaldChine is Director of Theos. She was previously Head of Community Fundraising and Public Engagement at Christian Aid. She has 16 years’ experience in journalism, media and communications across faith, media and international development organisations. She is the author of ‘God is not a white man: and other revelations’ (Hodder & Stoughton, May 2021). Chine regularly contributes to programme slots such as the BBC’s Thought for the Day on Radio 4’s Today programme, Prayer for the Day and The Daily Service. She is vice–chair of Greenbelt Festival and a trustee of Christians in Media. Chine studied Theology and Religious Studies at Cambridge University.
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Nick Spencer
Senior Fellow
nick.spencer@theosthinktank.co.uk @TheosNickNick is Senior Fellow at Theos. He is the author of a number of books and reports, most recently ‘The Political Samaritan: how power hijacked a parable’ (Bloomsbury, 2017), ‘The Evolution of the West’ (SPCK, 2016) and ‘Atheists: The Origin of the Species’ (Bloomsbury, 2014). He is host of the podcast Reading Our Times. Outside of Theos, Nick is Visiting Research Fellow at the Faiths and Civil Society Unit, Goldsmiths, University of London and a Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion.
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Lizzie Harvey
Head of Communications
lizzie.harvey@theosthinktank.co.uk @theoslizzieLizzie is Head of Communications at Theos. She has a BA in Politics from Durham University and a background in communications with over 10 years’ experience developing content and strategic communications projects for brands, government clients and not–for–profits. Lizzie spent a couple of years in Australia establishing the Sydney branch of a social change focused communications agency, and has a particular interest in the power of human stories in shaping our foundational beliefs and culture.
To contact Lizzie for out–of–hours media matters, call 07778160052.
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Madeleine Pennington
Head of Research (currently on leave until March 2023)
madeleine.pennington@theosthinktank.co.ukMadeleine is Head of Research at Theos. She holds a doctorate in theology from the University of Oxford. She is the author of ‘The Christian Quaker: George Keith and the Keithian Controversy’ (Brill: 2019), ‘Quakers, Christ and the Enlightenment’ (OUP, 2021), ‘The Church and Social Cohesion: Connecting Communities and Serving People’ (Theos, 2020), and ‘Cohesive Societies: Faith and Belief’ (British Academy, 2020).
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Elizabeth Oldfield
Head of The Sacred
@ESOldfieldElizabeth is host of The Sacred podcast. She was Theos’ Director from August 2011 – July 2021. She appears regularly in the media, including BBC One, Sky News, the World Service, and writing in The Financial Times. She is a regular conference speaker and chair. Before joining Theos in August 2011, Elizabeth worked for BBC TV and radio. She has an MA in Theology from King’s College London.
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Paul Bickley
Acting Head of Research (maternity cover)
paul.bickley@theosthinktank.co.ukPaul is Research Fellow at Theos. His background is in Parliament and public affairs, and he holds an MLitt from the University of St Andrews’ School of Divinity. Paul is the author of ‘Building Jerusalem? Christianity and the Labour Party’ (2010) and numerous Theos reports.
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Anna Wheeler
Operations and Events Manager
anna.wheeler@theosthinktank.co.ukAnna joined Theos in June 2015. She read Theology at Heythrop College, University of London, and later gained a PG Diploma in Theatre. She taught English and Music in Poland and Ghana and spent twelve years coordinating university programmes and working with students at Heythrop, SOAS, KCL and Imperial College. Anna’s research interests are the links between the arts, theology, imagination and puppetry. Outside of Theos, she is a member of the Religious Drama Society, Radius.
