Network President

Dr. Peter Fenwick, MB, BChir, BA, DPM, FRCPsych

Peter was educated at Trinity College Cambridge where he obtained an Honours Degree in Natural Science. His clinical medical training was carried out at St Thomas's Hospital in London. After obtaining experience in neurosurgery he specialised in psychiatry. He is Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Consultant Neurophysiologist at Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford, and Honorary Consultant in Neurophysiology to Broadmoor Special Hospital. He has published numerous scientific papers on brain function and also several papers on meditation and altered states of consciousness. He is also President of the UK branch of the International Association of Near-Death Studies, reflecting his special interest in this field. He lectures widely in England, on the Continent and in the US on brain disorders and has made many appearances on radio and television. His most recent book is The Truth in the Light

Vice Presidents

Diana Clift M.A. (Oxon), M.Phil., A.I.P.T.I.

Formerly a neurochemist, now a therapist and musician, Di has served on the Network Council for nearly fifteen years, including two months last Summer as acting chairman. She is an enthusiastic proponent of openminded science and suspicious of New Age beliefs, but loves the Network for its diversity and the informal networking known as partying!

Professor Brian Goodwin, MSc, MA, PhD, FRSA

Was born in Canada in 1931 and has been Professor of Biology in the Open University since 1983. He studied biology at McGill University and, as a Rhodes Scholar, mathematics at Oxford. His current focus is on the understanding of biological processes in terms of the transformation of organised wholes and their natural states of order, using the sciences of complexity and theories of emergence. His most recent book How the Leopard Changed Its Spots: The Evolution of Complexity was awarded the Network Book Prize in 1994.

Geoffrey Leytham, M.A., A.F.B.Ps,S.

Former Vice Chairman and Secretary of Trustees of the Network. Became a Vice President of the Network in August 2000 on retirement from the Trustees. Geoffrey Leytham was a deck officer in the Merchant Navy (1936-46), mainly on HMTs Franconia (Yalta) and Queen Elizabeth. Mystical experiences during night watches led him to a study of philosophy and psychology, first at Manchester University, and then at the University of California at Berkeley. He was a lecturer in the Department of Psychology, at Liverpool University (1951-66), and the Director of the Centre for Communication Studies at the same University (1967-1982). Founder member (1973) and founder Trustee of the Network (1986), and of the Psychosynthesis and Education Trust (1965), and the Human Development Trust (1971) now the Centre for Iranspersonal Psychology. His main aim in psychology has been to establish the 'individual' as the unit in psychology, as the 'atom', 'molecule' and 'cell' are in other sciences. His first model on the 'individual' appeared in Nature (1961) and the most recent one, seeking to incorporate spiritual dimensions, was published in the Network book, Wider Horizons (1999). Interested in psychosynthesis, creativity, systems theory, reincarnation, education, counselling, peak experiences, and the anthropic principle.

Max Payne, M.A., B.Sc.

Was formerly a lecturer in philosophy at Sheffield Hallam University. He was originally trained as a scientist but spent his academic career in philosophy. His main interests are the philosophy of science, the philosophy of religion, and theoretical and practical politics. He has written many book reviews and articles on the intersection of science and religion and is co-author, with the late Dr Peter Leggett, of A Forgotten Truth. He is interested in the mystical and paranormal dimensions of consciousness. He has been a Trustee since 1975 and was appointed Chairman of the Trustees in 1995.

Claudia Nielsen MA

I was born in Brazil and came to the UK in my twenties. Here I married, and brought up my three boys, now all grown up. Throughout my adult life I worked in a variety of industries and in my 40's went back to Psychology - my original interest which I studied in Brazil - and retrained in psychotherapy. My interests are all connected with my passion for life and living and as a psychotherapist I have the privilege to be involved in my clients' experience of life in all its dimensions. I remain chair of the Programme Committee and also run the London local group of the SMN.