Conflict, Change & Reconciliation Speakers
About the Speakers
Jo Berry
Jo’s life is proof of the power of the human spirit in overcoming tragedy and is a demonstration of responding to violence with non-violence. When an IRA bomb, planted in the Grand Hotel in Brighton killed Sir Anthony Berry, MP, and Jo’s father, she was devastated. Rather than harbour hatred and anger, she determined to draw meaning from this tragedy, deepening not only her own understanding but also seeking to pass that on to others. She journeyed to Ireland to meet other victims of terrorism and finally, the man who planted the bomb, Patrick Magee. Jo has worked for over 10 years to resolve conflict around the world. She has worked with Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Forgiveness Project), the All Parliamentary Group on Conflict Issues, Combatants for Peace, The Basque Movement and campaigned against the death penalty. In 2009 Jo launched the charity Building Bridges for Peace. She is committed to see humanity in everyone and understand the roots of violence. She is Visiting Fellow at the Institution of Democracy and Conflict Transformation, University of Essex
Dr Patrick Magee
Patrick was born in Belfast but moved with his family to Norwich when he was two years old. He returned to Belfast at the age of 18 in 1969, and joined the IRA soon afterwards. By the height of the troubles in the 1970s, Pat had been made an officer and was responsible for the development of bombs. He was responsible for the Brighton bombing that killed 5 people and injured 34. Pat was imprisoned in 1985 but released as part of the Good Friday agreement in 1999. He has been working with Jo Berry to achieve reconciliation with opposing groups in Northern Ireland and Palestine. He has also worked with Desmond Tutu on the Forgiveness Project. Whilst in prison he earned a PhD in ‘Troubles’ literature.
Andrew Woodward
Andrew is interested in the art of dialogue and its uses in alternative forms of organizing. He has spent many years in the consulting profession working with people in Africa, Asia and Europe to attain greater levels of effectiveness through emerging social process. He started designing programmes that ‘provoked and challenged’ whilst at Alexander Proudfoot Consulting from 1999 and has continued in this vain with workshops for the Department of Health and various Adult Social Care providers across England. His approach normally challenges conventional wisdom and personal dogma bringing forward alternative ways of viewing the world.
Andrew is a Director of Faculty Partnership, a community interest company which aims to support social business growth and a Partner at Delta Economics LLP, a trade modeling and forecasting provider.