Our Sangha
Geshe Tenzin Namdak
Resident Teacher
About
After completing his university studies in Hydrology, Geshe Namdak worked as an environmental researcher in the Netherlands. He began studying Buddhism at Maitreya Institute and was eventually ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama before completing the 20-year Geshe degree at Sera Jey monastic university in India, as well as the traditional one-year Vajrayana study program at Gyume Tantric College.
Ven. Thubten Drolma
Executive Director
About
Venerable Drolma – aka Fabienne Pradelle -joined as Executive Director in 2019. Jamyang London is where she first met Buddhism when in her twenties, so offering service here has been like coming home. Before London, Ven. Fabienne was Executive Director of Vajrapani Institute, an FPMT Retreat Centre in California, USA, where she spent 14 years. Through offering service, she is delighted to support the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and our Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Ven. Barbara Shannon
FPMT UK Coordinator
About
Venerable Barbara Shannon, is the FPMT UK Coordinator and she facilitates the Death cafe at Jamyang London. She is a pillar of Jamyang London, being part of the community since the early days. In recognition of her important work, she was awarded by the Faiths Forum 2019 as an Inspirational Individual.
Ven. Lobsang Wangyel
Spiritual Programme Coordinator
About
Ven. Wangyel joined Jamyang in 2019 as Centre Manager, before moving into the role of Spiritual Programme Coordinator. He manages the spiritual education courses and events, and he is currently also a student on the Basic Programme, a 5-year course in Buddhist philosophy and practice.
Ven. Konchok
Video Editor
About
Having volunteered for SciWiz and Meridan Trust, Ven. Konchok joined the residential volunteer team in 2021. He is currently offering service as Jamyang’s tech assistant, helping ensure the Dharma reaches Jamyang students all around the world.
Trustees
Chair
About
Alison was Director of Jamyang London from 1994-2004 during the years that the charity purchased and converted The Old Courthouse into a Buddhist centre. She was subsequently the founding director of the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW) where she was co-author of the 16 Guidelines for a Happy Life book and app. Alison sat on the FPMT Inc. board of directors for nearly ten years and is currently a director of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. She is a Basic Programme graduate and teaching assistant, recently edited the book Lamrim Year, and runs a small centre called The Good Heart in her home town of Frome, Somerset.
Deputy
About
Jan is a long-standing member of the Jamyang Community and a trustee of Jamyang Buddhist Centre. Over the years, he has studied and practiced Buddhism under many masters, including Serme Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering and Geshe Tenzin Namdak. He has received many precious teachings from different Buddhist teachers all over the world and he is currently also a Teaching Assistant on the Basic Programme, a 5-year course in Buddhist philosophy and practice.
Trustee
About
Robin is a trustee and community member of Jamyang London Buddhist Centre since its debut. His presence as trustee was specifically requested by Lama Thubten Yeshe, one of the FPMT founders. Over the years, he supported the centre in infinite ways, as an artist, poet, and photographer. He is also the organiser of the ‘Jamyang Walks’, the ‘Dying Well’ meetings, and volunteers for the ‘Repaying the Kindness, Carers Group’. He recently published ‘Climate Change Children Voices‘.
Trustee & Treasurer
About
With his extensive (20+ years) international experience as a corporate and fund lawyer, economist, and chartered surveyor (FRICS), Nick supports Jamyang London Buddhist Centre as trustee and treasurer. He feels very grateful to have the chance to support Jamyang “a wonderful community for encounters and interconnections”. Nick is also a student on the 5-year Basic Programme with Geshe Namdak.
Trustee
About
Andras met the Dharma in 2000 in Kopan Monastery while travelling in India and Nepal after finishing his MBA at Insead. Shortly after that he became the student of Geshe Tashi and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. In 2019 after finishing his 3-month LamRim retreat he graduated from the 5-year FPMT Basic Program course of Jamyang. He became a trustee in 2018 and chairs the Spiritual Programme Coordination Committee. He is a registered FPMT teacher and is a teaching assistant in the currently running Basic Programme. Andras lives in Budapest, and has 3 kids. He manages his own company and also teaches meditation and mindfulness courses at corporations.
Trustee
About
Keval came into contact with Tibetan Buddhism 19 years ago, and in particular with the Gelug tradition of Je Tsongkhapa. He has some bookkeeping qualifications and a law degree, and has spent the last 11 years working in the charity sector as both a fundraiser and a programme manager. He practices primarily in other Buddhist contexts now, but remains grateful for the first teachings he received, and hopes he can give back by supporting Jamyang as a trustee.