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Nathan Mladin
Senior Researcher
natan.mladin@theosthinktank.co.uk @nathanmladinNathan joined Theos in 2016. He holds an MTh and PhD in Systematic Theology from Queen’s University Belfast and is the author of several publications, including the Theos reports ‘Religious London: Faith in a Global City’ (with Paul Bickley) and ‘Forgive Us Our Debts: lending and borrowing as if relationships matter’ (with Barbara Ridpath). He is also co–author of ‘The Question of Surveillance Capitalism’(with Stephen N Williams), a chapter in ‘The Robot Will See You Now: Artificial Intelligence Issues Facing Christianity’ eds. John Wyatt and Stephen N Williams (London: SPCK, 2021). Nathan is also a visiting lecturer at St Mellitus College, London. His research, speaking and writing focus on technology ethics, political economy and theology of culture.
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Hannah Rich
Senior Researcher
hannah.rich@theosthinktank.co.uk @hannahmerichHannah joined Theos in November 2017 as a researcher exploring the relationship between church growth, social action and discipleship, together with Church Urban Fund. Previously, she worked for a social innovation think tank and a learning disability charity. Hannah studied French and Spanish at Durham University, including a year abroad working with faith–based organisations in Paris and Madrid. She also holds an MSc in Inequalities and Social Science from LSE.
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Simon Perfect
Researcher
simon.perfect@theosthinktank.co.uk @SimplyMrPerfectSimon joined Theos in 2015. He is a researcher and tutor at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), where he leads distance–learning courses exploring Muslim communities in Britain and in other minority settings. He is co–author of the book ‘Freedom of Speech in Universities: Islam, Charities and Counter–terrorism’ (Routledge, 2021). Simon read History at the University of Cambridge and has an MA in the Study of Religions from SOAS.
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Hannah Waite
Researcher
hannah.waite@theosthinktank.co.uk @h_waite710Hannah joined Theos in 2019. She has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Counselling and a PhD in Practical Theology both from the University of Aberdeen. She is particularly interested in mental health, disability and theology and was a founding member and community developer of Friendship House Aberdeen, a movement towards creating an inclusive community for adults with and without disability. She is working on Theos’ Religion and Science project.
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Emily Downe
Creative Content Designer
emily.downe@theosthinktank.co.ukEmily joined Theos in July 2019. She graduated with a MA in Documentary Animation from the Royal College of Art and achieved her BA in Illustration Animation at Kingston University. Alongside working as Creative Designer at Theos, she works independently as an animation director, specialising in documentary short film. Emily has a passion for visual communication; expanding research through visual metaphor and engaging design.
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Marianne Rozario
Fundraising and Project Management Lead
marianne.rozario@theosthinktank.co.ukMarianne joined Theos in February 2022. She concurrently works at St Mary’s University Twickenham as Project Manager of Catholic Mission, Associate Lecturer and Module Convenor. Marianne has 8 years’ experience globally within religion and politics spheres in academia and as a practitioner. She holds a MA(Hons) in International Relations from the University of St Andrews and has recently submitted her PhD thesis exploring the notion of Catholic agency in International Relations through the University of Notre Dame Australia.
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Daniel Turner
Content and Communications Officer
daniel.turner@theosthinktank.co.uk @dan_tg_turnerDaniel joined Theos in April 2022 as the Content and Communications Officer. He previously worked in the charity sector in operations, content and media. In this role he managed the charity’s social platforms and headed the research, script writing and launch of their TikTok channel, collaborating with MPs, influencers and political activists. Daniel studied Music at Goldsmiths, University of London, and spent time throughout his degree volunteering for an ecumenical Christian university outreach. He has a strong interest theology, with a specific focus on Catholic liturgy and apologetics.
Associate Fellows
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Barbara Ridpath
Associate Fellow
In recent years, Barbara Ridpath has combined her education in economics and work in finance and regulation with her interest in theology and ethics. She served as Director of St Paul’s Institute at St Pauls Cathedral from 2014–18, and then as a member and subsequently Chair of the Ethical Investment Advisory Group of the Church of England. She is the co–author of two Theos publications and also serves as a non–executive director of two financial organisations, and on the International Advisory Board of the Institute for Business Ethics.