Core Team
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Chine McDonald
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, including Magisteria: the entangled histories of science and religion (Oneworld, 2023), 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. He tweets @theosnick
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Lizzie Harvey
Head of Content and Communications (On Mat Leave until Spring 2024)
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
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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Paul Bickley
Head of Political Engagement
paul.bickley@theosthinktank.co.ukPaul is Head of Political Engagement 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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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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Nathan Mladin
Senior Researcher
nathan.mladin@theosthinktank.co.uk @nathanmladinNathan joined Theos in 2016. He holds a PhD in Systematic Theology from Queen’s University Belfast and is the author of several publications, including the Theos reports Data and Dignity: Why Privacy Matters in the Digital Age, 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 and the Christian Faith, 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, AI, and theology of culture.
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Hannah Rich
Senior Researcher
hannah.rich@theosthinktank.co.uk @hannahmerichHannah joined Theos in November 2017. She is a mixed–methods researcher and author of several Theos reports including Growing Good (2020) and Beyond Left and Right (2021) and A Torn Safety Net (2022). Previously, she worked for a social innovation think tank, a learning disability charity and as a care worker. 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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Marianne Rozario
Senior Researcher and Projects Lead
marianne.rozario@theosthinktank.co.ukMarianne joined Theos in February 2022. She holds a PhD in International Relations exploring the notion of Catholic agency in international society through the University of Notre Dame Australia, as well as a MA(Hons) in International Relations from the University of St Andrews. She is currently a Lecturer on the MA Social Justice and Public Service in the Faculty of Business and Law at St Mary’s University Twickenham. Marianne has 8 years’ experience globally within religion and politics spheres in academia and as a practitioner.
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Andrew Graystone
Media and Public Engagement Lead
andrew.graystone@theosthinktank.co.uk @AndrewGraystoneAndrew is the Public Engagement Lead at Theos. He has been a journalist and commentator, a BBC TV producer, and has also written and presented many programmes for BBC radio. He is the author of ‘Bleeding for Jesus’ (DLT, 2021), and ‘Faith Hope and Mischief’ (Canterbury, 2020). Outside of Theos, Andrew is reading for a doctorate on the changing meanings of touch in digital culture. He is also a campaigner and advocate for victims of abuse in church contexts.
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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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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.
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Grace Harris
Operations Administrator
grace.harris@theosthinktank.co.ukGrace joined Theos in October 2023 as Operations Administrator. Grace has a BA in Philosophy from the University of Essex, and previously worked for the Ministry of Defence as an intelligence analyst before joining the police in the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Alliance, helping to tackle organised exploitation in the form of modern slavery and human trafficking.
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George Lapshynov
Research, Communications & Events Intern
george.lapshynov@theosthinktank.co.uk @GLapshynovGeorge joined Theos as the Research, Communications & Events Intern in January 2023. He holds an MRes in International Relations as well as an MA(Hons) in History and Politics from the University of Glasgow. Outside of Theos, George is preparing for a doctorate in political theory on the place of wisdom in democracy. He also conducts research in the field of diaspora studies. He is the author of several publications, including the Theos report “Volunteering After the Pandemic: Lessons from the Homelessness Sector” (with Hannah Rich).
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.