Trustee
About
She is a primary school teacher and is passionate about teaching children and supporting them to become independent thinkers. She was general secretary of the Tibetan Community for Britain and board member of the Young Tibetan Education Club. She has a special interest in supporting Jamyang by carrying out youth outreach and building bridges with the Tibetan community. Jamyang Buddhist centre has been her spiritual home in the UK. She feels honoured to be a part of the Jamyang board and support the centre on its journey to help all sentient beings.
Derek Germon
Company Secretary
About
Derek is the centre’s Company Secretary and has over 15 years’ experience in corporate governance and board support in the charity sector. He is happy to support the board of trustees of Jamyang London Buddhist Centre and help the centre fulfil its mission. Derek is a friend of Jamyang London, attends events at the centre and enjoys helping out in the garden.
Andrew Stark
Finance Committee
About
Andrew joined the Jamyang London Buddhist Centre committee over the Summer 2022 after starting Discovering Buddhism earlier in the year. He has significant corporate experience at executive level in both finance and technology in multi-national settings. He is currently co-founder of a strategy and research consulting firm as well as a non-profit advocating for the over 50s.
Jamyang London Team
Sajda van der Leeuw
Contemplative Education Co-ordinator
About
Sajda joined Jamyang in 2020, is the Contemplative Education Coordinator, and the Project Manager of Science and Wisdom Live. She bridges contemplative practitioners and scientists/academics, promoting contemplative education. She is a current student of the 5-year Basic Programme in Buddhist Philosophy and Practice, led by Geshe Namdak.
Paul Wells
Sanctuary Project Manager and Communications
About
Paul has been part of the Jamyang team since the beginning of 2021, offering service as a resident volunteer, and more recently as Operations Manager. He is now working as Sanctuary Project Manager and Communications and is a student of Geshe Namdak, currently studying the new ‘Exploring Buddhism’.
Freddie Jenkins
Assistant SPC
About
Freddie joined Jamyang London in 2022 as Gateway Education Coordinator, and he is now assisting the Spiritual Programme Coordinator. In his work, he hopes to spread the teachings by promoting local community outreach and nurturing people’s interest in the Dharma.
Jyoti Shah
Bookkeeper
About
Jyoti is Jamyang London’s Book Keeper and has been working with the community since 2020, her work is vital in ensuring Jamyang London Buddhist Centre thrives, and she brings great focus and joy to the team.
Margaret Jailler
Courtyard Cafe Team
About
Margaret began as a day volunteer at Jamyang London in 2016 but, after a few months, took up the split post of administrator and café worker. She now works as a Courtyard Cafe Team.
Volunteers
Jackie Yip
Basic Programme Co-ordinator and Lama Liaison Officer
About
A long-standing member of the Jamyang Community, and a student of Serme Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering and Geshe Tenzin Namdak. Jackie has served Jamyang London, FDWC, and the FPMT for many years and in many different roles, including touring the world with the Maitreya Relic Tour, a collection of Buddhist relics. Currently, she is offering her service as Basic Programme co-ordinator and Lama Liaison at Jamyang.
Roy Sutherwood
Facilitator
About
Roy Sutherwood is a former Trustee and Director of Jamyang London Buddhist Centre, and an FPMT recognised teacher. He has studied under masters of Buddhist philosophy and meditation for many years. He facilitates classes in Tibetan Buddhism at the Buddhist Society and is also a qualified teacher of secular Mindfulness techniques.
Nadja Korner
Comms Volunteer
About
Nadja is an Exploring Buddhism student at Jamyang London Buddhist Centre. She wishes to repay the kindness she received at the centre by volunteering remotely. She helps with social media and creates content about meditation, mindfulness and events happening at Jamyang Buddhist Centre.
Nadja has worked in the field of communications for Non-Profit organisations for several years. She is also in her third year of a BSc in Integrative Healthcare. In the academic setting, she merges her understanding of Buddhism, especially the practice of compassion, with traditional medicine and helping others through physical and mental difficulties.
She also writes self-help books that have exercises with the hope to benefit others with meditation and mindfulness as well as teaching the practices in communities throughout Scotland.
