Our Team

Our team comes from very different sectors – scientific, philosophical, business and legal – but we share a desire to engage in questions of faith, to speak where Christ is not yet known, to train the next generation, and to live out the good news of Jesus Christ.

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Speaking Staff

Alanzo Paul

Alanzo's work focuses on addressing metaphysical and existential questions. He has a degree in Theology from the University of Oxford, and a Masters in Theological Studies from the University of Toronto.

Ben Thomas

Ben has particular interests in the intersection of Christian faith and sexuality, gender, medical ethics and psychology. Ben is a qualified Doctor and works part-time as a Consultant in Neurosciences Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia.

Clare Williams

Clare's work focuses on questions of race, justice and culture, and what the Christian message has to offer these contested issues. She studied English Language and Literature at Oxford University, and has Masters degrees in Leadership, Culture, Diaspora and Ethnicity.

John Lennox

John is Chaplain and Speaker at OCCA. He is Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University (emeritus) and speaks on the interface of science, philosophy and religion.

Lara Buchanan

Lara has a specific interest in studying the impact of Jesus’ life and teachings on the flourishing of individuals as well as communities. She holds qualifications in History, English Literature, Education, Apologetics and Theology.

Max Baker-Hytch

Max’s research focuses on the philosophical arguments for theism, the rationality of belief in God, divine hiddenness, and the historical credibility of the New Testament. Max has a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Oxford.

Rahil Patel

Rahil's work evolves around Hinduism and how the Christian faith can build bridges into Eastern worldviews and offer the beauty of the Gospels.

Sara Stevenson

Sara is passionate about exploring questions raised by Philosophy of Religion and Ethics. She has an MSc in Philosophy of Science and Religion from the University of Edinburgh, and an Education Degree in Religious Studies.

Simon Edwards

Simon's work focuses on presenting and defending the Christian faith in a way that engages with the big questions of our culture. Previously a lawyer, Simon holds qualifications in Law, Economics, Education and Theology,

Tom Price

Tom is passionate about philosophy and theology. He has an MA in Christian Apologetics, and is currently working on his doctorate in Theology, Philosophy and Film.

Wider Speaking Team

Andy Moore

Andy is an adjunct speaker with OCCA and Managing Director of Chorus Network. A qualified chartered accountant, Andy also holds a Masters in Philosophy and has been involved in business missions across the world.

Calum Miller

Calum is an adjunct speaker with OCCA, a medical doctor, and a research associate in bioethics at the University of Oxford. He speaks widely on the existence of God, probability theory, and beginning of life ethics.

Max Jeganathan

Priyan (Max) Jeganathan is passionate about helping people make sense of current issues and life’s big questions through the lens of the Christian message.

Os Guinness

Os is a visiting fellow at OCCA. He has written or edited more than thirty books, and is passionate about religious freedom.

Sam Allberry

Sam is a senior fellow at OCCA and a pastor, apologist, author and speaker. He writes extensively on issues relating to identity, sexuality, and faith.

Sharon Dirckx

Sharon is particularly interested in questions of meaning, purpose and identity and how they relate to Christian belief. She holds a PhD in brain imaging from the University of Cambridge.

Other staff

Charlie Styles

Chief Executive Officer

David Lloyd

Development Consultant

Johnathan Davys

Office Manager

Julia Kutyn

Development Officer and Board Administrator

Kathie Roberts

Training Coordinator

Mary Beasley

Social Media Specialist

Naomi Thomas

Ministry Activities Manager

Zachary Jackman

Director of Operations

Board

Akeel Sachak

Akeel is a Partner of Rothschild & Co, the Anglo-French investment bank, where he advises corporates on mergers, acquisitions, capital raising and restructuring. He comes from a Muslim family background, but became a Christian while studying law at Christ Church, Oxford. He is married to Joy and has four adult children. He worships at Christ Church, Virginia Water and is closely involved in a number of Christian ministries. Akeel joined the OCCA Board in 2021.

Christine Brindley

Christine has been a supporter of OCCA for a number of years, having re-engaged with them when a group from her church went to a "Why?” event. Since that time she has been involved with apologetics both in her church and in a local secondary school. She trained as a lawyer and works for a Christian charity. She is part of the church family at St Nicholas, Sevenoaks along with her husband and three nearly grown sons.

Emma Osborne

Emma joined the OCCA board in 2022 and had previously become aware of the strength and range of OCCA’s apologetics when attending the Summer Conference. She has spent her working life in finance, mainly investment management, and now has a number of non-executive and trustee roles. Her husband Gerald is an ordained self-supporting minister in the Church of England and they worship in rural Wiltshire.

James Gardner

James lives in Hertfordshire with his wife Eileen and their two children, and worships at Christ Church Chorleywood. He became a Christian after university, and has been passionate about apologetics since his first encounter with OCCA fifteen years ago. He was a lawyer in London and Asia for many years, and now works with a number of evangelical ministries. James joined the OCCA board in 2013 and became board chair in 2015.

Jeremy Marshall

Jeremy grew up Bible smuggling every summer behind the Iron Curtain with his father, who was an evangelical free pastor. He was CEO of the UK’s oldest private bank, C Hoare and Co. and recently acquired Kingdom Bank, which he and some friends plan to develop to help churches grow. Five years ago Jeremy was diagnosed with incurable cancer and given 18 months to live. He regularly speaks to churches, businesses, schools and students, and wrote a book 'Beyond the Big C'. Jeremy lives in Kent with his wife, and they have three adult children.

Matt Baird

Matt works for a Canadian pension fund where he helps ensure the businesses the fund invests in are as successful as possible, and the firemen and women of Toronto get to enjoy a happy retirement. He first heard of OCCA ~15 years ago when he was invited to a dinner by a friend and has been a supporter ever since. He lives in Twickenham with his wife, Amy, and two young children. They attend St Stephen's East Twickenham where Matt serves as Treasurer and Amy helps lead worship each Sunday. Matt joined the OCCA Board in 2022.

Yolanda Ibbett

Yolanda started her career in banking and has spent the last 25 years working in private family business in a central Executive role. She first heard of OCCA at a Stewardship event and later attended an OCCA conference where she gained a greater understanding of the huge opportunity to reach people for Christ through evangelism training and apologetics. Yolanda lives in Bedfordshire with her husband John and they are part of Grace Community Church in Bedford. She joined the OCCA Board in 2022 and is happy to share, where relevant, her many years of general experience serving on both business and charity boards in the areas of finance, governance, organisation, people and marketing.

Join our team

If you’re interested in working at OCCA, please visit the Careers page for all current openings.

Executive Assistant