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 Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, but brought up in York and then the South-East, Philip studied Geology at Bristol University, before working in Corporate Finance for the International Tin Council, Tenneco and British Gas in London during the 1980s.Trained as a Methodist minister at The Queen’s College Birmingham in the early 1990s, he developed a keen interest in interfaith dialogue and undertook a PhD in Ecological Theology in addition to the ordinary studies associated with ministerial formation. He was ordained in 1996 and served three churches in Coventry whilst acting as Chaplain at the University of Warwick. He became Superintendent Minister of the Huddersfield East circuit of the Methodist Church in 2001, completing his appointment there in August 2006. Philip was appointed Director to the Oastler Centre in September 2006 and has since been working to develop work that will assist churches and Christians of all persuasions to engage their faith more fully with economic life in Leeds
The Oastler Centre Steering Group
A new steering group is helping to develop the work of the Oastler Centre
Jane Aitchison
Jane works in Leeds and is currently President of the DWP section of the Public & Commercial Services Union. She is a Local Preacher attending Oxford Place Methodist Church in the City Centre.
Cal Bailey
Cal Bailey has been sustainability director of NG Bailey, a £400m family business in construction, since 2007. He has an MA in Philosophy, Politics & Economics from the University of Oxford, is a qualified Chartered Accountant and National Engineering Scholar. Cal is a Reader at St James Woodside in Leeds and is also a trustee of the West Yorkshire School of Christian Studies. His particular interest is in integrating business and the kingdom of God.
John Battle
John served as the MP for Leeds West from 1987-2010, after acting as the National Co-ordinator for Church Action on Poverty for four years. He served the previous Labour government in different ways—as Minister of State in the DTI, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and on the International Development Committee. John is a lifelong Catholic who was recently honoured by the Pope for his loyalty to the church and political contribution.
Philip Bee
Philip was appointed to develop Christian mission in the economy via the Oastler Centre in 2006. He was formerly Superintendent Minister of the Huddersfield East circuit of the Methodist Church, and before that was a minister in Coventry and Chaplain at the University of Warwick. He worked in corporate finance in London during the 1980s.
Peter Burrows (Chair)
Peter Burrows was appointed as Archdeacon of Leeds in 2005, after serving in the Dioceses of Bradford and Leicester. Since coming to Leeds, he has been instrumental in developing a vision for city ministry and mission and has particular links into the business community. Outside of the church, Peter lists among his interests cooking, entertainment and motor-racing. More seriously he has a concerned interest for Palestine and Israel, Sri Lanka and Argentina.
Alan Deacon
Alan has been Professor of Social Policy at Leeds University since 1990. He was a member of the ESRC Research group on Care Values and the Future of Welfare between 1999 and 2005 and Chair of the Social Policy Association from 2001-2004. His current research interests include welfare reform in Britain and the United States. Alan attends Woodside Methodist Church in Horsforth.
Felix Kumi-Ampofo
Felix is Economic Evidence Manager at Yorkshire Forward. He was formerly Senior Research Fellow for the European Regional Business and Economic Development Unit at Leeds Metropolitan University. He has published recent work on innovation within Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and has also written extensively about economic development at regional and local levels over the last decade. Felix attends Hunslet Methodist Church.
Margaret Halsey
Margaret was appointed Director of Leeds Church Institute in 2004. She is currently Vice-Chair of the Churches Regional Commission. Margaret formerly worked as Chaplain to Rotherham Steelworks for the Industrial Mission in South Yorkshire before becoming Director of Laity Development with the Diocese of Manchester. Margaret has published works on the theological aspects of education, working life and pastoral care and attends St Aidan’s Church of England in Harehills.
Liz Smith
Liz has been Chair of the Leeds Methodist District since 2007. She has in the past worked closely with the Church of England, as a Church-based Community Worker, and then as a Methodist ‘curate’ in Grimsby in the Diocese of Lincoln. Immediately before taking up her appointment in Leeds, Liz served as Superintendent minister in a rural circuit in the Lincoln and Grimsby Methodist District. Her PhD is in Education / Feminist Theology.
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