Jo Backus
Inter-Faith Coordinator
About
Jo represents Jamyang London Buddhist Centre, sitting on the committee of the Network of Buddhist Organisations and contributing to their activities.
Radek Skrzypczak
Facilitator
About
Radek has been studying with Serme Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering, Geshe Graham, and Geshe Tenzin Namdak at Jamyang London Buddhist Centre since 2008. For the last four years, he has been teaching meditation at St Mungos Recovery College for homeless people recovering from addictions.
Liz Price
Liz Price
Facilitator
About
Liz joined Jamyang Buddhist Centre as a volunteer in October 2022. She is an accredited coach and experienced group facilitator. She now facilitates the Climate Cafe.
Jess Plumb
Gompa Keeper
About
Jess began living and working in Dharma centres in 2017 and is now serving as a gompa keeper at Jamyang London Buddhist Centre (a role that she loves). She very much enjoys reading and attending teachings and is studying the Basic Programme.
Mircea Lupescu
Photographer
About
Mircea is a British and Romanian citizen, he has worked in TV in the UK for the past ten years. He is passionate about photography and filmmaking, an avid traveller and hiker.
Curiosity about the nature of the mind has led him to be a student of Jamyang London Buddhist Centre and enrol in multiple courses with Geshe Tenzin Namdak.
Having been a resident volunteer at the centre, Mircea is now a Photographer for Jamyang London and an Online Editing volunteer with Science and Wisdom LIVE.
Lewis Gwilt
Blog Writer
About
Lewis Gwilt is the official volunteer blog writer for Jamyang and Science & Wisdom LIVE, exploring science and contemplative traditions’ practical value in understanding topics such as mindfulness and meditation, their relationship with mental health, ongoing issues in society, and identifying their solutions.
Lewis holds a BA in Social Psychology from Leeds Beckett University and an MA in Traditions of Yoga and Meditation from SOAS, University of London. He is also part of the library project at Jamyang London which focuses on digitising and preserving Dharma talks through converting cassette tape recordings to audio files.
His academic studies have served as an extension of his personal practice, formed from engaging with a number of traditions’ teachings, of which Buddhism is a cornerstone. He is devoted to bridging the gaps contributing to overlooking the interconnectivity of traditions’ ideas and practices and the sense of separation which is being reduced through dialogue. Lewis is driven by the prospect of their philosophies being more accessible, integrated into daily life, and cultivating peace.
Carla Calimani
Community Yoga Facilitator
About
Carla Calimani has practised yoga for over 20 years, and on Saturday mornings, she facilitates community yoga class for locals. These yoga classes are always free for Refugees.
Judy Watchman
Yoga Facilitator
About
Judy Watchman has been practising Yoga for 30 years and teaching at Jamyang London Buddhist Centre for more than 10 years. Judy is a British Wheel of Yoga accredited Satyananda Yoga teacher.
Courthouse Community Centre Team
Jane Sill
Community Events Co-ordinator
About
Jane first came to Jamyang in 1999 and has been a regular student and facilitator ever since. She oversees community programmes supporting carers, mindfulness for stress reduction courses, and school visits.
William Walker
Facilitator
About
William, completed training in Mindfulness in 2018 and is registered on the UK listing for Mindfulness Teachers. He has led and co-led a number of 8-week Mindfulness for Stress Reduction courses for the London Centre of Mindfulness. William studied theology and philosophy at University in Scotland and London and trained for the Anglican Church ministry, before switching to teaching in schools and travelling abroad. A long-time member of Jamyang, in recent years he has focussed his attention on teaching mindfulness, Chi Kung, and Tai Chi.
Vinod Ravi
Facilitator
About
Vinod has been leading mindfulness sessions in Jamyang since 2012. In 1994, he went through the same Vipassana training that a Thai monk would receive at the Wat Ram Poeng monastery in Thailand but did not become a practising monk. More recently received the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teacher Training qualifications from Bangor University.
Cynthia Bonell
Facilitator
About
Cynthia, has been meditating for some 35-40 years and has studied both in the Vedic and Buddhist traditions as well as Christianity. In her professional life, she was a Primary teacher but is now retired. A long-time student of Geshe Tashi Tsering at Jamyang London Buddhist Centre, Cynthia has been teaching mindfulness for a number of years having completed the week intensive level 1 teaching a course at Bangor University. She continues to practice meditation and attend retreats regularly.
